Carrie Johnson has revealed she was hospitalised for two nights with severe dehydration as she issued a warning to other breastfeeding mothers ahead of the heatwave.
The wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson shared details of her ordeal on Instagram, posting from her hospital bed with her newborn baby in her arms.
“Being hospitalised for two nights for severe dehydration was not on my postpartum bingo card,” she wrote, alongside a photo of her and her baby in a hospital ward.
“Breastfeeding mums make sure you eat and drink enough in this heat. Especially if your babe is clusterfeeding.”
Mrs Johnson, who gave birth to her third child earlier this year, said the week had been “brutal”, revealing that she had also suffered mastitis while her baby was struggling with reflux.
“This week has honestly been brutal,” she wrote in a second post. “Mastitis (me), Reflux (her), Dehydration (me). What a pair we are!
“But thank you for all the kindest messages, especially all the brilliant advice on reflux. Really appreciate it and made me feel way less alone going thru it all.
“And as ever, thanks to our amazing NHS.”
Mrs Johnson has previously spoken about her postpartum experiences and has used her social media to advocate for maternal health awareness. The couple welcomed their third child, a son named Frank, in July 2023.
The UK is set to experience its second heatwave of the year, with temperatures climbing above 30C in parts of the country and the Met Office issuing health alerts for vulnerable groups including the elderly, young children, and new mothers.
