Is being pregnant driving you to drink? Well, it should — at least all the way to the water faucet. As a mom-to-be, it's essential to be doubly sure that you're drinking enough water.
Here's what you need to know about drinking water during pregnancy, from the benefits (preventing hemorrhoids and other pregnancy symptoms), to how much you need (more than before), to how to ensure your water is safe (as important as ever).
Why is it so important to hydrate during pregnancy?
Ever wonder how all the good stuff in the prenatal vitamins and healthy foods you're eating every day are shipped to your fetus?
It all starts with water, which helps your body absorb essential nutrients into the cells and transports vitamins, minerals and hormones to the blood cells. It's those nutrient-rich blood cells that reach the placenta and ultimately your baby — all with the help of H2O.
How much water should you drink each day while pregnant?
You'll need more water to keep your system running for two during pregnancy. Though it really varies based on your body type and size, how active you are and so on, the general rule of thumb is somewhere between eight and 12 8-ounce glasses of water (or fluid from any source) a day.[1] But be sure to talk to your practitioner about what works for you and your situation.
Try to space out your sips to keep them coming steadily throughout the day rather than gulping a lot at once, which could leave you feeling uncomfortably full. Since most of us don't drink enough fluids, filling a water bottle or two every morning and keeping it handy all day takes the hassle out of hydration.
Be sure to sip before, during and after you exercise, or if you find yourself outside on a hot day. Note, too, that if you feel thirsty, it's a sign that your body is already on its way to being dehydrated.[2]
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How can you tell if you're getting enough? If your trips to the bathroom are frequent and your urine is pale or colorless, your hydration is on track.
What are the benefits of staying hydrated during pregnancy?
Toting around a water battle has its perks, especially during pregnancy. Staying hydrated:
Prevents constipation and hemorrhoids
Now that you're pregnant, you're not just eating and drinking for two — you're also excreting for two (ew, but true). That means you'll have more trash to take out of your system than ever before.
Enter water, which dissolves the waste products and helps flush them from the kidneys. A copious consumption of water also helps immeasurably in the poop department, helping to move solid wastes more speedily down the digestive path.
And, since constipation is pretty common in pregnant women — not to mention the fact that constipation pressure can cause hemorrhoids — well … bottoms up! (Couldn't help it!)
Prevents UTIs
Drinking enough water also keeps your urine diluted, which not only keeps things flowing but also keeps UTIs, bladder infections and kidney infections (which are types of UTIs) at bay.
Urine that hangs out too long in your bladder can become a breeding ground for infection-triggering bacteria, but staying hydrated can prevent those conditions from developing.
Cools you down
Is it crazy-hot in here — or are you pregnant? It's true, the heat is on (high!) when you're expecting. But if you drink water during pregnancy, you can keep the body's cooling system running smoothly — even when your inner thermostat is cranked all the way up — by dispersing excess heat in the form of sweat.
Fights fatigue
An ample flow of fluids also keeps pregnancy fatigue in check — one of the first symptoms of dehydration is exhaustion — and can keep headaches at bay (another dehydration symptom). It also helps your body get rid of excess sodium among other things, minimizing swelling — particularly swollen feet or ankles.
Is it safe to drink tap water when you're pregnant?
It's never a bad idea to assess the cleanliness of your drinking water — and that's especially true when you're pregnant. While most of the water you drink likely comes from public water systems and is generally safe to drink, it can be contaminated with high levels of chemicals that could harm a fetus, including lead, mercury and arsenic. In addition, there is increasing evidence that BPA (an industrial chemical that mimics estrogen and is found in some plastics) can be problematic when you're expecting.
Learn more on how to ensure your water supply is safe to drink when you're pregnant.
What other beverages should pregnant women drink?
Water is the best drink around, but what if you're all watered out? There are plenty of other liquids that make the cut:
- Milk (an 8-ounce glass yields just over 7 ounces of water)
- Sparkling or flavored waters
- Fruit and vegetable juices (watch out for added sugar in fruit juice and added sodium in veggie drinks)
- Decaffeinated teas
You should, however, dial back on soda as well as other beverages containing caffeine, since they have a diuretic effect (besides the other reasons to cut back on caffeine during pregnancy).
Keep in mind, too, that about 20 percent of your daily water intake comes from food sources. Fruits pack the most water: One cup of watermelon or cantaloupe provides just under 5 ounces of water; a medium-size pear or one cup of strawberries provides about 4 and a half ounces; a medium size orange has 4 ounces. Got the sniffles? A cup of chicken soup yields roughly 6 ounces of water.
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