Many Women wondering How much water should I drink during pregnancy? A pregnant woman should drink an extra 8 to 12 cups of water a day over and above what is normally required. Pregnant women need to increase their water intake by roughly 340ml for every trimester. Depending on your weight and activity level, your doctor may recommend drinking eight to twelve 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
In the first trimester, this would amount to 6 glasses of around 200 ml each, in the second trimester it is about 8 glasses of around 200 ml each, and in the third trimester, it is about 9-12 glasses of around 200ml each. However, this can vary depending on age, weight gain, physical activity levels, etc. An average recommended water intake for pregnant women would be 11 cups or 1310 ml a day. In this article, we will provide you with how much water intake is important for pregnant women.
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How much water should you drink during pregnancy?
As we said above pregnant women drink an extra 8 to 12 cups of water every day. Many experts recommend that women drink about 10 glasses of water each day when they are pregnant, not including the water in food and other beverages. This is important because changes in metabolism, blood volume, morning sickness and kidney function can affect your body’s overall hydration status during pregnancy. Also, dehydration is associated with an increased risk of maternal and fetal complications during pregnancy.
An expecting mother should also remember to avoid caffeinated drinks, including tea, coffee, and soda. If you are used to drinking these beverages regularly, it will be hard to stop them cold turkey, but this is important for both the health of the baby as well as your own. Try at least replacing one or two cups a day with water instead. This will help you adjust over the first trimester.
In addition to this, other energy drinks you take in should still be counted towards your water intake goal for the day. For example, juice counts as a serving of fruit or vegetables and can add additional nutrients to your diet. Beverages such as milk and soup also contain other important nutrients that are beneficial to both you and your baby.
As well as you should always check with your doctor though, before taking any medication. Some drugs have a diuretic effect and can cause you to lose even more water from your body through the urine. This includes over-the-counter medications as well as prescription medicines. Including healthy snacks during pregnancy is important too. Foods such as fruits and vegetables are great for either a quick snack or to complement your meals.
Why drinking water is important in pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a time of intense changes in your body and you need extra water to support it. You only get about 11% of the fluid you need from food, so you must drink plenty of fluids to replace what’s lost. The amniotic fluid that protects and supports your baby is mostly water. As a result, you’ll need to have more fluid intake to make up for the increase in amniotic fluid.
Therefore, drinking water is important because it not only provides the fluid necessary to support this increase in amniotic fluid, but water also prevents you from becoming dehydrated and unwell. It prevents pregnancy complications or urinary tract infections and many more. And for healthy pregnancy stay hydrated is the best thing that you can do.
Most pregnant women avoid drinking fluids, thinking it will make them bloated. But drinking extra fluids throughout the day is very important, especially during pregnancy to keep you and your baby healthy. Avoiding water can be unhealthy for you and your pregnancy. The sparkling water, soda, and fruit juice contain caffeine and added sugar so it’s better to drink water.
Though maintaining body temperature staying hydrated during pregnancy is an important thing to do. And for a healthy pregnancy body weight gain is also need to drink enough fluids throughout the day. About 8-10 glasses of water or other drinks are recommended for pregnant moms during their pregnancy. The amount of fluids you need depends on how active you are, your body size. But it is very important to drink enough fluids every day to avoid dehydration, which can cause many health problems in both mother and baby.
What Types of water should expected moms drink?
A Pregnant woman drink tap water or mineral water because the chemicals and other elements in the water bottle may harm the fetus. Here, we help you determine which types of water to drink while pregnant.
1. Tap water
If the tap water in your local area is not highly polluted, it can still be considered safe to drink. Many pregnant moms tend to avoid drinking water from tap due to its smell or taste. However, there are few things which you might consume in large quantities that cause even more harm than water. For baby growth purified water from the tap is better. And the water-soluble vitamins are present in it and for hot weather, the pregnant woman must drink a good amount of water.
2. Mineral water
It is an expensive source but it is safe for expected moms to use. There are many brands in the market and all of them have different mineral content. Some of these contain a lot of iron, which can affect a baby’s growth. For dark yellow urine, drinking enough water help you flush out toxins faster. You can also check the sodium content in the bottle as it may cause hypertension and swelling of the feet and hands.
3. Flavored water
It is tasty and refreshing to drink flavored water like lemon, but the chemicals present in the fruits may not be good for your growing baby. You can make it at home using natural ingredients or if you do not want to go through the trouble of making flavored water yourself, buy unflavored water. For maternal-infant outcomes, unflavored water is better than flavored water. The decaf tea you drink may also contain harmful chemicals that caused bladder infections. So, try to drink herbal teas because it has many benefits and is safe for pregnant women’s.
4. Seltzer or carbonated water
Carbonated water is the best option. It has no added sugar, unlike soda or other sweetened drinks, which can harm your baby’s growing body. The seltzer water also contains the right amount of minerals that are good for pregnancy. From pale yellow to deep pink or red, the color of seltzer water does not affect its quality. This is because it is made with purifying water and carbon dioxide.
5. Bottled water
This is a safe choice for pregnant moms to drink during their pregnancy. Drinking enough water bottle is generally safe, as it does not contain any chemicals or additives. However, you should check for the minerals mentioned on the label of the bottle. Avoid drinking water with a high concentration of magnesium and calcium as it can increase your intake of these minerals. You should drink enough water but make sure it is low in mineral content. Toxic chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate may also be found in plastic bottles, which can leach into the contents of the bottle. Read the label to know more about the ingredients.
What happens if pregnant woman not drink water?
Water is critical to overall health for both the pregnant woman and her unborn baby. Dehydration in pregnancy can lead to serious problems including low birth weight, pre-eclampsia, and increased rates of cesarean section. In severe cases, it can lead to hospitalization.
Water is critical for some processes which help the baby develop. For example, water is needed to make amniotic fluids around the baby in the uterus (womb). Water helps prevent these complications by keeping blood volume up which ensures an adequate supply of oxygenated blood gets to the placenta.
Therefore, the fluid intake of the pregnant woman should closely match the fluid loss of pregnancy. If expected moms feel thirsty, they should follow the recommendations given to them by their healthcare provider. These will include, among other things, how much fluid to take in each day and the type of fluids preferred. The major component of water helps you to prevent kidney stones. A healthy human body is 70 percent water. Water not only helps to make up the shape of your cells, but it also does many things in and around your body.
Many doctors prescribe the following daily intake of water for pregnant moms in hot climates. A woman should drink at least 8-12 glasses of water every day. So, the best advice is to keep yourself hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water.
The Bottom line
For anyone who is pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, the question of how much water should I drink during pregnancy may come up. While experts can’t give a definitive answer as many factors affect this decision. They do recommend drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day for general freelance health purposes and about 10-12 cups in total if you’re breastfeeding your baby exclusively. If you have any questions about how much water is needed for your unique situation, consult with your doctor or midwife before making changes to your intake habits. If this sounds like too much or if you have other questions about pregnancy nutrition. Then share your queries through the comment section below.
