Drinking Water During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body needs more fluid so you should keep your body hydrated.
Drinking water also helps increase blood volume and helps your baby to absorb nutrients easily from the mother.
There are several other benefits of drinking water during the first, second, and third trimesters of your pregnancy.
Drinking adequate water while pregnant can reduce constipation, swelling, and risk of infections, preterm labor, and preterm birth, while you stand the risk of these if you don’t drink enough water.
It can as well increase your energy level, and keeps you cool, therefore, there’s no particular time to drink water during pregnancy, just drink when you want to start feeling thirsty.
While drinking about 5 liters of water daily is good, drinking too much water at a time can have effects such as water intoxication, frequent urination, and vomiting.
What Happens if you don’t drink water but still take liquid?
Not all drinks are equally healthy for your baby. For example, carbonated beverages and coffee could hurt you.
Fruit juices contain a lot of fluid and nutrients, but they are also high in sugar, which should not be consumed during pregnancy.
Alcohol is completely prohibited throughout the entire period of your pregnancy. So, what’s left? That’s right, water.
Water is the calorie-free fluid your body needs when you’re thirsty. Water triggers all the cells to function well and prevents dehydration.
It will increase the metabolism of your body, and reduce toxicity, irritability, and fatigue.
In addition, sufficient water intake boosts immunity and skin becomes tight and elastic.
You should keep in mind that our body can only adapt to water deficiency, not to excess.
Excess fluid made during pregnancy can lead to edema, and the kidneys may not handle the increasing load on them, as they already work for two bodies.
How much Water should I drink during pregnancy?
You should drink a sufficient amount of liquid. At least 8 glasses of water, and up to 5 liters daily.
Better yet, it’s better to have a bottle of water with you, so that you can always fulfill your daily goal.
Your body and your baby will only thank you for this.
