THE BENEFITS OF DRINKING WATER DURING PREGNANCY
THE BENEFITS OF DRINKING WATER DURING PREGNANCY
Pregnant or not, you require water to stay healthy. Your body and your vital organs must have water to function correctly. It also helps your body to get rid of wastes and toxins through urination, perspiration and bowel movements
During pregnancy, your body needs more water to cope with the demands of your changing body. Not drinking enough water can cause dehydration. Dehydration during pregnancy can also reason other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, cramps, oedema and dizziness.
It’s especially important to stay hydrated in the last trimester when dehydration can reason contractions that can trigger preterm labour. Some women find that drinking water regularly helps relieve symptoms of morning sickness, heartburn, and acidity, as well as indigestion.
How much water should I drink while I’m pregnant?
It is recommended you drink about three liters (eight to 12 glasses) of fluid every day. Try sipping water throughout the day rather than drinking a lot at once. Every little bit of water helps ensure a healthy pregnancy. For every hour of light exercise you do, add another glass of water. During the summer, you will need to drink even more to make up for the fluid you lose because of perspiration.
Don’t hesitate to drink water and other fluids because you’re afraid of retaining water. Oddly enough, fluid retention can result from not drinking enough, because your body will hang on to more fluid if it senses it’s becoming dehydrated.
Transport Nutrients to Your Baby
Ever wonder how prenatal vitamins and the food you’re consuming every day are delivered to your fetus? The answer is water. It helps your body absorb necessary nutrients and transports vitamins, minerals, and hormones to blood cells. It’s those nutrient-rich blood cells that ultimately reach your baby. Drinking water also helps to preserve an ideal level of amniotic fluid and even helps fetal kidney function. It’s never a bad idea to assess the cleanliness of your drinking water, especially when you’re pregnant. Make sure that you’re drinking from a filtered source to avoid chemicals that could harm a fetus, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.
Decrease Your Risk for Infections and Discomfort
Prevent urinary tract infections, constipation, and hemorrhoids by staying hydrated. Water helps to dissolve waste and flushes it from the kidneys, keeps your urine diluted, and moves solid waste more speedily down the digestive path, which helps you avert numerous health concerns. How can you tell if you’re drinking enough water? If your trips to the bathroom are frequent and your urine is pale or colorless, your water consumption is on track.
Prevent Dehydration and Feel Better
Drink water to keep aches and growing pains at bay and to prevent dehydration, which is the main contributor to headaches, cramping, and dizziness. For some women, drinking water helps to alleviate morning sickness, heartburn, and indigestion. Staying properly hydrated becomes especially essential during the third trimester because dehydration can trigger contractions that can lead to preterm labor. Water helps to keep your body’s cooling system running smoothly by dispersing surplus heat in the form of sweat to prevent overheating, in addition to getting rid of excess sodium, among other things, which minimizes swelling of the feet or ankles.