Doctors recommend pregnant women drink about 10 glasses of 236 ml water or other liquids per day. But is it really possible to drink so much water? In this article, learn some tips for drinking water during pregnancy.
Drinking fluids properly during pregnancy
Everyone’s body needs are different. Therefore, it is not necessary to really drink 10 glasses of water a day, and if you see that the water and fluids you need are a little more or less, don’t worry too soon. As long as your urine is pale yellow or colorless, then you are getting enough fluids. You may also need more fluids in hot weather, at high altitudes, or when exercising.
Drinking 10 glasses of water may seem like a lot, especially if you have morning sickness. Instead of drinking a large amount of water at once, try taking a few sips at a time throughout the day. If you don’t like the taste of the water, try adding a wedge of lemon or lime for flavor.
Plain water is an ideal drink, but milk, juice, coffee, and tea also contain a lot of water and count as part of your fluid intake. However, keep in mind that juices and sweetened beverages are also high in calories. Therefore, you should not rely on them too much.
It’s also better to limit your caffeine intake, including coffee, tea, and caffeinated beverages. Obstetricians advise pregnant women not to consume more than 200 mg of caffeine per day.
Another important point is not to avoid drinking water and other liquids for fear of water retention. It sounds strange, but water retention can be caused by not drinking enough water because if your body feels dehydrated, it will retain more water.
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Eliminate pregnancy complications by drinking liquids
If your feet and ankles are swollen, drinking more water can help. Remember to call your doctor if the swelling is excessive or comes on suddenly, as it could be a sign of preeclampsia.
Fluids can also help prevent common pregnancy problems like constipation, hemorrhoids, and bladder infections. Drinking water dilutes urine and this reduces the risk of infection.
It’s also important to have enough water in your body, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy, because it’s at this time that dehydration or low water levels in your body can cause contractions that lead to premature birth.
The effect of drinking healthy water on pregnant women
The reason why it is recommended for pregnant women to drink at least two liters of water per day is that the amount of blood in pregnant women increases by about one liter so that the fetus can receive the nutrients and oxygen it needs through the placenta.
By drinking more water, the body stores more fluids and blood circulation improves. In addition, because pregnant women often sweat a lot, drinking more water helps the body get the important minerals it needs.
In addition, drinking water helps the function and structure of the mother’s muscles and prevents varicose veins.
Pregnant women should keep in mind that drinking fruit juices and other beverages will not solve their need for water and they should drink significant amounts of water throughout the day. Drinking water early in the morning will significantly reduce pregnancy complications such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, constipation, and depression.
Another point is that drinking water prevents the body from becoming dehydrated. Dehydration during pregnancy causes problems such as headaches, fluid retention in the body, nausea, muscle spasms, dizziness, etc.
This issue becomes more prominent in the third trimester of pregnancy because dehydration at this time can cause contractions that lead to premature birth. Furthermore, it prevents the appearance of urinary infections that occur more frequently during pregnancy and also reduces constipation and hemorrhoids.
The color of your urine is the best way to check the amount of water in your body. Dark-colored urine indicates that the body needs more water, and colorless urine indicates that the amount of water the body receives is sufficient.
If you are one of those women who find it difficult even to drink water in this period, it is better to add a slice of lime or a few drops of fresh lemon juice in a glass or in a jug of water to make it taste better.
Adding fresh coriander, fennel seeds, or a cardamom seed to your water can give your water a better flavor and make it more pleasant to drink. You can also use chunks of frozen fruit like oranges, lemons, kiwis, peaches, apricots, and plums instead of ice.
