How much water to drink during pregnancy?

(June 15, 2010)

Drinking Water In Pregnancy

Water is one of the most important fluids required to keep the body healthy and ensure that all the vital organs are functioning properly. Water is essential at all times to keep the body hydrated which also gives an individual a healthy appearance. The need for water is even more during pregnancy for rehydration of tissues and for healthy blood cells.

Water is also an important component of breast milk and is hence required for good lactation. Water is extremely essential during pregnancy as the fluids play the role of the body’s transportation mechanism and supply various vital nutrients to the baby via the blood. Additionally water also helps in flushing out harmful toxins from the body and diluting the urine thereby preventing urinary tract infections which tend to be a common occurrence during pregnancy. During pregnancy, hormones tend to change the way a woman will store water in her body by retaining more water. Hence water consumption should be increased during pregnancy as a lot of this water is also required by the amniotic sac which replenishes itself almost every half hour with around half a cup of the water that is stored in the body. Replacing this water by drinking additional water during pregnancy will ensure that the fetus is safe and protected in the mother’s womb. During the eighth month of pregnancy it is observed that the volume of blood increases making it thicker. This can be corrected by drinking plenty of water as otherwise thick blood results in problems like high blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues. Pregnant women are advised to consume at least 8- 10 glasses or 3 glasses of water in addition to the specially recommended foods during pregnancy. This will prevent dehydration which could result in premature labor. Most doctors also recommend drinking plenty of water between meals as it helps prevent morning sickness, washes away excess sodium from the body and even results on healthier skin. Pregnant women can check if they are dehydrated by monitoring the color of their urine, if the urine is pale colored then their water intake is sufficient whereas if the urine is dark then they need to consume more water. Drinking sufficient amounts of water during pregnancy also helps prevent problems like cramps, oedema, water retention etc.

Pregnant women should ensure that they only consume bottled, filtered or boiled water at all times so as to avoid water borne infections.

Submitted by P T on June 15, 2010 at 12:45

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