How to Stay Hydrated in Pregnancy
Water is the ultimate source of nourishment for almost every area of your physical health, especially during pregnancy. Water helps with energy, digestion, maintaining body temperature and blood pressure, and plenty more.
For some, getting their daily amount of water is a challenge, but hydration is even more important during pregnancy as your body needs even more fluids to help grow and develop your baby.
Am I getting enough?
A good aim is to drink enough water throughout the day (at least 2 litres) to avoid dehydration, even if this means more trips to the bathroom. Keep an eye on your fluid levels by checking the colour of your urine. Dark yellow urine means you may have mild dehydration. A good note to keep in mind - the darker colour, the more severe dehydration. A very light colour indicates that you have healthy hydration levels. You may also urinate less than normal if you are dehydrated. Dehydration is never a good thing as it can lead to further health problems/complications - neither of which you want!
Beware of these signs of dehydration
• Constipation
• Thirst and hunger
• Low blood pressure
• Headache
• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Dry, flaky and cracked skin
Tips to increase your water intake
1. Put fruit in your water! Add strawberries, raspberries, lemon, or lime to give it some extra flavour.
2. Listen to your body - if you’re ever craving water, you should definitely be drinking some.
3. Avoid becoming over-heated as much as possible
4. Eat more fruits and veggies; they have plenty of water in them as well.
5. Cut caffeine out of your diet
6. Switch to sparkling water or tea if they taste better. Try to add anything water-based to your rotation!
With a few simple changes, you can easily add more water to your diet. Stay conscious of how much you’re giving your body by checking your urine colour and other symptoms. At the end of the day, having enough water is one of the most important things you can do when you’re pregnant.
On the bright side, there are other amazing benefits of drinking water too, like smooth skin and more energy, so get drinking!