Drinking water during pregnancy

It is always beneficial to drink plenty of water throughout the day but it is particularly important for pregnant women to drink water.

How much water should I be drinking?

During pregnancy, you will need to drink more water than you probably usually do; as a general guide you should try to drink a minimum of six 8 ounce glasses of water (or around 2.3 litres of water) per day and you will need to drink more if it is a hot day or you are exercising (you should drink an extra 8 ounce glass of water for every hour of exercise you complete).

Do other drinks count as part of my fluid intake?

Other drinks do count; however, water is often the best option in terms of health benefits. Fruit juices are a good source of vitamins and minerals but try to steer clear of juices that have added sugars and additives. You can drink coffee and tea during pregnancy but you should keep an eye on the amount of caffeine you consume; try to go for the decaffeinated versions as these are better for your baby.

Why is it important to drink water during pregnancy?

It is important to drink plenty of water during pregnancy because water acts as the body’s transport system and is therefore responsible for carrying nutrients to the baby.

Drinking plenty of water also helps to prevent dehydration, which can be very serious in pregnant women. Dehydration can cause contractions, which may result in premature labour. During pregnancy the woman’s blood volume increases significantly so it is important to drink more water than usual to prevent dehydration.

Drinking water also helps to reduce water retention; the body retains water during pregnancy and most of it is used in the amniotic sack (the sack contains the amniotic fluid, which protects the foetus; the sack must be kept moist and it has to be constantly replenished); however, in many cases, the body retains too much water and this can cause some women to experience swelling in their limbs. Drinking water also has a huge range of other health benefits for pregnant women; these are outlined in greater details below.

What are the benefits of drinking water?

Drinking water has a range of health benefits for everyone but water is particularly beneficial for pregnant women; drinking water during pregnancy helps to:

• Decrease the risk of dehydration
• Decrease the risk of getting constipation and haemorrhoids
• Healthy looking skin
• More regular bowel movements
• Lower risk of premature birth or miscarriage (as a result of good hydration)
• Can ease feelings of nausea (morning sickness)
• Lower risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs)- these are very common in pregnant women

What if I don’t like the taste of water?

You should try really hard to convert yourself to drinking water; it is essential for good health, contains no calories or unpleasant additives and has a vast range of benefits. If you don’t like the taste of water, you can try adding a wedge of lime or lemon; it is better to drink plain water, rather than cordial but if you really can’t manage, choose a sugar-free cordial and don’t make it too strong.  

What you should and shouldn’t do during Pregnancy:

---

• What you should and shouldn’t do during Pregnancy
• Drinking water during pregnancy

---