How To Stay Hydrated During Pregnancy
It’s challenging to maintain proper fluid balance during pregnancy. Symptoms caused by the hormonal and physical changes of pregnancy speed up the loss of fluids and electrolytes. When we lose fluids and electrolytes too quickly, we become dehydrated.
During pregnancy, your body requires more water, adding to the challenge of proper fluid balance. For instance, a majority of the maternal weight is water. Normally, there are about 5 to 6 liters of water in the body. During pregnancy, this can increase to as much as 9 liters. Expecting mothers also produce higher blood volume (which requires more water) to help send nutrients to the developing baby.
Hydration is important for all of us, but when you’re a busy mom-to-be, getting proper levels of fluids and electrolytes is even more essential, which is why you need to know how to stay hydrated during pregnancy.
DripDrop is a fast hydration solution, safe for expecting mothers, that can help rehydrate you when you need it most.
Learn how to recognize early signs of dehydration to adjust your fluid intake habits as needed.
Signs of Dehydration during Pregnancy
Maintaining hydration while pregnant is very important. Prepare yourself for how to stay hydrated while pregnant by learning how to recognize the many signs of dehydration.
Once you recognize these signs, you can focus on rehydrating quickly as possible to avoid any complications. DripDrop can help—it was developed by a doctor using oral rehydration science to hydrate the body fast while also having a delicious taste.
Here are the main signs of dehydration during pregnancy:
Dizziness and fainting
Dry mouth
Maternal overheating — an increased risk of increased body temperature while pregnant
Tiredness and fatigue
Constipation
Headache
Dark urine
Sunken eyes
Irritability or confusion
If you experience these signs, it’s important to act quickly. Simply drinking water is not enough to properly hydrate your body. You need to consume the right amount of electrolytes too. Some women wonder, “Are electrolytes safe for pregnancy?” and the answer is: Yes! Electrolytes are vital for an array of bodily functions, and it’s even more important to ensure your body is functioning at its best when you’re expecting.
However, it’s also important to let your obstetrician or health care provider know if you think you’re dehydrated when you’re pregnant. A qualified professional can help you monitor the signs and keep an eye on the situation as your baby grows.
Causes of Dehydration During Pregnancy
Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids and electrolytes than it can replace. Organs and cells in your body need these components to work properly. So when you’re dehydrated, you may start to experience a breakdown in normal functioning.
Maintaining proper hydration during pregnancy is particularly important because water and electrolytes are essential to the growth and development of your fetus. The placenta needs water in order to transfer nutrients between you and your baby. The amniotic sac also uses fluids to help protect your baby.
Without enough fluids, complications including neural tube defects, seizures, and preterm labor can occur. These complications typically occur in cases of severe fluid imbalance.
Fluid needs can vary from day to day, but a general rule of thumb is to divide your weight in half and drink that many ounces of water each day. For example, if you weigh 100 pounds, you should try to drink 50 ounces of water.
You need to be particularly careful about maintaining hydration during pregnancy because some pregnancy symptoms can contribute to dehydration. Conditions such as morning sickness, diarrhea, and maternal overheating dramatically increase the risk of dehydration.
Luckily, there are some simple ways to hydrate fast and maintain that hydration throughout the day, from consuming an electrolyte drink mix like DripDrop to eating more foods with high water content.
We’ll share some tips for how to stay hydrated during pregnancy later on, but first, let’s look at some of the most common causes of dehydration during pregnancy.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness affects roughly 50% of expecting mothers, with some estimates suggesting it may be as high as 70-80% of women. According to the American Pregnancy Association, morning sickness symptoms typically begin during the first trimester at 4 to 6 weeks and peak at 9 to 13 weeks. Symptoms of morning sickness include vomiting, nausea, increased sweating, and more frequent urination.
Commonly, the symptoms of morning sickness are greatly diminished or disappear completely by the second and third trimesters. However, up to 20% of expectant women may experience morning sickness throughout their three trimesters.
Vomiting, increased sweating, and more frequent urination speed up the loss of water and electrolytes, making it essential to stay hydrated while pregnant. In addition, nausea discourages you from drinking adequate volumes of fluids voluntarily, which can make it more difficult to replace lost nutrients. Electrolytes are vital, and safe, for pregnant women to help fetal development.
Hyperemesis (Severe Morning Sickness)
Hyperemesis, sometimes called severe morning sickness, is a rare condition that affects about 2% of expecting mothers. Researchers don’t know the exact cause of hyperemesis, but some studies show a link between an increase in the hormone HCG (which is produced by the placenta). The symptoms of hyperemesis are often confused with those of morning sickness, but they are much more severe and last throughout the pregnancy. Symptoms include severe vomiting, extreme nausea, and the inability to keep down foods.
Like morning sickness, the symptoms of hyperemesis cause a rapid loss of fluids and electrolytes. Plus, fever — which is sometimes associated with the vomiting and nausea of hyperemesis — can increase sweating and amplify fluid loss. Without enough water and electrolytes, dehydration begins to set in.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea during pregnancy can be caused by sudden dietary changes, increased hormone production, and the sensitivity to certain foods some pregnant women experience. During the third trimester, especially close to the due date, diarrhea is more common.
Diarrhea results in a severe loss of water and electrolytes, and it is one of the leading causes of dehydration. Replenishing water and electrolytes with an electrolyte powder like DripDrop after an episode of diarrhea is critical for fast hydration.
Hot Weather and Excessive Sweating
Some pregnant women experience increased sweating during their pregnancies. Sweat is one of the main ways we lose fluids and electrolytes. That’s why doctors often recommend increasing water intake to sustain hydration during pregnancy.
Additionally, hot weather can increase sweat production and raise the risk of dehydration. It can also increase the risk of heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
While pregnant, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids, especially if you’re active or are outdoors in high temperatures — particularly when temps are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Pack a water bottle and a few sticks of DripDrop in your bag so you can easily drink fluids while on the go.
Tips for How to Stay Hydrated During Pregnancy
It’s tricky to stay hydrated even when you’re not expecting, despite the fact that drinking water sounds so simple. But we know life can get in the way. When you’re a busy person on the go—and you’re expecting!—remembering to drink water can sometimes fall to the wayside.
However, maintaining proper hydration during pregnancy is absolutely essential to you and your baby’s health. Here are some quick tips on how to stay hydrated during pregnancy.
Carry a reusable water bottle. Sometimes having a simple physical reminder to drink water can do wonders for your hydration habits. Find a water bottle that you like, and make it part of your routine to carry it around the house, in the car, and anywhere else you might go.
Add electrolyte powder to your water. Staying hydrated isn’t just about water—electrolytes are essential to bodily functions. If you’re wondering, “Are electrolytes safe for pregnancy?” Yes. You need these essential vitamins and minerals to help with fetal development. One way to hydrate fast and intake the right amount of electrolytes is to make DripDrop part of your hydration routine. This doctor-developed formula utilizes a hydration shortcut to rehydrate you fast while tasting delicious.
Avoid drinks with high caffeine content. Pregnant women usually know to steer clear of caffeine for a variety of reasons, but high caffeine content can also lead to dehydration. If you want a safe, low-caffeine option, you can make a cup of herbal tea. Though not as hydrating as water, drinking tea can help increase fluid intake.
Set reminders. If you’re really having trouble remembering to sip often, set alarms throughout the day on your phone and be sure to drink water before you turn your alarm off.
Eat foods with high water content. Many fruits and vegetables contain high water content and vital electrolytes your body needs. These foods can’t replace the water you need to drink each day, but they can boost hydration and add electrolytes to your diet.
DripDrop Can Help You Stay Hydrated While Expecting
Electrolyte drink mix DripDrop is the best way to help you stay hydrated while pregnant. It was specifically designed to hydrate fast using oral rehydration solution science—but with a much better taste. Adding DripDrop to your water feels like giving yourself a delicious, healthy treat with all the electrolytes you need to hydrate fast and maintain electrolyte balance.
Fruit juices and sports drinks are packed with too much sugar and not enough electrolytes. DripDrop features three times the amount of electrolytes and half the amount of sugar.
For cases of mild to moderate dehydration, DripDrop is a fast, effective, and great-tasting remedy. Plus, our convenient packaging allows you to have DripDrop when you need it, where you need it. Get started with our most popular multi-flavor pouch, or learn more about how you can save up to 25% on every purchase when you subscribe.
Image via Flickr.
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