Dehydration during pregnancy can lead to serious pregnancy complications, including neural tube defects, low amniotic fluid, inadequate breast milk production, and even premature labor. These risks, in turn, can lead to birth defects due to lack of water and nutritional support for your baby.
Keeping hydrated is important in pregnancy
When you do not drink enough fluid (water), you can become dehydrated. This is where your body loses more fluid than it is taking in. If you are being sick or sweating a lot, which can happen during pregnancy, you can become dehydrated quickly.
During pregnancy you should drink 8 to 12 cups (64 to 96 ounces) of water every day. Water has many benefits. It aids digestion and helps form the amniotic fluid around the fetus. Water also helps nutrients circulate in the body and helps waste leave the body.
For example, you're likely to need more fluid than usual when it's hot outside or if you're exercising. The best way to tell if you're getting enough water: Your urine should look pale yellow or colorless, and you should feel thirsty only occasionally.
Moderate or severe dehydration may cause a threatened miscarriage. Severe dehydration during pregnancy can induce serious complications such as blood clots, neural tube defects, and seizures.
Since you need more water during pregnancy, how much is enough? It's recommended that you drink 8-12 glasses of water a day, or 2.3 liters. If your trips to the bathroom are frequent and your urine is pale or colorless, you're drinking is on track.
Pregnancy Needs
In addition to maintaining fluid volume needs, most municipal water contains fluoride, which can aid the development of teeth and bones in the growing fetus (Henderson & Lenders, 1999).
To meet your fluid needs throughout the day, choose water most often. Remember that other fluids like milk, coffee, tea and juice also count towards your daily fluid intake.
The reason is simple: 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. The body's increased water needs during pregnancy add to the challenge of maintaining fluid balance.
So Why Is it So Important to Drink Water Before an Ultrasound? Dehydration can cause your urine to be concentrated, which can lead to inaccurate results. In addition, dehydration can also cause the liver to produce less bile, which can make it more difficult to see the gallbladder on an ultrasound.
Three cups of low-fat milk each day will help you meet more than a third of your protein needs for pregnancy.
severe abdominal pain. nausea (upset stomach) that keeps you from keeping down liquids and food all day long or vomiting (throwing up) more than two to three times each day on most days. temperature higher than 100.4 F. painful urination or greatly increased urination.
Pregnant women carrying girls have a greater chance of experiencing nausea and fatigue, according to the results of a study from the USA's Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Most miscarriages - 8 out of 10 (80 percent) - happen in the first trimester before the 12th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage in the second trimester (between 13 and 19 weeks) happens in 1 to 5 in 100 (1 to 5 percent) pregnancies. Pregnancy loss that happens after 20 weeks is called stillbirth.
Water, milk, and herbal teas are all some of the best drinks to keep you and your baby safe during pregnancy. Part of your plan to stay hydrated can include drinks just for fun, too, as long as you're staying away from those listed no-nos.
As a mom-to-be, you and your baby require more water than the average person. This is because water takes on additional roles during pregnancy. For example, water is an essential part of the placenta, which delivers nutrients to your growing baby, and the amniotic sac, which cushions your baby throughout pregnancy.
Two early signs of dehydration are thirst and dark-coloured urine. This is the body's way of trying to increase water intake and decrease water loss. Other symptoms may include: dizziness or light-headedness.
Women should go to the hospital for dehydration when they: feel the baby's pattern of movement changes. begin to bleed or leak fluid. experience contractions that they think might be a sign of premature labor.
“If you don't get enough water, hard stools and constipation could be common side effects, along with abdominal pain and cramps.” Dull skin. Dehydration shows up on your face in the form of dry, ashy skin that seems less radiant, plump and elastic. Fatigue.
Your skin and mouth will feel dry. You will be thirsty, you have a headache, and you will be constipated. You may feel dizzy or lightheaded and urine will be a dark yellow color. You will feel foggy brained and sluggish, and will constantly crave snacks and sugar.