Hydration and Pregnancy
For every woman, the stage of pregnancy and childbirth is a very important time.
They need to be careful about their health by giving very detail in their diet and lifestyle.
Often the issue of hydration during pregnancy is little taken into account. If you want a healthy gestation, you must carry adequate hydration at all times.
When women are pregnant, you need more water than the average person in order to form amniotic fluid, produce extra blood, build new tissue, carry nutrients, enhance digestion, and flush out wastes and toxins.
There are some conditions that can increase the needs of fluid consumption in pregnancy such as hot weather, physical activity, nausea and vomiting.
During pregnancy, the presence of constipation is common which could be due to lack of fluid and/or fibre consumption.
Dehydration during pregnancy can result in mild dehydration to serious complications.
Mild dehydration
- Maternal Overheating
- Headaches/sluggishness
- Dark or concentrated urine
Serious Dehydration
- Low amniotic fluid
- Kidney stones
- Swelling
- Birth defects
- Urinary tract infections, which can lead to preterm labour and preterm birth.
It is advisable to consume:
- Seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Drinks with an adequate amount of electrolytes
- Preferably skim milk
- Fruit juices and juices
The ideal is to consume water and drinks that provide electrolytes to cover the fluid needs of both the mother and baby.