CAMPOS& ∘06
How many methods of water tracking have you tried? I have tried about everything from printing a template with eight water cups, ready to fill every cup with a blue color druing the day, buying a one liter water bottle saying morning -noon - evening, making me feel bad the moment I reach actual evening, but the level says “morning” to having a reminder every hour to “drink water!” .And guess what, at 31 years old I still haven’t figured it out, barely reaching 1 liter every day, except for when I exercise or try to route the Grand Canyon, which doesn’t happen very often to be frank. However, I have to be honest – I have never been as disciplined with drinking water (and many other habits) as during my pregnancies.
…. I read that some people are just naturally thirsty, and somehow I never had this natural desire to drink water. I need to force myself to do that, and I want to do that for all the obvious reasons. So what are they?
Let’s hear the experts and the wisdom of the medicinal and health coaching crowd about importance of drinking water druing pregnancy.
Hydration Supports Fetal Developemnt
The researchers from Penn State University suggest that water needs increase during pregnancy to support fetal development and maternal health. During pregnancy, you will need more water intake than average person. In order to nurture the growing fetus, your body will naturally require more fluids to maintain the blood volume and support the formation of amniotic fluid, which can reach up to 800 ml by the end of your pregnancy. Staying adequately hydrated during pregnancy is essential for transportation of nutrients from you to your baby through placenta and to avoid unnecessary complications.
Prevents Dehydratation and Constipation
In general, dehydration can lead to complications such as headaches, nausea, dizziness even without pregnancy. In severe case dehydratations can cause preterm labor. Staying hydrated helps prevent constipation, which is a common issue during pregnancy due to hormonal changes.
Regulates Body Temperature
Depending on which week of pregnancy you are currently at the issue of ooverheating may be extremely relatable. I remember waking up almost every night of my third trimester due to extreme heat waves and leg cramps. Water helps regulate body temperature and frankly, during a mid-nigh heat wave there is nothing else you would go after anyway, so this will come very natural depending on your situation.
Promotes Skin Health
We all heard it, waters keeps your skin rejuvenated, hydrated, young, whatever you want to call it. And it’s an old truth - proper hydration can improve skin elasticity, which is very relevant during pregnancy as your skin around the belly is expanding rapidly, especially during the last trimester, or even weeks. Appropriate water intake can potentially reduce the severity of your stretch marks.
I started using a miracle oil BioOil from second month of my pregnancy, to encourage elasticity and minimize stretch marks (FYI 20.000 pcs bought last month - the crowd doesn't lie :). It was recommended to me by a dear friend, and I just got it at a local pharmacy shop, but you can also get it online. I loved the smell of it and even now, thinking about this ritual of oiling my belly with BioOil brings about the warmest butterflies in my stomach. It brings back the feeling of pregnancy, expectation, massaging my belly and talking to the baby without knowing the gender. And if blind-tested, I could with 100% identify the smell of it now.
Tips to stay Hydrated
It is not easy to be constantly reminded of hydratation and filling up the body with 8-10 cups every day. Read these tips to help you stay hydrated more easily
- Carry your water bottle everywhere. Choose a size and model that fits your bag and encourages you to drink more. My top 2 favorite water bottles that I use still today are Bestseller water bottle by Nalgene which comes in many different colors and clearly marks the level and an absolute favorite Stanley IceFlow Water bottle with a straw that makes it super easy to drink
- Monitor your urine color as any darker urine can be an indication of lacking water intake and is a sign of dehydratation
- Enrich your diet with more hydrating foods such as watermelons, oranges, strawberries, lettuce or even smoothies and soups
- Set reminders to drink water in regular intervals throughout the day. Garmin watches have a bult-in water tracking function, but any Smarphone’s alarm should do the job as well
- Flavor your water is pure water is unappealing or dull. Add a lemon, blueberry or mint for a tiny flavor
- Avoid dehydrating drinks such as excessive coffee or sugary sodas
Every pregnancy is different and so are individual needs and urges for water drinking, so be mindful that these benefits and tips are to be taken as an inspiration and advise. Please talk to your ob/gyn specialist to confirm additional benefits and risks of water intake/deficiency during pregnancy.