Adequate water consumption for the safety of the developing fetus, as well as the mother is one of the most important preventive health maintenance strategies recommended by prenatal health care professionals. Of which, water is the main substance for the production of breast milk and necessary for good lactation.



Drinking plenty of water during pregnancy helps the mother avoid dehydration problems that can lead to quite a lengthy list of negative health complications such as headaches, water retention, nausea (morning sickness, cramps, oedema (ankle swelling), dizziness, heartburn, and elevated blood pressure. During the third trimester, the lack of water in the body can can cause early contractions that leads to premature labor.

A common health problem, among women that are pregnant, is the risk for developing a urinary tract infection. Increased water intake helps lowers this risk considerably, by keeping urine diluted and from pooling up to long in the bladder. Thus, your entire urine excretion system stays flushed.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, the more water you drink during your pregnancy, the less water the body will try to hold on to, especially if there is water/salt imbalance (more salt than water). It will also help avoid constipation and hemorrhoids.

So, how do you know if you are drinking enough water? The best indicator that you are getting enough is by the color of your excreted urine. If it is dark yellow or orange it is a signal to increase your water intake. Light yellow to pale colored urine, and you are doing fine.

An easy way to measure how much you are drinking everyday, is to fill a two or three quart container, with a goal of trying to finish it all by the end of the day.

Summer season pregnancies require awareness on your part to add an extra glass or two to accommodate for mobile exertion that results in perspiring and equals more fluids being lost. Try to steer clear of of caffeinated beverages such as tea, cola, or coffee, and do not make the mistake of counting them as part of your regular daily water intake. Caffeine is considered a mild drug and is a diuretic. These types of drinks, although made with water, will actually cause more urination and force more water out of your body.

So, what if don't like the taste of water, and are having a hard time making yourself drink what you should?

To help ease yourself into the healthy habit, hopefully a good habit you will keep after delivery, try one of these easy tips. Try freezing up some small ice cubes made with your favorite fruit juice. Add a few cubes to a tall glass of water. It will have a weak fruity taste, as well an eye catching appearance. Or, if you like the taste of lemon or lime squeeze a small wedge into your glass of water.

If tap water safety concerns you, you may want to invest in a home filtration system for your drinking and cooking needs. When traveling or away from home, opting to drink bottled water may be more convenient than bringing your own with you, just make sure the seal is not broken and check expiration dates closely. Avoid prepackaged water in questionable plastic containers, certain types of plastics have been linked to hormone problems.

While meeting the nutritional needs of both mother and baby are very critical issues, adequate water intake education seems to take a back seat in its level of dominance for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and a healthy infant. In fact, dehydration problems in the general population is the single most important preventable solution in healing a very long list of degenerative health conditions in itself.

The issue of morning sickness has often been attributed to deficiencies of specific nutrients lacking in the mothers diet by many nutritional health experts. According to Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., author of "You Body's Many Cries For Water" claims, although it is very subtle and simple by nature, morning sickness is the first sign that a pregnant female and her fetus are dehydrated.

Dr. B states in his book, page 15, "during the intrauterine stage of cell expansion, water for cell growth of the child has to be provided by the mother. However, the transmitter system for water intake seems to be produced by the fetal tissue, but registers its effects on the mother during the early phase of pregnancy".

This very unpleasant symptom of being pregnant hinders many women from eating properly, sometimes well into mid-day. Instead of trying to figure out what type of food nutrient may be missing from the diet, why not treat the nausea with water first?