During pregnancy, you'll need more water than a non-pregnant individual needs. During pregnancy you lose fluids quicker because a lot of the fluids you take in, leave your blood vessels and heads to your various body tissues.
Benefits of staying hydrated during pregnancy:
- Less risk of preterm labor - a lack of fluids can kick preterm labor into gear.
- Fewer headaches.
- Less pregnancy dizziness and constipation.
How much to drink: Current research notes that about
12 glasses 8 oz glasses of water a day is a good goal. 12 is an excellent goal, sure, unless you happen to be pregnant and peeing all the time. Then it seems like a horrible idea to drink that much water. Keep in mind though, they're not kidding about the preterm labor deal. I've been there. Not being a fan of water (at least not when I was pregnant) I didn't drink as much as I should have, and ended up with the world's worst early contractions. Luckily my early contractions stopped, but not without a long, long emergency room trip, IV fluids, and way too much fuss. It was no fun. If you don't love keeping track of your fluid intake, you'll know that you're getting enough fluids if your urine is light yellow to clear colored. If water is too boring, try adding a slice of orange or lime. OR even add a splash of fruit spritzer.
