Water is essential not only for the mother but also for the unborn baby. So during pregnancy, you must not only be careful about your diet, but also make sure to drink enough water. So how much water should pregnant women drink? Read on to find out how doctors recommend!
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ToggleThe need for water for pregnant women
Water is essential for the human body and not only that, during pregnancy, water plays an even more important role. Here are some special roles of water for pregnant women:
Transport nutrients to the fetus
Water is a solvent that helps transport nutrients to the body. For pregnant women, the vitamins and minerals that a pregnant woman consumes will be delivered to the fetus through water.
Water dissolves, absorbs and transfers nutrients to blood cells. Through the placenta, these blood cells will be transported and nourished by the fetus. The efficiency of transporting nutrients will be enhanced when pregnant women drink enough water.
Reduce the risk of infection
Due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy and the structure of the urinary tract, infection in pregnant women is more common than in other subjects.
Thanks to neutralizing water, pregnant women can prevent the risk of getting or recurring urinary tract and bladder infections. Water helps to dilute the urine, inhibit the growth of bacteria and they will be eliminated immediately.
The types of water containing magnesium minerals contribute to softening waste, increasing intestinal motility. As a result, pregnant women can reduce constipation and hemorrhoids during pregnancy.
Helps the body’s excretory function
During pregnancy, pregnant women often have more difficulty in excreting. Therefore, during pregnancy, we must ensure that the excretory function of the body is working properly.
The time the baby is in the mother’s womb will make the pregnant mother go to the toilet constantly, so the water will help this excretory activity take place more quickly and smoothly. At the same time, common constipation will also be minimized.
Improve skin
Studies have shown that drinking more water promotes better skin hydration. If pregnant women drink enough water during pregnancy, the skin will improve its elasticity as well as stay soft.
>>> See more: What to drink for beautiful skin anti-aging? 10 extremely good drinks for women
Reduce swelling, cramps
Sometimes during pregnancy, you will experience swelling or edema in certain parts of your body, such as your arms, legs, or abdomen. These conditions can be caused by many different things.
Specifically, pregnancy cramps are caused by a lack of calcium and potassium in the body. These two substances usually exist as alkaline ions in water. Drinking plenty of water each day can help prevent this condition.
Relieve unpleasant symptoms
Drinking enough water during pregnancy helps mothers reduce discomfort caused by morning sickness, heartburn, and indigestion. Your body temperature will increase during pregnancy. Therefore, drinking water helps control, regulate as well as help pregnant women feel more comfortable. Water also helps keep the body cool and maintains a normal temperature on hot days.
The necessity of water for the fetus
The large amount of amniotic fluid makes it easier for the baby to move inside the womb. These activities will stimulate the baby’s muscles and grasp reflex. The role of clean water is also the condition to ensure the best and most comfortable living environment for the baby.
Injuries can occur when the baby’s skin is constantly in contact with the wall of the uterus. This will minimize harm to the baby as much as possible if the baby is surrounded by a large amniotic sac that is elastic and can withstand extreme pressure.
How much water should pregnant women drink?
The importance of staying hydrated during pregnancy is well recognized by many medical professionals. So how much water should pregnant women drink in a day? What does the doctor recommend?
During pregnancy, your diet as well as your daily water intake will change. So, if the average person drinks about 8 glasses of water a day, pregnant women must drink from 10-12 glasses / day (2.5-3l) to provide enough water for both mother and fetus.
Besides, pregnant women should note that they should not use coffee, alcohol, energy drinks, carbonated drinks … to avoid harm to health during pregnancy. Tea or coffee containing a lot of caffeine is not good for the fetus. They also dehydrate the body.
In addition to water, you should only choose other healthy drinks such as:
Fruit or herbal tea, smoothie or fresh fruit juice (1 cup per day), breast milk, raw milk or plant-based milk. But the safest is still drinking filtered water, boiled, treated with high-quality water filtration equipment and retained the minerals in the water.
Also, a simple way to know how much water a pregnant woman should drink is to observe the color of her urine. If the urine is dark yellow, drink more water and vice versa.
If you have symptoms of constipation, fatigue and dizziness, you should try to drink more water.
>>> See more: How much water do ordinary people drink a day? How to calculate the amount of water to drink
Note when drinking water for pregnant women
- The most effective way to drink water for pregnant women is to drink one glass every 2 hours, 7 to 8 times a day.
- Drink clean or boiled water (but no more than 2 days).
- Drink water regularly, do not wait until thirsty to drink.
- Don’t drink too much water because you’re thirsty. Drinks should be divided into small sips.
- If using bottled water, double-check the expiration date. Absolutely do not use the type containing BPA (Bisphenol).
Alkaline ionized water is very good for pregnant women
In alkaline ionized water there are many minerals that are extremely good not only for normal people but also for pregnant women. This is a safe drink with many benefits.
During pregnancy, a woman’s body tends to produce more acid, which leads to an imbalance in the pH of the body. This is the main cause of miscarriage in women. Alkaline ionized water has the ability to effectively neutralize acids and alkalize the body.
Thanks to the structure of microscopic water molecules, when using alkaline ionized water, it will help the mother’s body metabolize and absorb nutrients better.
Alkaline ionized water pH 8.5 – 9.5 is also capable of reducing constipation extremely effectively in pregnant women. By lubricating the intestinal tract and softening stools, the symptoms of constipation of pregnant women will be eliminated if they drink alkaline ionized water with a pH of 8.5 – 9.5 every day.
Lower back pain often appears thicker in the last months of pregnancy. Lower back pain is often a symptom of dehydration, because when the discs between the vertebrae are not lubricated, they create friction and cause pain and inflammation. Drinking alkaline ionized water pH 8.5 – 9.5 can help lubricate the discs in the spinal cord and relieve pain. At the same time, soaking a towel in strongly alkaline water pH 11.0 and applying it topically is also very effective for temporary pain relief.
Acidity and indigestion are other side effects of increased progesterone and the growing uterus during pregnancy. Alkaline ionized water has the ability to prevent and reverse these two unpleasant symptoms, because alkaline ionized water is rich in natural alkalinity, helping to neutralize excess acid and balance the body.
>>> See more: Where to buy genuine alkaline ionized water, good price?
frequently asked Questions
Does drinking a lot of water increase amniotic fluid?
Amniotic fluid is a source of nutrition, maintaining body temperature, and developing lungs for the fetus. Amniotic fluid also acts as a cushion around the fetus and umbilical cord with the effect of preventing cord compression and hypoxia. Therefore, if the amount of amniotic fluid is reduced, it can seriously affect the development of the fetus.
Drinking enough water is the simplest way to increase amniotic fluid naturally for pregnant women and fetuses. Pregnant women can choose filtered water, fruit juice, coconut water, soups, soups, etc. However, pregnant women’s juices are just enough to use, should not be abused too much because it can cause diabetes. pregnancy.
Drink water before the ultrasound
The water in the bladder creates an acoustic environment for the ultrasound waves to pass through (which creates a good environment for sound). Drinking water before the ultrasound helps to stretch the bladder and give more accurate ultrasound results.
Is it good for pregnant women to drink a lot of filtered water?
Although drinking enough water brings many benefits to the health of pregnant women and fetuses, drinking too much can also increase the burden on the kidneys or cause fluid retention, causing edema. If pregnant women have swelling during pregnancy, they need to control the amount of water they drink right away!
Should pregnant women drink alkaline ionized water?
Hydrogen-rich alkaline ionized water with a pH of 8.5 – 9.5 is a very good drink for pregnant women. Because it is naturally alkaline and has strong oxidizing power, it has a very small molecular size and is very rich in minerals.
During the early and late stages of a woman’s pregnancy. Due to hormonal changes and weight, pregnant women are often tired. Therefore, drinking alkaline ionized water can improve the body’s activities. Helps increase energy to help the body quickly regain spirit and health.
In short, water is essential for pregnant women and fetuses. Through the above article, we were able to answer the question “how much water should pregnant women drink”. In addition, alkaline ionized water is also a very good choice for pregnant women because it has many minerals and good support for pregnant women, helping mothers to be healthy and smart.
John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.