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Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I know I’m supposed to drink lots of water during pregnancy, but why? Are other liquids just as good, or does it have to be water?

Re: I know I’m supposed to drink lots of water during pregnancy, but why? Are other liquids just as good, or does it have to be water?

The Bump Expert

Hydration is always important, and during pregnancy those fluids are even more precious than usual. Your body needs water to formamniotic fluid, produce extra blood volume, build new tissue, carry nutrients, help indigestion, and flush out your wastes and toxins. (Baby’s, too!) Drinking lots of fluids during pregnancy can work wonders, easing constipation (and therefore hemorrhoids), softening skin, reducing edema and decreasing risk of both urinary tract infections and preterm labor. It’s a good idea to get eight cups each day, and if it’s hot or if you’ve been exercising, you probably need even more.

If the thought of all that water makes you grimace, don't worry -- you’re free to include other fluids. Milk, juice, soup, sparkling water,tea and coffee (decaf only!) all count, and fruits and veggies even add to the tally (five servings of produce = two servings of fluid).

Paula Kashtan | May 20 , 2009 12:31 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

Well, this isn't an answer... but is it normal for water to make me sick? I drink plain water and it actually makes me sick.

Sarah Stanbary | September 11 , 2009 9:49 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I don't have an answer either, but a question. Is it ok to use the water-flavoring packets like crystal light? I hate drinking water and have been adding a little lemon to it to try to drink more but I miss my crystal light! Are the artificial sweeteners in it safe for the baby?

tnt85 | September 11 , 2009 8:42 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

My Doctor told me no artificial sweeteners. So add that to the list of no-no's. It's a little longer than I remember it being from the last time we did this.

littlesquirrel | October 09 , 2009 10:04 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

Well I dont know what to do I literally hate water and my fiance yells at me about it all the time ....... I am from Virginia and we recently moved way down here to Texas which is a big change in wheather since winter hasnt started here yet.... its like hot to me and uncomfortable but drinking juices that I like seem to upset my stomach or taste terrible so I dont know what to do

GMBWIFEY | November 14 , 2009 5:23 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

Sarah, I have the same problem, not sure if it's normal though. Before I got pregnant I would drink water all the time, but since my pregnancy began it makes me nauseous. I've been drinking a lot of juice to compensate.

ErinRC | November 17 , 2009 1:37 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I found at the beginning that water made me queasy. However, any thing with some sugar content actually helped my nausea subside... But I didn't want to drink ginger ale non stop. It was even to the point I was making my own 'spritzers' with half cranberry juice, half ginger ale. I survived the first week weeks and was able to easily switch back to water. Now the water doesn't bother me like it had been.

mahnamahna | November 26 , 2009 4:33 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

ErinRC, I totally agree. Before pregnancy, I drank only water all the time with an occasional glass of orange juice. Now, I have to force myself to drink water (which I do) even though I feel like it wants to creep right back up my throat and I find myself craving sodas like crazy which I NEVER used to drink...it's a struggle!

ebmartin | December 29 , 2009 11:57 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I would throw up at the thought of water early in my pregnancy. The doctor told me anything I could stand was fine. Gatorade, popsicles, jello, decafe tea, juices, ginger ale (ginger settles the stomach), soup, fruit, etc. Everything has water in it, just make sure you aren't getting dehydrated. Good Luck. Oh and the water thing seems to pass :)

Holtzman | January 20 , 2010 8:13 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I have found that putting lemon wedges in water helps me. The citrus gives it some flavor (and I've read that lemon juice can help ease morning sickness the same way ginger does).

Writer_girl55 | February 16 , 2010 7:47 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I feel relieved that I'm not the only one who hates water during pregnancy. The thought of drinking, more so, the taste of it really makes me throw up. I agree about the lemon wedge. It does help. Also, I'm drinking a lot of kiwi juice because the taste is neutral, it's neither sweet nor sour, so my tummy can actually take it. This is my 2nd pregnancy and I don't remember if this phase of hating water would pass. I hope it does.

ampyinherelement | March 08 , 2010 5:36 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I like to mix juice and water 1:3. That cuts down on the sugar, and I drink much more than if I were drinking plain water.

jules12345 | May 01 , 2010 9:49 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

sometimes water seems to make me sick at my stomach, too. gatorade goes down a little easier so maybe thats something you could try.

alli86 | July 10 , 2010 12:00 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

If you don't like water, but don't want to drink all the extra calories and sugar in juice, and you'll want to avoid all those artificial (chemical) sweeteners (which are never good--pregnant or not), try diluting juice or lemonade. Pour yourself 2/3 glass of water and add 1/3 of juice or lemonade. It adds a little flavor!

patiencesarah | August 04 , 2010 11:11 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

The old adage that your urine must be yellow isn't always true, especially if you're eating a healthy diet in combination with prenatals the excess vitamins will be expelled in the urine and make it yellow. I drink 3 L a day and still have yellow pee. I was worried at first, but my doc explained it to me.

staclinusa | September 13 , 2010 11:38 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

Anything that contains aspartame is really bad for you. When the body metabolizes it, it reaches a temperature at which it becomes formaldehyde. Yes, formaldehyde. Would you drink that? Do you want your baby to be drinking that? Also, lemons are fantastic for you. They help your gall bladder produce bile. In turn that helps your liver process toxins. All very good during pregnancy, or at any time. Squeeze away!

MarilynTV | February 05 , 2011 3:40 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I too loved water before. Now it can nauseate me. I've found my relief from organic low sugar kids juice boxes (I'm especially partial to fruit punch). Hansens makes some with Clifford on the box. Another company makes some with the Bernstein bears. They are small so one might not cut it, but they fit in the purse, the car and on the nightstand nicely.

sayjack | March 12 , 2011 12:40 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I love drinking water and adding Benefiber citrus punch favoring packets to it. Helps get my water intake, combats constipation, and taste good! Win all around.

Chanels26 | March 28 , 2011 11:42 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

My doctor suggested not only keeping track of my water intake (6-7 20 ounce bottles at LEAST per day, which equals roughly 1 gallon) but also adding stuff like crystal lite to my water to make it more bearable. She also mentioned that if I decide to drink soda, which I can have one of per day, that I must drink an extra 2 bottles of water since the caffeine acts as a diuretic and can dehydrate me. So along with my one soda per day, I should be drinking at least 8-9 20 ounce bottles of water. If I didn't add the flavors to the water, I wouldn't be able to drink so much water. My doctor also recommended to only add the flavoring to a few out of those bottles, not all of them, and to make sure they don't contain sugar. Natural fruit juices like citrus or even cucumber taste good. And those new Mio water enhancers are pretty good too, just a few drops will go a long way.

kellikb17 | May 09 , 2011 10:33 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

PS: BECAUSE i drink so much water, I have not be constipated at all. Huge plus! The increase in urination sucks, but it's worth it over feeling plugged up and gross. Also, it helps a lot with the round ligament pains you can get when you're dehydrated.

kellikb17 | May 09 , 2011 10:35 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I have heard Crystal light is not that good for you, but they have come out with Crystal light pure that is pretty good. It is made with an all natural sweetener instead of the ones that contain aspertame. I haven't been able to drink much of anything though!

janeansharp | May 31 , 2011 4:12 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

crystal light and artificial sweetners should be avoided even when you're not pregnant. try mixing dense juice with water. Also I just recently started drinking coconut water..delicious!! good luck staying hydrated everyone

jorenandlosh | June 25 , 2011 10:49 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

The Crystal Light Pure packets are wonderful and do not contain any artificial sweetners.

vanme1kc | July 11 , 2011 7:10 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

My husband actually thinks I drink too much water.

Gezy | October 03 , 2011 9:30 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I cannot stand drinking water either. If I am up for it, I will put lemon wedges or orange wedges in my water. Lately I have been brewing decaf tea and making iced tea out of it. And drinking lots of OJ.

TheBestThing | November 06 , 2011 10:03 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

Thank you everyone!! I was having such a hard time drinking water!! Its nice to know that I can drink something else than just plan water!! :)

howell.196 | December 11 , 2011 6:48 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

This makes me feel so much better. I was drinking 8+ bottles of water a day AT LEAST before I got pregnant and now sometimes I'm lucky to get down 1 and a half. I'm going to try the water juice mix and see if that helps. :)

mandybeth0727 | December 15 , 2011 10:06 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I have been drinking the lemonade gatorade (not lemon-lime). It seems to help a bit. I was doing gingerale, but it's just so sweet. The gatorade is still sweet, but not as much, and the lemon flavor seems to help with the nausea. Otherwise, juice and gingerale cocktails are pretty good too.

LauraB90 | January 19 , 2012 11:35 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

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watson012 | January 30 , 2012 10:53 PM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

Plain water has been upsetting my stomach too. I also find that any juices with added colours/sweeteners or preservatives turn my stomach too, so I've had to go with a mix of 1/2 juice and 1/2 water. Sometimes the nausea goes away long enough for me to get some water down, but I usually feel full. This is my first pregnancy, so I'm not too sure of all the dos and donts....

SarahDouble26 | February 17 , 2012 11:51 AM

Q&A: Staying hydrated during pregnancy?

I completely feel every one of you i too cant drink water it makes me so sick and to be honest does anyone need to feel any sicker lol i had to go to the ER today cuz of something i eat caused horrible cramps i went all night without anything to drink about four hours later i was sooo thirsty so i drank some water big mistake it was just at bad anyways if you sick and cant eat or drink try gatorade its easy on the stomach and it hydrates you and gives you calories to sustain you for a little while good luck ladies

Caligirl1968 | March 18 , 2012 9:26 PM

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