How Much Water to Drink During Pregnancy
Why Fluids During Pregnancy Are Important
It is essential that your body gets extra fluids during pregnancy. It needs these fluids to produce the extra blood needed for pregnancy, as well as the amniotic fluid that will surround the fetus. In addition, sufficient fluids can ward off urinary tract infections, constipation, hemorrhoids, or even preterm contractions.
Are You Drinking Enough?
Wondering how much water to drink during pregnancy? Most doctors suggest you get between 48 and 80 ounces a day. Most women find it easiest to aim for around 64 ounces (eight 8-oz cups) a day. If you’re not sure whether you’re drinking enough fluids, here’s a way to tell for sure: just check the color of your urine. If it is a clear yellow color, you’re probably getting enough fluids. The darker your urine, the more dehydrated you are.
Tips to Make Sure You’re Drinking Enough
Most of us aren’t accustomed to drinking so much water every day. How can you make sure that you are drinking sufficiently during pregnancy? Here are some tips that may work for you:
- Keep a large water bottle at your desk (if you work in an office) or slung over your shoulder (if you’re more mobile) at all times. Make sure you know how many ounces are in the water bottle, and try to find one that holds 32 or 64 ounces. This will help you visualize the amount of water you need to drink in a day – two 32 oz bottles or one 64 oz bottle.
- Make yourself small goals to meet throughout the day. For example, you may decide that you want to drink half of your quota by lunchtime. If you don’t seem to be making your goals, consider making even smaller subgoals – 16 oz before your 10:30 meeting and 16 oz between then and lunchtime.
- If water starts tasting bland to you, resist the urge to switch to juice or soda, which are full of unnecessary sugar. Instead, try adding a bit of lemon or lime juice to your water bottle. This may also help to relieve any morning sickness you have.
