When women become pregnant, the first thing they do is ask about what they can and can’t eat, how much caffeine they can drink, and whether homemade sushi counts as ‘no sushi’. What most women don’t think about, is ‘Do I need to drink more water, and if so, how much?”. The water requirements during pregnancy increase as the pregnancy progresses – which is why we created HydroBump’s Hydration Booster. So let's answer some basic questions about pregnancy and hydration.
Facts About Blood Volume in Pregnancy:
- First trimester: Blood volume increases by approximately 6%
- Second trimester: Blood volume increases by approximately 18-29%
- Third trimester: Blood volume increases by 40-50%
How Much Water Should You Drink During the Pregnancy?
You need to increase your water intake during pregnancy for a multitude of reasons and it is critical to ensure maternal and foetal health. These include supporting fetal circulation, higher blood volumes and amniotic fluid. It also ensures that there is adequate reserve to support the blood loss during delivery. But how much should I drink exactly?
Whilst research doesn’t differentiate between the quantity of water consumption each individual trimester, it gives an overall guide stating pregnant women should drink 2.3 litres per day of fluid and have a total of 3.1 litres per day of total water (food + fluid).
What Hydration Drinks Are Available During Pregnancy?
- Good ol’ fashion still water!
- Sparkling water – sometimes sparkling water helps with that dreaded indigestion and nausea (bleh!)
- Electrolyte Drinks such as HydroBump’s Hydration Booster (in 2 delicious flavours – Watermelon and Sour Apple)
- Coconut water (just be cautious of the sugar content)
-
Juices (again be cautious of sugar content!)
What About Dehydration In Pregnancy?
We get it. You're busy. Water intake is just not talked about and being so time-poor, it’s not the foremost thing on your mind. However, the bottom line is, that whilst avoiding alcohol and smoking in pregnancy are important during the pregnancy journey, hydration in pregnancy is also an important component most women forget about. Insufficient water intake can lead to dehydration which can lead to poor outcomes for both mum and bub. These can include:
- Overheating
- Braxton-Hicks Contractions (more on this below)
- Mild Headaches
- Reduce amniotic fluid
- Low Birth weight (this is usually chronic dehydration)
- Kidney Stones
Is it true dehydration can trigger Braxton-Hicks Contractions?
Yes! Dehydration is a known trigger for Braxton-Hicks contractions (also known as false labour), along with other things such as being very active, after sexual activity, when you have a very full bladder! Whilst there’s no medical treatment for Braxton-Hicks, there are a few ways to help ease them including drinking water to rehydrate.
Bottom Line:
Hydration during pregnancy is critical both for normal growth and development of the baby as well as the health of the mum (which is just as important!).
At HydroBump, our aim is to educate women on the importance of hydration and to take the stress out of maintaining their hydration. That’s why we crafted a hydration booster that is formulated with the changes in electrolyte ranges for pregnant women, low in sugar, vegan, and gluten-free.
We got you.
