?How much water should a pregnant woman drink
Water is necessary to perform various physiological functions in the body, and its need increases, especially during pregnancy. So, how much water should a pregnant woman drink? Knowing this can reduce the risk of common pregnancy discomforts such as constipation, swelling, and urinary tract infections.
Keep reading to find out how much water you should drink during pregnancy, its benefits, and practical tips to ensure you drink it.
?Why is drinking water important
Water is an essential nutrient that makes up 55 to 60% of our bodies and plays an important role in many bodily functions such as:
Regulating internal body temperature through perspiration and respiration
Transport of food and nutrients that are metabolized through the bloodstream
Excretion of waste from the body through urine, sweat and feces
Saliva composition
Drinking water is a good way to maintain your fluid requirements because it contains no calories. In general, an adult woman needs 2.2 to 3 liters of fluids per day, but requirements vary depending on your age, gender, where you live, and your pregnancy and breastfeeding status. People can meet their total daily water needs from plain water, soft foods and other beverages.
What is the importance of drinking water during pregnancy?
Water requirements increase during pregnancy to maintain maternal hydration and support the growth of the fetus. Physiological changes that increase water demand during pregnancy include:
A gradual increase in blood volume from six to eight weeks peaking at 32 to 34 weeks
Composition of amniotic fluid
Changes in the urinary system, such as a slight increase in kidney size, increased renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and urine volume
Increased respiration which increases water production
Increased sweating due to increased activity of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland, acceleration of metabolism, and increased blood flow to the skin
?How much water should a pregnant woman drink
Generally, a pregnant woman should drink 8 to 12 glasses of water every day.
From the beginning of pregnancy until the third month : Most pregnant women who are healthy and of normal weight need about 1,800 calories per day, and therefore, their total daily water requirement should be about 1.8 to 2.7 liters.
From the third to the sixth month : Pregnant women in this period of pregnancy need 2,200 calories per day. Thus, they should consume 2.2 to 3.3 liters of water per day.
Sixth month until delivery : During this period of pregnancy, the recommended daily caloric intake is around 2,400 calories, which corresponds to a daily water requirement of 2.4 to 3.6 liters.
? What are the benefits of staying hydrated during pregnancy
Drinking enough water during pregnancy can help:
Reducing morning sickness
Improve digestion
reduce edema
Energy boost
Reducing the risk of urinary tract infections
Reducing the risk of premature contractions and premature labour
Moisturizing the skin
Preventing constipation and associated hemorrhoids
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