Hydration During Pregnancy: Drink Up for You and Your Baby!

Water plays a crucial role in supporting your pregnancy journey. It helps produce the fluid surrounding your baby and increases your blood volume. If you're experiencing morning sickness, you may be losing additional fluids, so it's important to replenish them. Your body's thirst sensation is a signal that you need to drink, but it's best not to wait until you're thirsty, as you may already be slightly dehydrated. Monitoring your urine color is another helpful indicator—aim for a pale straw color; if it's darker, it's a sign that you should increase your fluid intake.

What should you drink? Plain water is an excellent choice, but other non-alcoholic beverages also count towards your hydration, such as milk, fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies, and hot drinks. Just remember to keep your caffeine intake below 200mg per day during pregnancy. For example, instant coffee contains about 100mg of caffeine, filter coffee around 140mg, and a mug of tea about 75mg.

When it comes to herbal and green teas, limited scientific evidence is available regarding their safety during pregnancy. Previously, the Food Standards Agency recommended consuming no more than around four cups of herbal tea per day and consulting with your healthcare provider for guidance on safe herbal products. Keep in mind that green tea contains caffeine.

Be mindful of both calorie content and their impact on dental health when choosing drinks. Sugary drinks, including juices and smoothies (which contain naturally occurring sugars), contribute calories to your diet, just like food does. They can also affect your dental health due to their sugar content and acidity. It's a good idea to limit fruit juices and smoothies to one small glass (150ml) per day, consumed with meals. Frequent sugar consumption increases the risk of tooth decay, while acidic drinks like fizzy soft drinks, fruit teas, juices, and smoothies can lead to dental erosion.

During pregnancy, you're more susceptible to dental issues, and certain dental treatments may be limited. Taking care of your teeth is crucial, so remember to brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste. To minimize exposure to highly acidic or sugar-containing foods and drinks, try to consume them only during mealtimes.

Stay hydrated, make wise drink choices, and prioritize your dental health for a happy and healthy pregnancy journey!