Dehydration and Pregnancy

As we know ‘dehydration’ is the result of your body losing water more quickly than you can take it and other fluids in.

The result net negative means that your body can struggle to go about its normal functions and becoming dehydrated while pregnant can cause major problems for you and your baby. It is important for all of us to stay hydrated by drinking regularly, particularly when the weather is hot. But not having enough to drink during pregnancy can affect you and your baby.

Sadly dehydration is actually more common during pregnancy than at other times as the fetus places intense demands on the body, and women who are pregnant need to consume extra nutrients and be cognizant of hydration status.

Staying hydrated can be difficult, especially when you’re exercising, working or have other kiddos to wrangle. It’s recommended for pregnant women to drink at least 8-12 glasses a day! It takes about 2 hours for water you drink to begin to be absorbed by your small intestine and colon. The small intestine can absorb 6.5L/day, whereas the colon absorbs 1.3L/day.

That’s a MAXIMUM of 7.8L/day. So no wonder 75-95% of people are chronically dehydrated. Are YOU drinking 10 glasses of water throughout the day?!

IV hydration, on the other hand, by completely bypassing the digestive process provides 100% absorption and instant hydration on a cellular level.

Why is important to avoid dehydration during pregnancy?

Most cases of dehydration in pregnancy are mild, but severe dehydration can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby. Water plays an important role in the healthy development of your baby such as helping to form the placenta, which is what your baby relies on to receive nutrients during pregnancy. Water is also used to form the amniotic sac later in your pregnancy.

Dehydration during pregnancy can lead to serious pregnancy complications, including neural tube defects, low amniotic fluid, inadequate breast milk production, and even premature labor. These risks, in turn, can lead to birth defects due to lack of water and nutritional support for your baby.

What causes dehydration?

As stated your body is using water in greater amounts during your pregnancy. Dehydration is automatically a concern if you aren’t taking care to replace lost fluids .If you’re dealing with morning sickness that makes it difficult to keep anything down, dehydration becomes even more likely. Vomiting can lead to a lack of fluids and electrolytes, plus the loss of stomach acid and ultimately dehydration.

Flying while pregnant can also leave women dehydrated- due to low air humidity in the cabin. Make sure you sip water regularly throughout the flight. If you’re visiting a hot or humid destination, you’ll need to make sure you hydrate regularly as well. As you move further into your pregnancy, overheating can also become an issue, which is another precursor to dehydration.

Other common causes of dehydration include:

• vigorous exercise, particularly if the weather is warm • intense diarrhea • vomiting • fever • excessive sweating • not drinking enough water

When you become dehydrated, your body begins exhibiting certain signs. It’s important that you’re able to recognize them.

Dehydration during pregnancy can result in:

• neural tube defects • low amniotic fluid • premature labor • poor production of breast milk • birth defects

Signs and symptoms of dehydration

Maternal overheating can be a common sign of dehydration. If you aren’t drinking enough water, your body may have trouble regulating heat. This makes you prone to overheating.

Dark yellow urine is another cautionary sign. Clear urine means you are hydrating well.

Mild to moderate dehydration can also cause these symptoms:

• dry, sticky mouth • sleepiness • feeling thirsty • decreased need to urinate • headache • constipation • dizziness

Mild and even moderate dehydration can usually be managed and reversed by drinking water. But severe dehydration, especially during pregnancy, needs immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of severe dehydration include:

• extreme thirst • excessively dry mouth, skin, and mucous membranes • irritability and confusion • little or no urine • very dark urine • sunken eyes • rapid heartbeat and breathing • low blood pressure

Anyone can become dehydrated, but when you’re pregnant, you’re at a greater risk. The best way to avoid mild, moderate, and severe dehydration is to focus on hydration.

Make it a habit to bring a water bottle with you when you’re away from home and take regular small sips throughout the day rather than big gulps. Try to keep track of how much you’re drinking. As long as you’re getting the right amounts of water every day, your body and your developing baby will have what they need.

Caffeine intake is not recommended during pregnancy. Caffeine can increase your blood pressure and heart rate and can lead to dehydration. According to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, pregnant women who consumed the caffeine equivalent of as little as half a cup of coffee a day on average had slightly smaller babies compared pregnant women who did not consume caffeinated beverages (control group). ARTICLE LINK

The researchers noted that caffeine is believed to cause blood vessels in the uterus and placenta to constrict, which could reduce the blood supply to the fetus and inhibit growth. Similarly, researchers believe caffeine could potentially disrupt fetal stress hormones, putting infants at risk for rapid weight gain after birth and for later life obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

If you’re experiencing issues with any of the above we can also help you instantly hydrate your body on a cellular level with a bag of IV fluid and specific medications to ease any discomfort associated with nausea and vomiting.

The clear advantage with Dripology is that our nurse comes directly to you for a quick assessment and instantly gets you back to feeling your best!

Relax, recharge and refuel in the comfort of your own home! No traffic...no waiting!Best of all you can avoid exposing yourself and your baby to any waiting rooms or potentially ill people at a clinic or hospital setting.

You can book your appointment quickly and easily online at Dripology! Feel free to call or text us (424) 255 4144!