Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Posted on Aug 24, 2012 | Blog Posts, Morning Sickness Remedies Category | | Print This Article

When we’re going through those first few months of pregnancy, we get a crash course on what to eat (cravings) and what not to eat (morning sickness). We figure out quickly what (and when) we can eat and what makes us nauseous. What we often fail to think enough about, though, is what we should drink.

We get lots of advice on what not to drink. No beer, wine, or martinis until baby makes her entrance (and even longer if you choose to breastfeed). Very limited coffee, cola, and other caffeinated beverages. For many of us, that eliminates 90% of our normal (non pregnant) fluid intake. What’s a girl to do?

Morning sickness is one of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy. If you’re not careful, the loss of fluids (from vomiting) combined with less fluid intake (from not being able to drink the beverages you normally drink) can lead to dehydration, which leads to more serious complications.

What to Drink

There are numerous teas (peppermint, ginger, etc.) which are known for reducing morning sickness nausea. Ginger ale is also an excellent choice to settle your tummy. Juice and sports drinks are good choices if you can keep them down. You should also drink extra milk while pregnant.

The most important thing to drink while you’re pregnant, though, is water. Most of us are already familiar with the maxim that we should drink eight glasses of water per day. When you’re dealing with morning sickness and losing fluid, you should try to drink even more than that.

Here are some tips to help you drink enough water during the day while dealing with morning sickness:

• Carry a water bottle with you. If you sip on water throughout the day rather than having a full glass here or there, you’ll drink more. You’ll also be able to keep better track of how much water you’ve had.
• Drink before and/or after meals. Drinking during meals can make your stomach too full, which can aggravate morning sickness. Drink half an hour before or after your meals instead.
• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Thirst is your body’s way of telling you it’s already become a bit dehydrated. Sip on water throughout the day instead of waiting for your body to tell you it needs something to drink.

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