Water, they say, is the elixir of life. Life depends on water. Therefore, it is very important to be adequately hydrated during pregnancy as well. During pregnancy, you are eating and drinking for two lives not just yourself. Water is essential for healthy blood cells and to keep your body hydrated. Water is also a key component of breastmilk, and essential for good lactation. For the developing baby, water is everything – not only the baby lives in aqueous surroundings but also receive nourishment in liquid form.

Dehydration is much more harmful for the unborn baby than it is for an adult. During pregnancy, as a mother’s body is unable to get rid of heat with ease, therefore dehydration can cause a rise in the mother’s body temperature. This can cause the baby also to experience overheating. Water can aid in the release of this excess heat in the form of sweat.

Dehydration can also reduce the levels of amniotic fluid – the natural protective cushion around the unborn baby. Drinking adequate amounts of water protect the mother from several of pregnancy’s unsavory experiences – heartburn, indigestion, headaches, dizziness, constipation, morning sickness, etc.

To combat dehydration, a would-be-mother must drink around 8-12 glasses of water. In addition, she should also take water in the form of juices, buttermilk, milk and through the consumption of juices fruits. It would also be prudent for the mother-to-be to stay away from caffeinated and high sugar drinks to fight dehydration.

Essential nutrients from the food the mother eats are taken to her fetus by water. Getting a regular supply of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other important nutrients are crucial for the proper development of the fetus. The fetus also dispels its accumulated waste products through the water. Therefore, keeping your body adequately hydrated is important to maintain regular body functions of the fetus.

Another of pregnancy’s unpleasant experiences are urinary tract infections (UTIs). Drinking water properly keeps that at bay as well. The primary cause of UTI is the long-term retention of urine in the urinary bladder which serves as a fertile ground for the proliferation of the causative bacteria. So, if the mother-to-be drinks water throughout the day then she would easily dispel off the buildup of these pathogens in our bladder through regular visits to the washroom.

However, it is also prudent to consider that simply drinking 8-12 glasses of water is not enough. The mother-to-be must also ascertain that the water she is drinking is safe and free of disease-causing pathogens. Drinking safe water is also very crucial for the development of the baby.