NCP About Fluid Intake
NCP About Fluid Intake
NCP About Fluid Intake
BSN 2 – 2
Decreases constipation/hemorrhoids
Reduces swelling
Softens skin
Increases energy
Keeps you cooler
Decreases risk of urinary tract infections
Decreases risk of preterm labor and preterm birth
Since you need more water during pregnancy, how much is enough? It’s recommended that you
drink 8-12 glasses of water a day, or 2.3 liters. If your trips to the bathroom are frequent and your
urine is pale or colorless, you're drinking is on track.
If you have a hard time getting enough water every day, here are a few tips to help prevent
dehydration:
1. Add fruits such as lemons, limes, and frozen raspberries to your water.
2. Avoid caffeine.
3. Increase your fruit and vegetable intake (they have water, too!).
4. Milk, juice, sparkling water, tea, and soups all count as water or fluid intake.
5. Listen to your body; drink enough fluids that you rarely feel thirsty.
6. Drink enough fluids that your urine is and colorless or light yellow.
7. Stay out of the heat. Exercise indoors or early or late in the day.
8. Increase your fluid intake when you increase your activity level.
Signs of dehydration
Maternal overheating
Headaches/sluggishness
Dark or concentrated urine
Serious Complications
Low amniotic fluid
Kidney stones
Swelling
Birth defects
Urinary tract infections, which can lead to preterm labor and preterm birth.
In addition to the many benefits of staying adequately hydrated during your pregnancy, it’s also
essential to the health of your baby. Talk to your provider if you have any questions.
Try to space out your sips to keep them coming steadily throughout the day rather than gulping a lot
at once, which could leave you feeling uncomfortably full. Since most of us don’t drink enough fluids,
filling a water bottle or two every morning and keeping it handy all day takes the hassle out of
hydration.
Be sure to sip before, during and after you work out, or if you find yourself outside on a hot day.
Note, too, that if you feel thirsty, it’s a sign that your body is already on its way to being dehydrated.
Drinking enough water also keeps your urine diluted, which not only keeps things flowing but also
keeps UTIs at bay (urine that hangs out too long in your bladder can become a breeding ground for
infection-triggering bacteria), as well as bladder infections and kidney infections (which are types of
UTIs).
A copious consumption of water also helps immeasurably in the poop department, helping to move
solid wastes more speedily down the digestive path. And, since constipation is pretty common in
pregnant women — not to mention the fact that constipation pressure can cause hemorrhoids —
well...bottoms up! (Couldn’t help it!)
An ample flow of fluids also keeps pregnancy fatigue in check — one of the first symptoms of
dehydration is exhaustion — and can keep headaches at bay (another dehydration symptom). It also
helps your body get rid of excess sodium among other things, minimizing swelling — particularly
swollen feet or ankles (your doctor might call it “edema”).
You should, however, limit your intake of soda (nothing but empty calories), as well as other
beverages containing caffeine, since they have a diuretic effect (besides the other reasons to cut the
caffeine during pregnancy).
Keep in mind, too, that about 20 percent of your daily water intake comes from food sources. Fruits
pack the most water: One cup of watermelon or cantaloupe provides just under 5 ounces of water; a
medium-size pear or one cup of strawberries provides about 4 and a half ounces; a medium size
orange has 4 ounces. Got the sniffles? A cup of chicken soup yields roughly 6 ounces of water.
During pregnancy these essential functions are even more important as we strive to cope with our
changing body and maintain a healthy environment for our unborn baby. Water is also a key
component of breast milk so it’s essential for good lactation.
An adult’s body weight is comprised of between 50-70% water and, without regular top-ups, our
body’s survival time is limited to a matter of hours or days.
The average adult loses about two litres of fluid a day – even more in hot weather, during exercise,
or when carrying extra weight through pregnancy. It is vital that these fluids are replenished
regularly.
Drinking plenty of water also dilutes the urine, reducing the risk of urinary infections, which can be
common in pregnancy.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a daily intake of between 1.5 and two litres of
water (eight 250mls or 8fl oz.).
When you are pregnant this should increase by another two to four glasses (up to three litres) a day
if the weather is warm or you are exercising.