Dehydration Have you had the recommended amounts of water today?

It is very important that pregnant women stay well hydrated to prevent becoming dehydrated. You become dehydrated when you lose more fluids through sweat and urination than you take in. To ensure the health of both mother and baby, it is important that pregnant women drink at least 8 full glasses of water each day. Dehydration is not typically a concern for most pregnant women, but for some it is a dangerous condition. Becoming dehydrated during pregnancy is not only harmful for the mother, it is also dangerous for the fetus.

Dehydration can occur at any time during the pregnancy. In the first trimester, dehydration is usually a result of morning sickness, nausea and vomiting. Women that experience hyper emesis gravidarium are more likely to become severely dehydrated. When nausea and vomiting are involved, the mother-to-be can not keep most of her fluids down. The baby will suffer because there is not enough fluids in the mothers system to keep the baby hydrated. Because the baby needs to have an adequate amount of amniotic fluid to grow in, it is important that women are monitored and rehydrated to increase these fluid levels.

Dehydration has been linked to miscarriage and preterm labor. If you are dehydrated, your uterus will begin to contract. If contractions are not stopped, labor can begin and the baby could be delivered too early. Usually women become dehydrated during the second and third trimester because of sickness, extreme hear, being too active or just simply not drinking enough of the right fluids.

What are the right kind of fluids? While water is the best thing to drink to stay well hydrated, juice and broths also can be good sources. However, sodas, coffee and tea do not count towards the recommended amount of fluids that you need. This is because these drinks have caffeine in them and are diuretics. Diuretics make you urinate more often so you are actually losing water. If you do not like water, use flavored water. Squeezing some lemon or lime juice in the water can often make the flavor more enjoyable.

If dehydration has become a problem, hospitalization is often recommended. IV fluids can be given to get the woman rehydrated and feeling better again. Drinking water and other liquids will be encouraged and the amount of fluid input vs. urine output will be monitored and recorded. Sometimes hospitalization can last several days depending on the severity of the dehydration.

There are some common signs that you might be dehydrated. Feeling thirsty is your body's way of letting you know it needs water. However, because feeling thirsty is not usually the first sign, you may already be dehydrated by the time you actually feel thirsty. Dark and infrequent urine is a signal that you should increase your fluid intake as well. Other signs of dehydration include dry lips, feeling weak, feeling dizzy and having a dry mouth.

If you are showing any of the signs of being dehydrated, you should contact your healthcare provider to schedule an evaluation. Your urine will be tested and a diagnosis will be made.



Comments: Dehydration

Comments 1 to 24 of about 42.
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Heather-08-01 - 49 days ago.
momofboys - I'm obviously not a Dr, but I have heard on this site more than once that extreme thirst is a sign of gestational diabetes. I'm sure you have probably already been checked, but just thought I might share. I drink a lot most days too - probably about 12 8oz glasses of h20/day. Somedays I'm not as thirsty as others though. Good luck, stay healthy =)

momofboys - 49 days ago.
I drink like double the amount of water I need & I still feel very dehydrated. I am 34 weeks. This is my 4th baby & I've never felt this way before.

Mummy2be2008 - 60 days ago.
I was in hospital on thursday night after throwing up every hour and was badly dehydrated and had high ketones because of it and I started to have contractions thankfully they stopped within 3 hours of been on a IV drip for 16 hours ....I would say to anyone who has the Norovirus like I did or any other sickness is to drink as much as you can even if you cant keep it down as I felt rotten and weak because I didnt drink or eat enough and I ended up in hospital ....

teresa262 - 78 days ago.
I was just in the hospital with lower pelvic cramping. Turned out to be dehydration and a bladder infection caused by dehydration. They said I am driking enough fluid but the baby is laying a very weird way on my bladder. So I am just SOL and have to go back to hospital for iv fluids next time I get the cramps again.

Ms.Crystal - 86 days ago.
I'm not sure if its just me or not but lately I've been very very thirsty. Its like I cant get enough to drink. This is odd since I used to never drink alot of liquids. Anyone else experiencing this??

AnOddBatch - 92 days ago.
Had a bad case of diarrhea last night and this morning and every time I take a sip of water my stomach cramps up and I have to struggle to keep it down. I really don't want to drink anymore but I know I'm at high risk of becoming dehydrated if I don't. Already I can barely stand up without feeling like I'm going to faint. So frustrating :(

leah-emma - 95 days ago.
I feel constantly dehydrated but because I need to wee every 10 to 15 mins I find it difficult to actually want to drink anything its a constant battle n I think its wats causin my dizzy spells...?

Loudlilwhytemommy - 99 days ago.
Hi! I am 7 weeks and 3 days.. I was in the hospital last Thursday for dehydration. Not fun. I couldn't hold anything down

us-n-kenzie - 113 days ago.
cgmomtobe - I had hyperemesis with my daughter. I know what you are going through and I feel for you...it truly sucks. Hang in there.

cgmomtobe - 113 days ago.
i havent kept any food down in 5 weeks & any fluids in 3. i went to the er twice (where i received 3 liters of fluid each time) & now my dr inserted a picc line & a home nurse is giving me 1 liter of fluids every day... although my morning sickness is still bad, the iv seems to give me a little more energy. has anyone else gone through this? its SOOO FRUSTRATING!!!

mandys-mommy - 115 days ago.
It's hard to keep drinking when you get so nauseous all the time. i figured out that by constantly sipping a room temperature water, it will sit better. cold doesn't!

Precious-Jewel - 125 days ago.
I ended up in the hospital on Tues for dehydration. I was at work and almost passed out. I called my husband and he said he was going to take me to OB/TRIAGE. I have been sick since Sun, throwing up and not being able to eat anything. When I got to the hospital they ran ALOT of tests and decided I was s0o dehyrated they were going to give me an IV. My urine was an horrible orange honey color. (Alot like rust!). Since I had been throwing everyting up, I had LOST 2 1/2 lbs!!! I didnt just get one bag of fluids, o no, I got 2! I was s0o hydrated when I left, water was running out my eyes, literally! They found my lil girls heartbeart as soon as they put the doppler on my belly!!! Everything seems fine, now, and my next appt is on tomorrow the 11th. The Doc put me off work untl after my appt. on Fri. I guess she wants to make sure I am still doing good! I just hope I gained those 2 lbs back and maybe even a couple more! I have only gained 5.5lbs since the beginning of my pregnancy.

mchoeft - 134 days ago.
drinking lots of water will keep you from retaining water at the same time. But you must remember to keep the carbs and sodium down...or it will backfire

mchoeft - 134 days ago.
drinking lots of water will keep you from retaining water at the same time. But you must remember to keep the carbs and sodium down...or it will backfire

aanthony - 138 days ago.
When my sister-in-law got up at night she used to feel the same . So she started drinking water that time as well. A lot of fruit juice is also good.

pineapple242 - 187 days ago.
bellafredm: Its call excessive salivation.Some women feel as though they're salivating more than usual during pregnancy, especially when they're nauseated. A few women have so much saliva they end up needing to spit to deal with it.Mine's went away when I was 16 weeks. I used to carry a bottle around myself (GROSS)!!! But peppermints HELP a lot. So try that and take care.

kayleighrobo - 187 days ago.
its coz ur drinkin for 2 lol

Jasi-2008 - 187 days ago.
every time i go to bed, i wake up very dry throat and thirsty. is anyone else having this problem?

Sunny1 - 213 days ago.
babibyrd, I know this may sound weird, but I found it that drinking on a straw is easier...I didn't like water too much, but if I use straw it goes down easier and I drink a lot more than I would otherwise.

bellafredm - 213 days ago.
I'm Not Sure where to post this-but maybe someone here knows sumthing about it-My Name is Bella-and First i went to the hospitol last week because of Dehdration & Vometing-They gave me 2-IV'Z In the emergency Rm.& a Shot of Zofran-odt-for the Vometing-So Have been okay for about a week-i am 10 weeks Far-& Now i have to walk around with a Lil-Bucket Because i get this watery feeling in my mouth-where i feel the need to keep spitting in this Bucket,and it's realy Watery when it come out-Does anyone know what this is & what i can do for it-it keeps me up at night-spitting-& spitting-Help-Pleaseeeee.

babibyrd - 215 days ago.
I have a problem drinking water as it is and now being pregnant I really need to focus and just force it down. I'm now guzzeling down at least 4 tall glasses of water a day and I know this needs to increase. Maybe this is a reason for my stomach pinches and past miscarriages.

southcoastmum - 218 days ago.
am so glad to read that this is a common prolem durig pregnancy... This is my 3rd pregnancy and i never experienced the constant thirst i have now ... also with constant thirst is the problem of not keeping the water down ... I have resorted to sucking on ice ... its working so far

homestar - 223 days ago.
actually momofboys dry chapped lips are more a sign of needing vitamin B then being dehydrated.

momofboys - 223 days ago.
I drink a ton of water. My lips are so dry and chapped, a sign of dehydration. I feel so bloated just from drinking!

kritty - 259 days ago.
angelais1 : I had the same problem at about 10 weeks... i love my water too.. it might be a good idea to see a doctor about it. I did and i was VERY dehydrated. they had to put me on IV to replace my fluids and they gave me an injection that helped subside the nausea.. its been great i've gone 10 days without vomitting and i have my apetite back =] oh and i've found out just after that I am having twins... =D


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