10 Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the most beautiful and most crucial phase of a women’s life. You may never know what’s in it for you, a new adventure, a new problem every day. But it is fun, as you have got the most caring people around you at this time. One such problem which is very common in pregnancy is Dehydration. There are many stages of dehydration normal, mild, and severe. But none of them is good for you and your baby. We have shared 10 signs and symptoms of dehydration during pregnancy so that being a mom-to-be you are aware of the problem.

During pregnancy, you are carrying a human body inside you, you need to almost double up the nutrition quantity so that you do not face any deficiency of it.

In this blog, I have covered everything related to Dehydration. Check out the blog-

What is Dehydration

Dehydration means when your body loses more water than it gains. If the water you are drinking is not enough, it leads to dehydration. The water intake should be such that it is able to recover the lost fluids. Dehydration causes heat cramps, dizziness, and stroke. So to maintain the body temperature, and also to make up for the lost fluids it is a must to keep your body hydrated.

Symptoms of Dehydration

• Dry and Chapped Lips
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Dry Skin
• UTIs
• Sunken Eyes
• Low Blood Pressure
• Very Dark Urine
• Irritability and confusion
• Extreme Thirst

Causes of Dehydration During Pregnancy

We understood the symptoms of dehydration, now let’s understand what possibly can be the reason for dehydration during pregnancy.

• Not drinking enough water- When you reduce the intake of water, it leads to dehydration. Pregnancy is a very crucial stage, having a hydrated body makes your pregnancy easy and healthy.

• Morning sickness- You all are aware of morning sickness during pregnancy. This happens to be at a peak during the first month and ends around the 16^th week. The symptoms of morning sickness include vomiting and nausea. This causes loss of electrolytes and fluids from the body.

• Increased blood volume- In pregnancy, blood in women’s bodies increases by 50%. Now, your body requires more water for this amount of blood, which leads to dehydration.

• Diarrhea– During pregnancy, suffering from diarrhea is pretty common. Hormonal changes, aversion to food, and dietary habits can lead to diarrhea, resulting in dehydration.

• Weather- If the place you are living in is hot and humid, your body will tend to lose a lot of weight due to sweating. This will lead to dehydration.

• Age- When our elders say that pregnancy after 35 is a little difficult. Their main focus used to be on the complications that can arise. After 35 your body is not able to hold water. This is the reason for dehydration at this stage. So, if you are pregnant and your age is 35 or more, you should drink more water to stay hydrated.

How To Beat Dehydration During Pregnancy?

There are some ways through which you can prevent dehydration during pregnancy. Following are some-

• Drink water every hour you are awake; this will help you to be hydrated during the whole pregnancy. No matter the quantity, you can drink even half a glass, but make it a habit.

• If you do not like plain water, you can mix something in it either glucose or any flavor you like to make it delicious.

• You can also fulfill the daily requirement of water, by drinking coconut water or juices.

• Avoid drinking cold drinks or caffeine-related products they dehydrate the body.

• When you are exercising or going out, keep a water bottle with you.

See more- 7 Benefits Of Drinking Water During Pregnancy

Effects of Dehydration

After understanding everything about dehydration, if you are thinking about why the topic of dehydration is so serious. Check out the following effects of dehydration on a pregnant woman’s body-

1. Severe Nausea and Dizziness-

If your body is dehydrated, it can cause you severe nausea and dizziness. Even morning sickness causes dehydration, but the only way to keep yourself healthy is to keep your body hydrated.

2. Premature Labour-

Yes, this is true dehydration can lead to contractions which can result in premature labor. When your body is dehydrated, the blood volume decreases which causes the oxytocin hormone to increase, which is responsible for uterus contractions.

3. Increase in Muscle Cramps-

If your body is dehydrated, your body temperature will increase which can increase muscle cramps in the body.

4. UTI-

The problem which 90% of girls suffer from it. Dehydration causes an increase in UTI, which can result in infection in the kidney.

5. Tiredness-

You won’t believe but drinking water gives you energy. Whenever you feel tired or fatigued try drinking water, you will be energetic and active.

Dehydration is a serious problem and it can lead to a serious threat to you and your baby. Just remember, having a sip of water every 30 minutes or drinking half a glass of water every hour will prevent you from getting dehydrated.

See more- How To Stay Fit and Healthy while pregnant

How do you keep yourself hydrated?

FAQ

1. How much water should you drink when pregnant?

During pregnancy, the minimum intake of water should be around 8-10 glasses per day. You can also take fluids like coconut water, juice, milk, and tea.

2. Does dehydration cause cramps in early pregnancy?

One of the reasons for cramps during pregnancy is dehydration. Water helps to maintain body temperature. When you do not drink enough water, the temperature rises, which may cause cramps. Therefore, it is necessary to stay hydrated.

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