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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : May 18, 2022 10:56 AM IST
Indian summers can be brutal. Dehydration is a serious concern during these times, especially for pregnant women. Not only do they need more water than usual, but the baby will need water as well. Water plays a critical part in the development of the foetus and therefore staying hydrated is crucial.
Pregnant women should consume more water than the average person in order to form amniotic fluid, produce extra blood, build new tissue, carry nutrients, enhance digestion, and flush out wastes and toxins. When your body loses water quicker than you take it, you will feel dehydrated.
Dehydration in pregnant women can lead to pregnancy complications like neural tube defects, low breast milk production, low amniotic fluid and in serious cases even premature labour. Such issues could in turn lead to birth defects in the baby due to lack of water and nutritional support.
During pregnancy you will also experience morning sickness which makes it difficult to keep the food and water down, so dehydration becomes even more likely. Due to the frequent vomiting, you will lose fluids, electrolytes and even stomach acid. To avoid such issues, it is very important to stay hydrated and replace the lost fluids.
To stay on top of your fluid intake and avoid dehydration during summer you should follow the below steps. It is important to remember that fluids do not just mean water but also milk, juice, soups and also watery fruits like watermelons, cucumbers as these will help you stay hydrated as well
Apart from healthy eating and staying active, hydration is a key element in a healthy pregnancy. It is very easy to forget to drink water, especially when you have ten other things to deal with while being pregnant. But it is important you ensure you drink proper amount of water for your own well being and your baby's. If you experience any symptoms of dehydration or have any doubts about your fluid intake, you should contact your doctor who will be able to guide you.
The article is contributed by Dr Swathi Reddy (PT), Consultant Physiotherapist and certified diet counsellor and MIAP, Motherhood Hospitals, Bengaluru.
