How To Stay Hydrated During Pregnancy When You Don't Like Plain Water

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You have probably heard ‘drink at least 8 glasses of water every day’ a thousand times by now. But what if you don’t like plain water? Drinking water may seem like a hard thing to do for many. And when you are pregnant, you’ve got to keep yourself hydrated. So what can you do that doesn’t involve drinking just plain old water? Now before we jump into it, let’s rewind back to how much water you actually need to drink during pregnancy and why.

In This Article

Importance Of Hydration During Pregnancy

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Since water constitutes about 55-65% of our body, it’s safe to say that its one of the most common elements of our body. A pregnant woman needs to increase her water intake to meet the growing demands of the body (1). Water plays a major role as it transfers the nutrients from the food you eat to the fetus. Drinking enough water can also prevent many problems related to pregnancy such as excessive swelling, urinary tract infections, constipation, and hemorrhoids. The Institute of Medicine recommends pregnant women to consume about 2.4 liters of fluids a day. This equals to about 10 glasses of water. Fluid doesn’t mean just water. It can also be in the form of juices, tea, coffee, and soft drinks. Since tea and coffee contain caffeine, your doctor may ask you to reduce it to 200 milligrams or less during pregnancy. And you cannot rely on soft drinks for your fluid intake as they are high in sugar (2). But luckily there are other ways to keep yourself hydrated!

How To Keep Yourself Hydrated

1) Oatmeal For Breakfast

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This hearty and fulfilling meal is the classic way to start your morning. Since they are cooked in water or milk, they expand and absorb it. You can also try overnight oats if you’re not into warm oatmeal. Sprinkle some chia seeds in your overnight oats as it also soaks up a lot of water in them.

2) Slurp, Slurp!

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What better time to indulge in warm soups than in monsoon. It can be a hydrating and fulfilling meal which is equally nutritious. Make a soup with chicken, mutton, or vegetable broth. In summers, slurp on gazpacho which is a cold soup made with raw, blended vegetables.

3) Pop In Those Popsicles

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Blend a hydrating fruit like watermelon and fill it in the mold. Then pop it in the freezer for an hour to enjoy this nostalgic treat.

4) Smoothies

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Blend your smoothies with hydrating ingredients like yogurt, almond milk, or normal milk. Throw in a mix of different fruits and vegetables to suit your taste.

5) Make Salad Bowls

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Make salads with lettuce, tomatoes, celery, and carrots. They are hydrating since they contain more water.

Though these are great ways to add more water to your diet, soups, oatmeal, and smoothies may not be enough to suffice your body’s water requirements. Which brings me to my last point.

Add Some Flavour To Your Water

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Here are some ways to add some refreshing flavors to your water to stay hydrated.

Cucumber-Infused water

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Add 5-6 thinly sliced cucumber to your jar of water. You can also add some cilantro or lemon slices to make it more flavorful. Add a few ice cubes if you like and let it infuse for 5-6 hours before drinking.

Orange & Blueberry-Infused Water

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Add a few wedges of orange and a handful of berries. Let it sit overnight.

Frozen Mango And Ginger-Infused Water

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Add a few cubes of frozen mango and add small pieces of peeled ginger. Pop it in the fridge for 2 hours to infuse.

Strawberry Infused Water

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Cut slices of strawberries and add a slice of lemon or two. Add a handful of basil if you’d like to your jar of water. Let it sit for 2-3 hours before drinking.

I hope you get the idea. So, next time you are back from grocery shopping, try making a refreshing drink of your own by adding a few slices of fresh fruits.

We hope our suggestions and ideas help you drink more water to stay hydrated during pregnancy. Are there any other tips or tricks that helped you stay hydrated? We would love to know!

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