The Benefits of Water in Pregnancy

Learn to Love Water!
Water is known to be beneficial in many ways for you, your pregnancy and your baby. Water helps ready your body for the physiological changes it experiences during pregnancy and alleviates many of the discomforts and side effects.

Drink Lots of Water
Drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day can provide immeasurable benefits, but remember: don't drink tap water -- chlorination of water can increase the risk of miscarriage. Instead, drink bottled water.

How is water good for your body and your baby?

  • By flushing out your system, it helps get rid of unnecessary sodium and prevents Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
  • It hydrates your body; pregnancy hormones are making you retain water and drinking more water helps fight that.
  • Water facilitates the flow of nutrients through the blood to the baby.
  • Did you know that the amniotic sack replenishes itself every hour, using approximately a cup of water stored in the mother's body? This protects the baby, so help keep the sack wet!
  • Your blood volume doubles and thickens during the eighth month of pregnancy; drink water to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
  • You'll have healthier skin and less acne.
  • Drinking eight glasses of water a day helps prevent constipation and hemorrhoids. Trust us, you want to prevent this.
  • Drinking water may alleviate morning sickness (NVP).
  • Drinking water during your third trimester helps prevent premature birth.

Do Water Exercises
Being pregnant and getting bigger every week can make a woman feel less foxy and more like an ogre. Water works miracles! Water takes away all that weight, making you feel light and graceful; you'll feel less like a whale and more like a mermaid. The extra weight impacting your bones and joints has also placed extra stress on your body. Swimming and water aerobics are excellent exercises. They provide a low-impact workout while offering resistance to help tone your body. Water is particularly known to work on your abdomen and lower back as you naturally contract these muscles to steady yourself in water.

Try A Water Birth
It is increasingly popular to have a water birth. A birthing pool is used to achieve comfortable positions during labor, while also providing the warmth that helps a woman in labor relax.

Play With Your Water Baby!
Until about 18 months of age, babies display a 'diving reflex' that makes it possible for them to swim underwater (even with their mouths open). It's the same reflex adults exhibit when swallowing. After baby is born, this is a great way to get out and have fun. It's especially good for dads, who can spend some alone-time by taking the baby to swimming classes.

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