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As a pregnant woman, you are bound to be getting a lot of advice on pretty much every topic. While the information might seem overwhelming, one piece of advice that you must take to is to drink the right amount of water during the pregnancy. Water is vital to the overall health of your pregnancy; however, most pregnant women have worries regarding drinking hot water and its effects on their pregnancy.
Is Drinking Hot Water Safe During Pregnancy?
Drinking water in the right quantity is extremely important when you are pregnant, for the proper development of your baby. The right amount of water will ensure that you are energised and detoxified, aside from being hydrated.
Drinking warm or hot water has plenty of benefits and helps combat dehydration, fatigue, and infections. However, ensure that the water isn’t scalding hot because it can burn the lining of your mouth, which makes it harmful whether you’re pregnant or not. Dehydration is usually the gateway for a host of other issues such as nausea and cramps, and it can even cause preterm labour.
Benefits of Drinking Warm Water While Pregnant
As mentioned above, staying hydrated during your pregnancy is something you must prioritise. The following are five of the most important benefits of staying hydrated during your pregnancy.
- Helps With Detoxification and Digestion
Drinking warm water will aid in digestion by clearing out all the toxins from your body. It also cleans out the digestive tract, allowing your body to absorb nutrients better. These nutrients are then easily passed on to the baby. Warm water is also said to dissolve fat and oil droplets.
- Reduces Morning Sickness
Most mothers will attest that morning sickness is one of the hardest aspects of being pregnant. Nausea is caused by dehydration, and this kickstarts a vicious cycle where nausea will put you off, wanting to drink water. In order to break the cycle and keep yourself comfortable, it is imperative that you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Relieves Constipation
With so many changes occurring in your body and in your diet when you are pregnant, you will most likely find yourself battling constipation, which is a common issue during pregnancy. Warm water is known to be a good combatant for constipation and will help you have regular bowel movements.
- Maintaining Bronchial Health
One of the things that your doctor will tell you is that you must avoid unnecessary medication during your pregnancy in order to keep your developing baby’s health intact. This means that you must take care of your general health and avoid situations that will cause common illnesses like the flu. During winter months, it is especially important that you consume warm water in order to keep certain conditions like throat infections, cough, cold, and flu at bay.
- Better Hydration
Drinking warm water will result in better hydration, which will help your body perform its functions with ease. With your body’s hormone levels changing, your system will need all the hydration it can get to continue its normal functioning. Adequate hydration helps you combat common pregnancy issues like oedema, morning sickness, cramps, and dizziness.
Does Drinking Warm Water in Pregnancy Harm Your Baby?
While hot water will not harm your baby directly, very hot or scalding water can cause burns in your mouth and throat. This can cause a lot of pain and restrict the type of food you can eat. A reduction in food intake can cause you to become weak and reduce the amount of nutrition reaching your developing baby. The burns may also get infected and may need medication for healing. These medications, in turn, could cause harm to your baby, as any changes in the mother’s body can have a direct impact on the foetus.
Precautions to Take
There are certain precautions you may take if you are still worried about the intake of warm water. Here are a few:
- Make sure that the water you consume is boiled for long enough to ensure that all the bacteria and germs are all killed off.
- Do not drink water from places you are unsure of. Carry a bottle of water with you from home wherever you go.
- Make sure the water you drink has no occurrence of lead, which can be an issue if you live in an old house that still uses lead pipes.
- Make sure that you use filtered water to boil and not regular tap water. It is best to be on the safer side when it comes to prenatal health.
- Drink the right amount of water, but with frequent intervals. Drinking too much water too fast can put too much pressure on your kidneys.
- Drink one cup of water for every hour that you are awake.
- If plain water is not something you enjoy drinking, then add a couple of slices of lemon, or a few pieces of watermelon into your water for added taste.
- Incorporate liquids into your diet. Soups and fresh fruit juices are great sources due to their water content. Make sure that the juice is made at home and that it is sugar-free.
- Do not consume caffeine, soda, or processed fruit juices with too much sugar. These substances act as a diuretic, which is counterproductive.
- Avoid strenuous exercise and going out when it is hot. You will need a large quantity of water and put unnecessary pressure on your body.
Ensure that you keep yourself hydrated, especially during your pregnancy when the hormonal imbalance can cause serious dehydration. It is imperative to recognise your body’s needs.
If you have any concerns or apprehensions related to the consumption of hot water during pregnancy, the best option is to consult your doctor. Make sure you are comfortable with the amount and temperature of water you are consuming and stop if you are feeling uncomfortable.
