What is dehydration and why does it occur during pregnancy?
In simplest terms dehydration is the loss or shortage of water in the body. This can be the effect of rapid loss of water from the body through sweating or due to other causes. During pregnancy the volume of blood that is pumped inside the body increases by a substantial amount. Naturally the body will require more water to help maintain the flow of this increased volume of blood. This means that more water has to be taken in the body during the course of pregnancy, and if this is not done the result is dehydration.
Symptoms and Prevention of Dehydration
If the body is not getting enough fluids then it has its own mechanism of signaling the same. The first and the most obvious symptom is thirst. A dry mouth and nose is the more intense form of thirst and will result if the symptom of thirst is ignored for a fairly long period of time. Other symptoms include urine of a dark yellow or deep gold colour indicating less water content and more salt content, dizziness, constipation and more frequent Braxton Hicks contractions (Braxton Hicks contractions are the contractions that occur during pregnancy and are similar to the ones that occur during actual birth, in other words they are the sample contractions of those that will occur during actual child birth). The complications that can result due to dehydration are dry skin, pre term labor, miscarriage and hemorrhaging.
The simplest way to avoid dehydrating is to consume a lot of fluids. The quantity that is prescribed as standard is six to eight glasses of fluid, each glass having a capacity of eight ounces - that is at least 48 to 64 ounces of fluid per day. This quantity should be supplemented by one 8 ounce glass for each hour of light activity. Juices can also be a part of the fluid intake but it is to be remembered that they contain extra calories and can therefore cause weight gain. So juices having added sweeteners like corn syrup must be avoided. An exception to this general rule can be made in very hot weather, when drink electrolytes can replace sports drinks. Caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee and colas cannot be counted in the fluid intake as they act as diuretics - that is they make the person to urinate more so that the person is actually losing water. And if the pregnant woman is traveling, when it may be difficult to have sources of clean drinking water, it is advisable to carry bottled water. And of course the symptoms have to be watched with an open and keen eye - so that preventive or curative action can be initiated before it is too late.
