Of the many bodily changes that take place during pregnancy, specific food cravings and excessive thirst are among the most common but the ones that vary most from mother to mother. While some expectant mothers never experience excessive thirst, they still need to get sufficient water. If a woman is feeling extremely thirsty, she is likely already becoming dehydrated. Mounting thirst is primarily due to the growing demands on the mother for more blood volume and more fluid for a growing baby. Your body is working overtime to help your baby grow, so feeling thirsty is normal but must be addressed.
Stay Hydrated
Whether you feel especially thirsty or not, it's a good idea to keep drinking water throughout the day when you're pregnant. More water is needed to accommodate greater blood volume while you're expecting, and for your increased fluid needs as your uterus expands to make a home for your baby. You are also supplying fluids to another body, so drink a sufficient amount of water so your baby will also be getting the right amount of fluid.
Third Trimester
The third trimester of your pregnancy can be the one that is most taxing. In addition to having gained about 20 to 30 pounds, you will feel thirst frequently, but you'll have to go to the bathroom a lot. Sleeping will be more difficult as you can no longer lie on your stomach, and the expansion of your uterus will have pushed other organs aside. This is also the part of the pregnancy when your baby is growing rapidly and putting on weight, so keeping him well hydrated will help reduce the risk of problems toward the end of the pregnancy.
Recommendations
The Institute of Medicine recommends expectant moms drink about 10 cups of fluids daily to meet their needs. Fluids can include water, fruit juices, tea, coffee and even soft drinks, but remember that caffeinated drinks can serve as diuretics and actually deplete the body of fluids. One way to tell if you're getting enough fluids is if your urine is pale or basically colorless and you don't feel thirsty.
Warnings
If you don't obey your thirst signal and keep yourself well hydrated, you put you and your baby at risk of some serious medical problems. Among the conditions triggered by a lack of sufficient hydration are urinary infection, dry skin, hemorrhoids, constipation and fatigue. Caffeine can also interfere with your body's ability to absorb calcium and iron, which can interfere with your baby's ability to absorb calcium.
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