Importance of Proper Fluid Intake During Pregnancy

Feeling thirsty itself means your body is already dehydrated, so one should always respond to the feeling of thirst.
Plain water is a good choice, but all non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated drinks can count towards your fluid intake, including milk, fruit juice, smoothies and hot drinks.

As a mother-to-be, it is essential to be make sure that you are not only eating for two, but that you are also hydrating for two. Proper amount of fluid intake is essential to produce the fluid surrounding your baby and to help increase your blood volume. One just can’t simply have water every time. Hydration doesn’t mean to have lots of water only, it’s about having proper fluid intake. This is so because, the fluids other than water contain certain essential micronutrients important to maintain the water electrolyte balance in the body.

Consuming good amount of fluids during pregnancy can do pure magic, as it will ease constipation and hemorrhoids, soften the skin, reduce edema and decrease the risk of urinary tract infections.

Some healthy fluid choices could be :

• Chicken broth
• Dates almond shake
• Lentil soup
• Ragi malt
• Smoothies

We all know water is the best thing to drink whether pregnant or not and keeping up your fluids with water is great to avoid dehydration plus it has many other health benefits. Homemade smoothie/soup & other beverages are not only a good choice when pregnant but also great when you need a healthy snack in-between main meal. It will also provide you with enough fluid. Try the smoothies & soups which are convenient and easy supplementary food, designed to complement your existing vitamins or mineral supplements, to help you meet the extra protein, vitamin and mineral requirements during your pregnancy. It is ideal as a high-protein, high-calcium snack in pregnancy.
Make your favorite smoothie combination with some fruit – bananas and fresh berries are a good start, some yoghurt, your preferred milk of choice. Smoothies are preferable during sunny days in cold winters or for those who prefer to drink cold.

Consuming all of these healthy drinks while pregnant adds great nutritional value to the diet. During pregnancy, it is best to avoid alcohol, caffeine drinks, aerated beverages, preserved fruit juices and high energy drinks. They affect not just the mother, but also reach the baby through the placenta and harm them. If you are habituated to such drinks, gradually reduce their consumption and replace them with any of the natural health drinks.

Last but not the least is the water. Consumption of water throughout the day not only prevents dehydration but also maintains hormonal balance, evens out mood swings and flushes out toxins regularly from the body. To make the consumption of water interesting, add some lemon or fresh mint leaves or slices of cucumber in glass jug & change every day.

The food that you consume and the fluids that you drink directly or indirectly affect the growing fetus. To avoid any ill effects to the baby, it is very important for mothers to monitor their food consumption and remove all the harmful substances from their diet. Regular consumption of these natural, healthy drinks not only satisfies the hunger pangs but also gives a good dose of essential nutrients to both the mother and the baby.

Here is the list of some Nutritious drinks that can be easily made a home which cater both to the taste and nutrient requirement of the pregnant:

• Banana Avocado Smoothie with Coconut milk
• Apricot,Honey & Yogurt Smoothie
• Dates & Almond Paushtik Milk
• Soya Choco Milk
• Ragi Milk/Chaach
• Red lentil Vegetable Soup
• Spinach Tomato Soup
• Tomato Carrot Soup
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie
• Virgin Mojito (Room Temperature)
• Virgin bloody Mary with Fresh Tomato Juice (recipe will be shared soon on www.healthynudgez.com)

Note:
For non vegetarians, you can add chicken broth/stock to the soup which will enhance tastes & nutritional value.
According to Ayurveda, adding jeera & hing tempering/tadka to curd/buttermilk, may change the taseer/cold effect of the food.