Hydration is essential during pregnancy, and liquid I.V. is a safe way for expecting mothers to replace lost electrolytes and liquid to remain hydrated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Pregnancy is a time when women run a greater risk of dehydration, and keeping tabs on liquid intake becomes essential to help prevent any dehydration-related health risks.
Losing liquids through morning sickness, vomiting, and the sudden need to urinate more often are but two of the reasons why pregnant women need to check their liquid intake.
Sweating from increased body heat is another reason for the loss of liquid, but this loss also means a loss of essential salts and minerals which need to be replaced.
It’s not always palatable to drink water, especially when you feel nauseous in the early stage of pregnancy. As a result, it may become necessary for infusion therapy to replace lost liquids.
On the other hand, Liquid I.V. is like a sports drink without the nasty stuff.
It contains a specific ratio of sodium, glucose, and potassium that help deliver rehydrating nutrients directly into your bloodstream and is said to be the equivalent of 2-3 bottles of normal water.
Let’s delve deeper into hydration and find out why it’s so important for pregnant mothers.
Liquid intake during pregnancy
Pregnancy brings many hormonal and physical changes in your body that demand a higher intake of liquids to facilitate the new life growing in your belly.
The creation of the placenta and amniotic sac depends significantly on your water intake.
The increased need for water during pregnancy can be easily explained by comparing your body’s normal water value, which is about 5-6 liters, to the water value of a pregnant woman, which can be as much as 9 liters.
Some of this extra water goes to increasing blood volume, which is essential to carry nutrients to your baby.
Dehydration in pregnant women can result in mild symptoms like headaches, constipation, and fatigue but can escalate into more severe symptoms, including urinary tract infections and possible premature birth.
The best remedy for dehydration is to monitor your liquid intake and stay hydrated.
Being adequately hydrated keeps your immune system functioning normally and decreases the chance of viral infections like colds and flu.
Morning sickness or involuntary vomiting increased urination, and sweating due to increased body temperature are major causes of liquid loss during the first trimester, which brings home the need to rehydrate.
Blood volume also increases in pregnant women, which logically requires more hydration to transport nutrients in the bloodstream.
It is plain to see that hydration requires consistent monitoring. Many expectant mothers have their daily water intake bottled and ready for use throughout the day, but is this enough?
Remaining hydrated may pose some issues depending on your lifestyle and your own health awareness.
Still, most mothers tend to cope pretty well with their liquid intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Is there a need for additional electrolyte drinks when normal water has worked for so long?
Hydration vs. dehydration
The loss of body fluids also means a loss of salts and other minerals that require a greater water intake to replenish electrolyte levels.
During pregnancy, hydration needs are increased, and electrolytes are essential for the body to function optimally.
Pregnant women lose more electrolytes than at any other time in their lives. Contrary to public belief, water alone is not enough to replace lost electrolytes.
Here are some signs of dehydration:
- Dry mouth and feeling thirsty all the time. This is also a sign of diabetes.
- Swelling in your limbs and other parts of your body is normal with pregnancy.
- Constipation. Diarrhea may cause a sudden loss of fluids depending on the severity and duration.
- Headaches.
- Low blood pressure.
- Hemorrhoids.
- Illness and certain medications can deplete your electrolyte balance.
- Dizziness and fainting.
- Maternal overheating or increased body temperature during pregnancy.
- Tiredness and fatigue.
- Dark urine.
- Sunken eyes.
- Irritability and confusion.
Many other conditions result in the depletion of electrolytes that lead to dehydration, but these mentioned examples are significant as they relate to pregnancy.
Remaining hydrated is about both electrolyte levels and liquid intake, which is clearly seen in a person who drinks enough fluids but remains thirsty.
Now that we know hydration also depends on electrolyte levels, let’s examine Liquid I.V.
What exactly is Liquid I.V.?
Pregnant women lose more electrolytes than at any other time in their lives.
Contrary to public belief, water alone is not enough to replace lost electrolytes. Hence the need to monitor dehydration very closely during this time.
Made from non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free ingredients, Liquid I.V. is safe for pregnant women and children of all ages besides breastfeeding infants who should not drink water in their first six months of life.
Liquid I.V. is an electrolyte drink mix that you either pour or sprinkle into regular water, and it has no preservatives, artificial flavors, or sweeteners. Each pack is said to contain the equivalent of 110% of the daily value of Vitamin C, B3, B5, B6, and B12. Vitamin B3, B5, and B6 help reduce the severity of pregnancy-related cramps, and Vitamin B12 helps limit nausea.
All this goodness taken orally as a charged water drink is absorbed into your bloodstream through “Cellular Transport Technology (CTT),” a science-backed technology that helps your body absorb water and nutrients 2-3 times faster than plain water.
The idea behind Liquid I.V. is to provide a safe alternative to remaining hydrated at an optimal level. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are faced with a pressing need to stay hydrated.
It’s important that electrolyte and water intake and uptake exceed water loss during this period when water loss remains relatively high.
Dehydration is a reality for many pregnant women.
It may require medical intervention in the form of intravenous hydration therapy, a safe therapy used to counter the continuous loss of fluids through nausea.
Intravenous hydration therapy
Intravenous hydration therapy is a popular health and wellness therapy used by medical professionals as it is a safe and speedy process to deliver vital nutrients to the body.
The therapy intravenously administers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream using a drip that bypasses the stomach and is therefore not impacted by intestinal absorption.
This therapy can be viewed as a shortcut to getting directly to the heart of the problem, which is an electrolyte and liquid deficiency.
Intravenous therapy is especially helpful if your nausea is preventing you from keeping anything down.
Morning sickness is considered severe when you throw up several times a day and lose weight through dehydration.
If left untreated, it can negatively affect the growth and health of your baby and your own health.
Opting for intravenous therapy is also helpful for people with highly depleted electrolyte levels that resulted from an illness which can include pregnant women.
The treatment is offered at hospitals or infusion facilities and is fairly quick but depends on the type of medication being administered.
FAQs
Is Liquid I.V. the same as a sports drink?
No, Liquide I.V. is a balanced electrolyte drink with no energy-enhancing additives like most sports drinks, AKA energy drinks.
The makeup of Liquide I.V. is very different from sports drinks, and its specific function is to reverse dehydration by providing electrolytes.
Sports drinks boost energy levels and have much higher levels of sugar and not enough electrolytes.
Are electrolyte drinks really that great?
Yes, electrolyte drinks like Liquid I.V. and DripDrop ORS have been scientifically formulated to deal specifically with dehydration, a serious health-threatening condition, especially for pregnant mothers.
Should I consult my doctor before I try any electrolyte drinks?
Yes, it is always good to discuss your health issues and needs with your doctor to get professional advice on what you specifically need in relation to your current health status and your health history.
Conclusion
Dehydration affects many pregnant mothers through no fault of their own, but if caught early, drinking electrolyte-rich water will help restore hydration in most cases.
In some cases, intravenous therapy may be necessary if nausea is a consistent problem.
For your health and that of your baby, it is good practice to monitor your daily water consumption, and if you notice any signs of dehydration, speak to your doctor about how best to remedy the condition.
Being a proactive mom-to-be is the best approach you can have when it comes to your baby’s health and well-being.
Please speak to your healthcare provider or doctor about any issue that concerns you, no matter how trivial it may seem.
