how much water?

[NotTheOnlyOne]

I was drinking 90 to 100 ounces during the last half of my first pregnancy and then while breastfeeding. My ds is weaned now and since I am nonly 5.5 weeks pregnant, do I need to keep drinking at this pace? I'd like to not worry about it so much. For a while at least. How much are you drinking???

[TaraRae82]

As a general rule (for everyone) you need half of your body weight in ounces. So, if you weight 120 lbs, you need 60oz of water a day. I'm sure during pregnancy it should increase but I'm not sure by how much. I'll find out though. I'm a personal trainer by profession and I need to start my prenatal fitness research for myself! :)

[TaraRae82]

It looks like an additional ~32oz is recommended. EEK! That's a lot of water! I'm already peeing all the time!

[Mrshawwk]

I've been hearing lately about how too much water isn't actually that good for you. It washes nutrients out of your body. A better way to get fluids might be in milk and fermented beverages, such as kefir or kombucha. I kind of also think drinking to thirst is a good idea, not so much flooding the body with water. I know this goes inst all conventional wisdome! But just thought I'd toss it out there. :)

[ibusymomto5]

I drink about a gallon of water a day, but I'm a big water drinker all the time even when not pregnant.

[77sugaree]

I am always thirsty even though i try to drink 60 or so oz. a day. Guess i need more. Especially since I am nursing and pregnant now.

[dany]

I drink about a gallon of water a day, but I'm a big water drinker all the time even when not pregnant.

Same for me.

This translates into LOADS of fun with the whole squashed-bladder thing during pregnancy, too. :P

[TaraRae82]

I've been hearing lately about how too much water isn't actually that good for you. It washes nutrients out of your body. A better way to get fluids might be in milk and fermented beverages, such as kefir or kombucha. I kind of also think drinking to thirst is a good idea, not so much flooding the body with water. I know this goes inst all conventional wisdome! But just thought I'd toss it out there. :)

Just a side note, by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. It's very hard to drink so much water that it's unhealthy. It can be done but you'd have to do NOTHING but drink gallon after gallon after gallon all day. Yes, it can flush nutrients out but typically, your body won't absorb them if it doesn't need them. Plus, most pills need at least 4oz of water per pill to be effective. I also highly believe in finding supplemental nutrients (like prenatals) that are high in bioavailability which means your body will be able to absorb more and waste less. Most OTC multi's only have a bioavailability of about 50-60% so you're only getting about half of what you're putting in. :)

[CindyCindy]

Just a side note, by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. It's very hard to drink so much water that it's unhealthy. It can be done but you'd have to do NOTHING but drink gallon after gallon after gallon all day. Yes, it can flush nutrients out but typically, your body won't absorb them if it doesn't need them. Plus, most pills need at least 4oz of water per pill to be effective. I also highly believe in finding supplemental nutrients (like prenatals) that are high in bioavailability which means your body will be able to absorb more and waste less. Most OTC multi's only have a bioavailability of about 50-60% so you're only getting about half of what you're putting in. :)

What is bioavailability?

[CindyCindy]

Just a side note, by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. It's very hard to drink so much water that it's unhealthy. It can be done but you'd have to do NOTHING but drink gallon after gallon after gallon all day. Yes, it can flush nutrients out but typically, your body won't absorb them if it doesn't need them. Plus, most pills need at least 4oz of water per pill to be effective. I also highly believe in finding supplemental nutrients (like prenatals) that are high in bioavailability which means your body will be able to absorb more and waste less. Most OTC multi's only have a bioavailability of about 50-60% so you're only getting about half of what you're putting in. :)


What is bioavailability?

[TaraRae82]

^Bioavailability is basically a measure of how readily available the nutrients are from the supplement, or, how easily they can be absorbed. A higher bioavailability is better since you'll be able to absorb more and pee out less. Does that make sense?

[triple07]

well, i am trying to drink about a gallon of water per day since i am trying to keep my milk supply up (my ds is only 7 months old...)

[Down2Earth]

As a general rule (for everyone) you need half of your body weight in ounces. So, if you weight 120 lbs, you need 60oz of water a day. I'm sure during pregnancy it should increase but I'm not sure by how much. I'll find out though. I'm a personal trainer by profession and I need to start my prenatal fitness research for myself! :)

Since I weigh 155 lbs I should drink about 77oz of water. And because of the pregnancy, that is now 109oz. :spitdrink Holy Moley! That's a lot of water! But I can totally tell I need it since even after drinking a glass I still feel thirsty.

Let us know what you end up doing for prenatal fitness and what if any books you would recommend.

[lee1203]

I just don't think I can get 100 ounces of water in and do anything else meaningful with my time. :lol Seriously though, I tend to think I've had a good day if I get 60 to 70 in.

Tara, the thirst thing you brought up intrigues me. I will very often not feel thirsty, but know I should drink something, so I'll go to take a sip of water. A lot of the time I'll down like half the glass or something. Just can't stop drinking until I need to come up for a breath. Do you (or anyone) think this means I'm missing my bodies "Thirsty now!" cue somehow?? This happened pre-pregnancy too.

[TaraRae82]

Since I weigh 155 lbs I should drink about 77oz of water. And because of the pregnancy, that is now 109oz. :spitdrink Holy Moley! That's a lot of water! But I can totally tell I need it since even after drinking a glass I still feel thirsty.

Let us know what you end up doing for prenatal fitness and what if any books you would recommend.

Yep, it is a lot. I should be drinking about 90oz with the increase for the pregnancy. AND, for every 20 min of strenuous exercise, you need an additional 4oz. I teach 2-3 hour long classes everyday during the week so that's another 36oz on top of the 90! No wonder I'm thirsty all the time right now. I NEED the water!

I'll defnitely let you know about prenatal fitness. I just ordered a book. I know some general ideas on it that I think I posted in the fitness thread. I'm sure I'll post more. I thrive on fitness, live it, and breathe it. :)

I just don't think I can get 100 ounces of water in and do anything else meaningful with my time. :lol Seriously though, I tend to think I've had a good day if I get 60 to 70 in.

Tara, the thirst thing you brought up intrigues me. I will very often not feel thirsty, but know I should drink something, so I'll go to take a sip of water. A lot of the time I'll down like half the glass or something. Just can't stop drinking until I need to come up for a breath. Do you (or anyone) think this means I'm missing my bodies "Thirsty now!" cue somehow?? This happened pre-pregnancy too.

You probably are missing the thirsty cue or you've gotten so used to not drinking enough that your body quit telling you it's thirsty or you've ignored the signs so long that you don't think they're there. If you're downing the water like that, then you definitely are waiting too long to drink.

My secret for drinking lots of water, even before pregnancy, is to always keep a full water bottle with a straw. I find I can drink lots more if I have a straw and a bottle with an oz measurement on it. I got mine from Target for about $5. It holds 40oz when completely full and has a straw that pops up when you flip the lid open. It's awesome. It's in the fitness section.

GL to everyone with your water!!! :thumb

[WeasleyMum]

I drink water or herbal tea when I'm thirsty, that's pretty much it. If I feel like I've got a UTI coming on, or a cold, I'll drink more (or make a point to hydrate) but otherwise I figure that if I need water, I'd... be thirsty! :lol I guess the only exception is that when I drink something caffeinated, like a latte, I try to balance it out by drinking water before or after.

[TaraRae82]

^Tea counts as water since that's mostly what it is! :) I drink green tea sometimes. I make it half-caf.

[lee1203]

My secret for drinking lots of water, even before pregnancy, is to always keep a full water bottle with a straw. I find I can drink lots more if I have a straw and a bottle with an oz measurement on it. I got mine from Target for about $5. It holds 40oz when completely full and has a straw that pops up when you flip the lid open. It's awesome. It's in the fitness section.Pop-up straw!! I was actually carrying around a water bottle for a few days, but not a nifty pop-up one. Will have to look into that. :)

And thanks. I think too many years of drinking too much caffeinated stuff :bag: and not enough water have taken a toll.

^Tea counts as water since that's mostly what it is! :) I drink green tea sometimes. I make it half-caf.This is good news too. I do like me some decaf iced tea.

[NatureMama3]

Here's a great tool to figure out how much you need, individually.

http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

Things that can affect how much you need include elevation, weather and exercise habits. I was surprised to find that just living in a harsh weathered, high elevation has rasied my needed intake by 40 ounces daily. It's good to know, to keep from being dehydrated.

[Marcimama]

How about favoring you water a bit. After a while plain water just gags me. Today I added a bit of lemon juice and real maple syrup, it tasted like watered down lemonade. Any other healthy ideas???

[CindyCindy]

My secret for drinking lots of water, even before pregnancy, is to always keep a full water bottle with a straw. I find I can drink lots more if I have a straw and a bottle with an oz measurement on it. I got mine from Target for about $5. It holds 40oz when completely full and has a straw that pops up when you flip the lid open. It's awesome. It's in the fitness section.

GL to everyone with your water!!! :thumb

Oooooh, can't wait to get one of those! Thanks for the tip! I haven't the slightest idea how much I have been drinking. Also, back to the bioavailability. . . .how do you know if there is enough? I understand what you are saying, but confused as to how I know that I am taking the right prenatals. BTW, thanks for all the great info. . can't wait to hear your insight on the exercise!

[mkmb129]

I try to drink 3 full Nalgene (32oz I think) bottles a day.

[Down2Earth]

Yep, it is a lot. I should be drinking about 90oz with the increase for the pregnancy. AND, for every 20 min of strenuous exercise, you need an additional 4oz. I teach 2-3 hour long classes everyday during the week so that's another 36oz on top of the 90! No wonder I'm thirsty all the time right now. I NEED the water!


Something cool I just read... the book Fit to Deliver says you need an additional 8 oz for every 20 min exercise. I guess the extra is because of the increased blood volume and pregnancy.

So, now I'm up to 121 oz a day (for the days I exercise 30 mins.) I'm not too worried about getting that all down. When I was pregnant last time, I was thirsty all the time. I need to make sure I always have my water bottle with me.

[TaraRae82]

Oooooh, can't wait to get one of those! Thanks for the tip! I haven't the slightest idea how much I have been drinking. Also, back to the bioavailability. . . .how do you know if there is enough? I understand what you are saying, but confused as to how I know that I am taking the right prenatals. BTW, thanks for all the great info. . can't wait to hear your insight on the exercise!

Really, with bioavailability, anything that's OTC and NOT from a natural foods store is going to be crappy...as a general rule. :lol Also, anything that's a "one a day" type supplement isn't going to have good bioavailability. Liquids always have the best bioavailability since they're more easily absorbed. Supplements don't publish their bioavailability so the best you can do is buy what you know is very natural, organic, and "pure". GL!

Something cool I just read... the book Fit to Deliver says you need an additional 8 oz for every 20 min exercise. I guess the extra is because of the increased blood volume and pregnancy.

So, now I'm up to 121 oz a day (for the days I exercise 30 mins.) I'm not too worried about getting that all down. When I was pregnant last time, I was thirsty all the time. I need to make sure I always have my water bottle with me.

That's interesting! I haven't read that yet but I certainly don't doubt it. It makes perfect sense with the increased fluid volume during pregnancy. Thank goodness I am this thirsty all the time! I'd never get the recommended amount in everyday otherwise!

[elspethshimon]

I drink about 60oz day.

[CindyCindy]

[QUOTE=TaraRae82;10534895]Really, with bioavailability, anything that's OTC and NOT from a natural foods store is going to be crappy...as a general rule. :lol Also, anything that's a "one a day" type supplement isn't going to have good bioavailability. Liquids always have the best bioavailability since they're more easily absorbed. Supplements don't publish their bioavailability so the best you can do is buy what you know is very natural, organic, and "pure". GL!
QUOTE]

Great! Then I am pretty sure I am taking the right supplements! Thanks.

[heidirk]

If water starts to taste 'bad' but you're still thirsty, eat something salty and some potassium too.

[celesterra]

Are any of you having heartburn issues? I'm really trying to be on top of the water, but I find that it makes the heartburn (and sometimes nausea, depending on which i'm having) worse.

I'm just wondering.

:D

[TaraRae82]

^Try drinking a little milk first and then water. It'll help coat the stomach and the calcium will help decrease the acid. :)

[lee1203]

I would like to announce that throughout the day today, I drank my 100 ounces of water! I had a Dr Pepper in there too :bag:, but that's beside the point. Oh, and I didn't find a 40 ounce pop-up straw bottle at Target, but I did find a 24 ounce one that has a nifty pop open lid when you press a button. It's a very cool blue. I was well pleased. :D