What and how much are my fellow mamas/mums drinking?

[LadySlipper]

My midwife is always happy to see me come to my appointment with a bottle of water. A habit that started after I had heat exhaustion while living in Las Vegas a few years ago. Even so I wasn't sure how good my intake was verses what is recommended. After reading the info on this link (https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/eating-well/week-33/drinking.aspx) I feel a bit better.

On average I drink:

3-4 bottles of water (16.9 ounces each), or 1.5 - 2.0 liters total.
8 ounces 100% juice if we have it on hand (goes fast with a toddler around).
8 ounces 2 % milk at most.
2- 8 ounce mugs, at most, of coffee from my keurig, usually just one though. Can't live without it, I've tried.
2 - 8 ounce cups, at most, of caffeine free pop/soft drinks if we have it.

Seeing it written it looks like a lot. But the juice and milk are not everyday things. The water is sometimes higher depending on what is going on in the day. In my last pregnancy I drank a crazy amount of water compared to this one (6+ bottles of water).

Are the recommendations different in the UK than the US?

What is your intake like?

 

[Kirsty3051]

Wow, that's very specific! My midwife hasn't gone in to much detail about fluid intake, just the basics. I make a mug of coffee in the morning and drink around half of it. Water all day, every day. I do have the occasional can of coke but that's about it really x

 

[LadySlipper]

Wow, that's very specific! My midwife hasn't gone in to much detail about fluid intake, just the basics. I make a mug of coffee in the morning and drink around half of it. Water all day, every day. I do have the occasional can of coke but that's about it really x

Before reading the link I never thought in specifics about it either. But was somehow feeling lacking so went Google hunting for info. I tend to be a curious Google researching person. At least this time it didn't scare me. My midwife never said how much to drink either. Maybe it is in that unread book they gave me. Only thing I knew to be careful of was caffeine, that she has told me about. I had no idea other liquids also qualified in pregnancy, but guessing water is still best.

 

[LoveMy2Boys2]

I have been so sick, I get down about 6-8 oz of water per day:/ 1 Gatorade, on a good day 1 cup of coffee, and an occasional sprite or coke :/ I'm failing at this liquids thing.... Water doesn't stay down, and if I drink anything too fast I get sick, so I sip all day

 

[RoxieHart]

I'm really bad with coca cola, I've always been really addicted, so I'll probably have at least a can of day ...

But I also drink a hell of a lot of water, it's quite a craving actually. About 3-4 litres.. Same with my last pregnancy too ...

Im not too sure about recommendations here apart from drinking lots of water and no more than 200mg of caffeine a day, coke being around 30 mg or something.

 

[sandandsun]

I drink a ton of water. Usually a full 8 oz. glass every hour until I go to sleep. I also have a big glass of 100% juice every night with dinner. Sometimes you just need something other than water, though I do try to avoid pop!

 

[MommyFirefly]

I probably drink a ridiculous amount of water. I have about 8 20 oz bottles of water a day. That's a little over 1 gallon or 4 liters. I crave it constantly.

I try to drink juice, but it tends to make my stomach hurt. The only milk I have is the milk that I put in my cereal. Occasionally I'll drink an 8 oz glass of (whole) milk with a little chocolate in it. Not very healthy, I guess.

I have 2 small cups of coffee every few days. I know that's not ideal, but it's a HUGE improvement from the amount I used to drink.

I'll have soda once a month or so and iced tea every few weeks.

I could be doing worse lol

 

[sashadoll]

I drink 5 to 8 water bottles a day maybe more.
12 oz of whole milk. I can't stomach 2%
2 classes of grape juice
All this daily.

 

[emmi26]

Milk !!! Love milk lol

 

[messica]

Mainly water and fruit/veg/herb infused waters for me. I shoot for a gallon + (16 - 8oz glasses) and often times exceed it a smidge

I drink a glass of orange juice a few mornings a week, almond milk if I'm having cereal and have the very occasional (maybe once a month?) soda but I really try to avoid it as it gives me twitchy legs trying to fall asleep at night lol

 

[LoveMy2Boys2]

Omg anyone too sick to drink anything? Reading this is worrying me!!

 

[messica]

Omg anyone too sick to drink anything? Reading this is worrying me!!

I struggled in first tri due to HG, but sipping pretty much near constantly still got me in a fair amount.

Have you talked to your doctor about your struggles to drink much of anything?

 

[pinkcatgirl]

Ha ha I thought you meant wine... Felt a bit better that someone else was having a glass or two...

I'm not drinking enought water at all, some days at work I have a cup of coffee at breakfast then nothing else til I remember about 4pm! So bad. If I drink plenty though I just need to pee all the time - last pregnancy was the same. So bad that I have had a downstairs loo put in my house this month as can't face the stairs all the time. And only half way through!

 

[messica]

Yeah, ZERO alcohol here pinkcatgirl. Not a drop. Not a big deal to abstain for just a short while.

I don't think I've read that anyone else here has had any either?



Drinking a lot of water throughout the day does make me have to pee a lot, but I'd rather have that inconvenience than premature labor and delivery!

 

[MommyFirefly]

I got a good chuckle pinkgirlcat lol No wine for me. I haven't seen anyone here talking about it, but I've had friends who would occasionally drink wine.

LoveMy2Boys2 I wouldn't get too concerned. As long as you're sipping on something every now and then, you should be okay. Do you ever feel dehydrated or anything??

 

[RaspberryK]

I drink a lot of water, diluted cordial, couple of cups of tea, a 300ml juice in the morning, definitely over 3 litres this is normal for me pregnant or not.
Xx

 

[VickyLou]

Not nearly enough I'm always dehydrated is that bad? I've always been the same though.
I have a coffee in the morning
1 can of diet caffine free coke
And maybe 1 or 2 half pint glasses of water.

Ooooops!

 

[mandaa1220]

I mostly drink only water, though I have some apple juice and orange juice here and there on occasion. Soda very rarely, but non-caffeinated.

I drink at least 6 20 oz bottles of water a day, so a total of at least 120 oz. I always feel thirsty for water.

 

[LadySlipper]

Thanks for all the replies.

Anyone else notice the farther you get in pregnancy the more your thirst increases? Over the last week or two I've started craving water. Probably by the end I will be up to my mass quantities like last pregnancy. I would drink more juice but it makes the heartburn I already have, worse. But it tastes so good.

For those struggling try watering down, even just a little bit, whatever you can drink. It's a sneaky way to get water in. Perhaps you can increase the water over time and maybe eventually just drink straight water. Avoid caffeine if you can as it dehydrates the body. But I would bring it up to your midwife or Dr as they may have other things for you to try.

 

[jzgrace]

I have been so sick, I get down about 6-8 oz of water per day:/ 1 Gatorade, on a good day 1 cup of coffee, and an occasional sprite or coke :/ I'm failing at this liquids thing.... Water doesn't stay down, and if I drink anything too fast I get sick, so I sip all day

When I had hg with dd1, it helped if my fluids were room temperature, or warm. Cold liquids tend to upset the stomach.