How a Pregnant Mama can Stay Hydrated During the Summer

My baby's estimated due date was end of summer: September 10th - though she went eleven days overdue. When I was seven months pregnant, we moved into a house with no air conditioning and no cool basement. Since I live in Colorado, where it is HOT and DRY during the summer, I learned a few tricks to keep myself (and the baby) hydrated and cool.

My favorite hydrating drink is ReCharge, available at health food stores and some larger mainstream grocery stores. ReCharge is a natural version of Gatorade, and is made by R.W. Knudsen. It tastes better and has less sugar than Gatorade. I especially liked the red tropical flavor, and could easily drink a whole 32 oz bottle of the re-hydrating juice every day. When I was pregnant we would buy three bottles each trip to the store.

My second favorite way to keep hydrated is the little packets of Emergen-C in a tall glass of water on ice. I use one packet for a shorter glass, and two for a tall drink. At about $12 per box of 36, this ends up being less expensive than ReCharge. I like that they provide electrolytes for energy and water absorption, lots of Vitamin C, and much-needed B vitamins, crucial for healthy women and a healthy pregnancy.

A third great natural beverage for pregnant moms is iced red raspberry leaf tea. This herbal tea is very high in calcium, and tastes good hot or cold. I buy it bulk at a health food store and use a tea strainer or French Press to brew it (about a tablespoon of dry red raspberry leaf tea per cup of hot water), steep for ten minutes to extract the calcium and other minerals, and pour over ice. Honey is optional, and adds a nice boost of minerals as well.

Why are drinks like ReCharge, Gatorade, and EmergenC important for staying hydrated? What's wrong with plain-old water? Water carries minerals, and if we get depleted on a hot day, we need extra minerals like sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes to keep us going. The cells can then use the water we're giving them and stay hydrated.

This is especially important during pregnancy when your heart is pumping half again as much blood as when not pregnant. Your baby needs nutrients, too. So an added boost from a hydrating beverage like ReCharge, or extra, highly absorbable vitamins like EmergenC really helps keep you energized and baby healthy. Remember that when a pregnant woman is standing still, she is doing as much work internally as a non-gravid woman climbing a flight of stairs! That is a lot of work, and needs extra water and nutrients.

So - if you are noticing some of the signs of dehydration, like spaciness, light-headenedness, or feeling distracted and "checked out," grab a rehydrating beverage and keep your extra warm, extra large pregnant body going! Then go take a cool shower and sit in the breezy shade. Have a happy pregnancy!