Overview
Dehydration can be a serious problem during pregnancy. As dehydration can make the pregnancy too uncomfortable, it becomes difficult for a pregnant woman to bear the physical and mental pains of labor. Though pregnancy can make one dehydrated, it is not something that stops at drinking water or eating a few nuts. Women need to drink adequate water before the labor to help retain body fluids. This ensures the fluids are transported to the baby safely.
Symptoms of dehydration during pregnancy
A pregnant woman may show symptoms of dehydration and be told to drink more water. A pregnant woman may show symptoms of dehydration and be told to drink more water.
The symptoms of dehydration during pregnancy may be mild and not always be noticeable. However, if a woman is dehydrated during pregnancy, they may experience several uncomfortable symptoms.
Common symptoms of dehydration during pregnancy include:
- bloating
- dry skin
- fluid retention
- muscle cramps
- fever
Dehydration in pregnancy may cause a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Symptoms of UTI include:
- chills
- fever
- pain during urination
- frequent urination
- swelling in the legs or feet
If a woman has a UTI, a doctor may want to do a few tests. These may include blood work, a urine sample, and a CT scan. Doctors may also prescribe antibiotics.
Dehydration Symptoms And Causes:
1. No Enough Intake Of Water: Dehydration can happen when you’re eating and drinking enough fluids, but your body is not able to get rid of excess water.
2. You’re Too Stressed: Stress can cause dehydration, too.
3. You’re Not Properly Hydrated: Lifestyle factors like lack of exercise and smoking can affect how much water your body can get rid of.
4. Smoking And Alcoholic Drink: Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes can dehydrate your body.
5. You Are Exposed To Extremes: Sometimes, extreme temperatures can damage your body as it tries to get rid of all that water.
6. Are They Immune System? People with autoimmune diseases and immune disorders could suffer from dehydration.
7. Obesity: Obese people need to hydrate more.
8. Medical Conditions: Diabetes and high blood pressure can make it difficult for a person to take in enough water.
9. Too Much Stimulation: Having lots of physical activity or exercising can dehydrate you.
10. A Bad Tummy: Getting sick or a digestive condition can also lead to dehydration.
Insufficient Sleep:
Getting enough sleep can help you keep your weight under control, and provide you with enough energy to hydrate.
Can dehydration effect your pregnancy?
Dehydration in pregnancy does not usually cause any problems. However, in very young or ill women, severe dehydration may be a cause of preterm labor. In these cases, women with preterm labor should have their dehydration treated immediately with intravenous fluids. Women with preterm labor should also be treated to prevent dehydration in other women in the same pregnancy.
If a pregnant woman is dehydrated enough to be considered critically dehydrated, then she will likely need intravenous fluids immediately to prevent seizures and death.
How long does dehydration take to cause problems?
A woman with dehydration may not show any symptoms for days or even weeks. If the symptoms of dehydration become severe, such as severe headache, neck stiffness, and confusion, then these could indicate a condition called electrolyte imbalance, which is life-threatening if left untreated. Signs of electrolyte imbalance include:
- unconsciousness
- problems walking or talking
- dry mouth
- decreased urination
- feeling dizzy or faint
- rapid pulse
- rapid breathing
If a pregnant woman has symptoms of electrolyte imbalance, she should receive treatment to correct the problem.
How Is Dehydration Detected?
1. When your urine is tinted
2. If you have any of these symptoms
3.Dizziness
4. Feeling thirsty all the time
5. Feeling weak and fatigued
6. Constipation
7. Low appetite
8. Flatulence, gas and belching
9. Sore throat
10. Fatigue and confusion
11. Jaundice
How Does Dehydration Affect Your Baby?
Dehydration can put a lot of strain on your body and your child’s body. He or she can face serious health problems if you don’t give them enough water. Read on to find out what causes dehydration and how to help your baby stay hydrated.
- They cannot maintain normal body temperature
- They might experience slower reflexes
- They might be dehydrated and might look pale
- They might have slow reflexes
- They might not be gaining weight as they should be
- They might have a low birth weight
Effect of dehydration After childbirth
About 15 percent of women lose up to 1.7 liters of blood during the first 24 hours after delivery. This alone is enough to explain the symptoms of dehydration. Of course, this amount of loss can be normal for many women. What should be of concern is that this loss is much more marked in pregnant women, with the higher numbers associated with dehydration.
There are a lot of reasons to advocate for the safety of pregnant women, and there are plenty of symptoms of maternal dehydration, from fatigue to brain fog to preterm labor to deep vein thrombosis.
After childbirth, dehydration usually causes no lasting problems. However, if the mother has a fever and is vomiting, she should receive intravenous fluids.
Antibiotics
While many strains of the influenza virus can cause mild illness, especially serious strains can lead to pneumonia or meningitis. Antibiotics can help prevent both of these conditions if a person develops them during a cold or flu season.
How Is Dehydration Treated?
Drinking plenty of water-Pregnant women need to consume two to three liters of water a day. Pregnant women who drink more than that are more prone to having complications and even could be at risk of developing c-section.
Improving your diet- Healthy, nutritious food, lots of fluids, and rest. A good diet and enough sleep are very important during pregnancy. It will help the mother maintain her pregnancy condition and energy level.
- Drinking caffeine in low doses
- Addition of nutrients to your diet
- Adding antacids and omega 3 to your diet
- Adding digestive enzymes to your diet
- Taking medications that are sulfasalazine and soya bean extract
- Taking a nasal decongestant
- Drinking an anti-nausea medication
- Taking extra folic acid
Diagnosis And Treatment
- Dehydration Tests And Initial Diagnosis: It’s easy to determine if you’re dehydrated just by drinking water in a glass. This simple test can tell you how much water your body can get rid of.
- Adding electrolytes to the water or sport drink that you drink is another way to get extra nutrients without much exertion. The electrolytes help keep the body’s muscles from cramping and soreness by helping to remove sodium from the blood.
- According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), women need to drink between eight and ten glasses of water a day during pregnancy.
- Their urine and stool should be tested monthly, and a complete blood count (CBC) should be done at 20 weeks of pregnancy, as well as twice a year for the duration of the pregnancy.
Prevention
Washing hands often can help to avoid infection. Washing hands often can help to avoid infection.
Consuming electrolyte-rich foods, such as bananas, raisins, and cucumbers, can also help to prevent dehydration.
It’s important to know if you’re at risk of dehydration. A simple blood test is the most accurate way to determine if you have a dehydrated blood or urine sample.
Bottom Line
Most dehydration during pregnancy occurs through poor diet and insufficient water intake. These factors can be difficult to reverse. If dehydration does not go away, it may lead to seizures and other complications. By following the above mentioned tips one can overcome dehydration during pregnancy.
Sirisha B