Читать книгу Safe Food: What to eat and drink in pregnancy - Rosie Dodds - Страница 36

We all need to drink plenty of water and other fluids. A good intake of liquid throughout the day helps with the smooth running of virtually every part of our body. When we drink enough water our digestion works better, our joints ache less and our skin is softer. Drinking plenty of water can relieve and help prevent many ailments – headaches, constipation, urine infections.

Drinking more while you are pregnant may seem odd, because many women already find they need to go to the toilet more often, especially at night. But there is a reason for this. When you are pregnant, your body contains extra blood and other fluids, to meet the needs of your baby – and your kidneys need to work harder to cope with the additional demands. It is important that you drink plenty to meet your baby’s needs, and to keep yourself in good health. Cutting back on what you drink to avoid getting up to go to the toilet at night can be harmful. Pregnant women are prone to urine infections and constipation and a good intake of fluid will help prevent both of these problems.

During pregnancy, try to drink 6–8 glasses of water, or other fluids, each day – not counting milk or alcohol. Some women find cold tap water very refreshing; others prefer bottled or fizzy water, unsweetened fruit juices or weak squash (avoid those with added sugar!). Many women enjoy coffee or tea, including the fruit and herbal types, or alcohol-free wines and beers. (More about tea, coffee and alcohol in Chapter 7.) The main thing is to find drinks that you enjoy.