How Much Water Should a Pregnant Person Drink?

During pregnancy, you should drink eight to 12 glasses, or 64–96 fluid ounces, of water per day, says Rebecca L. Simon Quigley, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn and acting assistant professor of maternal fetal medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. She says this is the amount recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Your water intake should increase as your pregnancy goes on, says Jeni Rector, a certified midwife and owner of Village Midwife and Birth Center, in Newport News, Virginia. Rector says that a good guideline to follow is to drink about half your body weight in ounces of water each day. (So if you weigh 160 pounds, drink 80 ounces of water daily, for example.)

That means you should drink more water as you progress through the first, second, and then third trimesters, and gain pregnancy weight.

Why Do We Need So Much Water Intake During Pregnancy?

One big reason getting enough water during pregnancy is so important is that your body needs to create the amniotic fluid that surrounds and protects the fetus, explains Simon Quigley.

“The added water is also needed to help the kidneys function properly so they can remove toxins from the blood and modulate electrolytes,” she says. Electrolytes, such as magnesium, sodium, and potassium (among others) help maintain the fluid balance in our cells and keep our muscles functioning well.

Extra water is necessary because your body is making more blood for both you and the baby. “There’s an increase in blood volume—close to a 50% increase—during pregnancy,” Simon Quigley says.

The extra blood volume helps carry nutrients around the body for the benefit of you and the baby, says Angela Perri, a registered dietitian nutritionist at UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital, in Pittsburgh. If you’re taking a prenatal vitamin (as ACOG says you should), that extra blood will help dissolve the nutrients and carry them to where they’re needed in the body, she adds.

If you’re not drinking enough water during pregnancy, you may increase your risk of general discomfort.

“Drinking plenty of water can help relieve constipation, which is very common in pregnancy,” says Simon Quigley. “Another benefit is that it can decrease the risk of urinary tract infections.”

The Risk of Dehydration During Pregnancy

It’s important to be particularly conscious of getting enough water during pregnancy if you’re experiencing morning sickness. Vomiting can cause the body to lose water and electrolytes. “That’s when [you] are most at risk of dehydration,” Perri says.

The good news, says Perri, is that keeping hydrated can actually reduce nausea and vomiting. So, even though it seems counterintuitive, drinking water during pregnancy can help you keep fluids and food down.

However, some people have trouble drinking water during pregnancy. If large amounts of water make you queasy, you may need to resort to taking small sips.

If it’s not possible to keep fluids down, then it’s time to call the doctor, since dehydration during pregnancy is dangerous to both you and the baby.

Perri says it’s important to recognize the signs of dehydration:

• Feeling thirsty
• Headaches
• Feeling weak
• Dizziness
• Underproducing urine
• Urine that is intense yellow or dark brown in color instead of pale yellow

Dehydration during pregnancy can not only make you feel sick but also lead to premature contractions, Simon Quigley says.

What to Drink to Stay Hydrated During Pregnancy

“Water can be one of many fluids,” Simon Quigley says. However, she recommends against sugar-sweetened beverages like soda or sweetened tea. “Over the course of a day, they can add up to significant additional calories from that sugar,” she says. “And that can be a problem, especially for women with gestational diabetes or those who are at risk of the condition.”

If you find water boring, Simon Quigley suggests adding fruit for flavor. For example, lemon water can feel like a treat. An added bonus is that the sour flavor from the lemon may help relieve some nausea from morning sickness, Rector says.

Decaffeinated tea is another hydration option. “Sparkling water can also be good, though it can be a problem for women who have bad gastroesophageal reflux,” Simon Quigley says. “The carbonation can make the reflux worse.”

Hydrate Strategically

If you’re having a hard time getting enough to drink, try snacking on fruits like watermelon that naturally have high water content. “Having several servings a day can add to the hydration tally,” Simon Quigley says.

You may also notice that guzzling water doesn’t help with the pee problem: Pregnant people already need to urinate more often. This urge increases in the later stages of pregnancy as the growing baby puts extra pressure on the uterus. Limiting the amount of fluids you drink after dinner can at least help you get a better night’s sleep, which is good for everyone.

Don’t Overdo It with the Fluids

While it’s important to stay hydrated during pregnancy, it’s also possible to have too much of a good thing, Simon Quigley says. Drinking excessive amounts of fluid can disturb some of the electrolytes, especially sodium. “I caution against having more than 96 ounces (12 glasses) a day,” she adds.

Don’t Stress Over Your Sips

It’s possible to become dehydrated if you exercise a lot in the heat or the weather is very hot and humid, says Simon Quigley. In either of those cases, you’ll need to drink even more water to avoid dehydration during your pregnancy.

But for the most part, a pregnant person in good health with normal kidney function and manageable morning sickness will consume the right amount of fluids simply by listening to their body, Simon Quigley says. It may be helpful to always keep a water bottle around to sip when the urge hits. Cheers to that!

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