How much water a pregnant woman should drink
During pregnancy, you should drink 8 to 12 cups (64 to 96 ounces) of water every day. Water has many benefits.
It aids digestion and helps the amniotic fluid from around the fetus. Water also helps nutrients circulate in the body and waste leave the body.
According to the Institute of Medicine, pregnant women should drink ten 8-ounce glasses of water daily. If you are breastfeeding, the daily drinking amount should increase to thirteen 8-ounce glasses per day. Most people are familiar with the 8×8 rule for daily water or fluid intake: eight 8-ounce glasses of purified water per day.
But when you are pregnant, your body needs extra fluids to produce more blood and amniotic fluid. If you live at an altitude above 1,500 meters, the lower humidity also means you lose more water than usual through sweat and breathing.
Why drinking water is important
A good water intake keeps all your internal systems running and helps your body to eliminate waste. Waste products in the kidneys dissolve in water and are excreted in the urine.
