Aqua

How much water do you drink?

It may not be enough.

Whether pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s essential you stay hydrated – read on to discover more about the important role water plays in our lives, keeping us healthy, nourished and ready for motherhood!

Water power is used for bodies are like water-powered machines. People often think that the water they drink goes in at the mouth and straight out the other end! This isn’t the case. Our bodies need regular topping up with water to keep them working properly.

Water goes into the stomach and then on a journey round the body. Water replenishes cells at the deepest level, enabling organs like your heart and lungs to function at their best as well as supplying your brain, your muscles AND… your growing baby.

When babies are born, their bodies can comprise up to 80% water. We’re made of water and we need it to survive. But your body will always put your baby’s needs first. To breastfeed, your body takes your own fluids and creates milk for your baby. That’s why it’s so important to replace the water your body uses to make milk and avoid dehydration.

Made mainly from the fluids you drink, breast milk is 87% water and gives your baby everything it needs to grow.Breast milk is thirst-quenching for your baby and also nutritious. A breastfed baby should not need any other liquids as long as you are feeding on demand.

Water is Vital to Life

Your body is about 60% fluids and every single cell relies on a constant supply of water to do its job. When you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, that job includes nourishing your growing baby!

• Babies float in a yellowish clear substance called amniotic fluid.
• Amniotic fluid is about 98-99% water. The developing foetus has room to move and grow while being protected from outside injury. The amniotic fluid protects the foetus against mechanical, thermal and bacterial aggression.

Put Back What You Use!

Our bodies use and lose water all the time. So, quite simply, we need to put back what we’ve lost. Pregnant women must maintain adequate levels of water, to enable the hydration needs of the developing foetus and optimize production of amniotic fluid.

Look after your body and your pregnancy by drinking healthily. You can, for example, avoid the excess sugars in sweetened drinks and the additives in processed drinks by simply reaching for a glass of pure water.

It makes sense to drink water regularly when you realize that women who breastfeed can provide around 750ml of breast milk every day for their babies. If there will be more stock of breast milk, and your baby will be health.