Are you pregnant? During these hot days, are you sure that you are drinking enough? Are you drinking too much?

Dr. Karen Hershkop, the Head of our Nutrition and Dietetics Department shared that studies of pregnant women from around the world found that pregnant women do not consume enough fluids daily. The studies also showed that roughly 50% of the fluids that pregnant women drink are sweetened drinks.

Pregnant women should drink 300 millilitres more water a day (than people who are not pregnant) and should be drinking 2,300 millilitres a day, even more when it is really hot outside.

A connection has been found between not drinking enough during pregnancy and women having low levels of amniotic fluid, constipation, early contractions and children born with a low birth weight. Drinking water is also essential for adequate absorption of water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and B complex vitamins.

Please also keep in mind that drinking sweetened drinks is not good for your teeth and increases the risk of obesity so it is better to drink water and avoid drinks that contain sugar.