Have a growing baby in your belly? Congratulations on the beginning of this new life chapter! Let’s raise a glass of crisp, clean water to celebrate. As an expectant mother, it is more important than ever to stay properly hydrated by drinking at least 10 glasses of water daily, according to the American Pregnancy Association, with additional glasses of water for every hour of light exercise. Keep reading for the some of the most important benefits of drinking water during pregnancy!

Transport Nutrients to Your Baby

Ever wonder how prenatal vitamins and the food you’re consuming every day are delivered to your fetus? The answer is water. It helps your body absorb essential nutrients and transports vitamins, minerals, and hormones to blood cells. It’s those nutrient-rich blood cells that ultimately reach your baby. Drinking water also helps to preserve an ideal level of amniotic fluid and even helps fetal kidney function. It’s never a bad idea to assess the cleanliness of your drinking water, especially when you’re pregnant. Make sure that you’re drinking from a filtered source to avoid chemicals that could harm a fetus, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.

Decrease Your Risk for Infections and Discomfort

Prevent urinary tract infections, constipation, and hemorrhoids by staying hydrated. Water helps to dissolve waste and flushes it from the kidneys, keeps your urine diluted, and moves solid waste more speedily down the digestive path, which helps you avert numerous health concerns. How can you tell if you’re drinking enough water? If your trips to the bathroom are frequent and your urine is pale or colorless, your water consumption is on track.

Prevent Dehydration and Feel Better

Drink water to keep aches and growing pains at bay and to prevent dehydration, which is a main contributor to headaches, cramping, and dizziness. For some women, drinking water helps to alleviate morning sickness, heartburn, and indigestion. Staying properly hydrated becomes especially important during the third trimester because dehydration can trigger contractions that can lead to preterm labor. Water helps to keep your body’s cooling system running smoothly by dispersing surplus heat in the form of sweat to prevent overheating, in addition to getting rid of excess sodium, among other things, which minimizes swelling of the feet or ankles.

To help stay consistently hydrated, get in the habit of bringing a water bottle with you everywhere you go. Having a water bottle handy throughout the day will remind you to drink water and challenge you to consume the recommended amount each day. If you prioritize staying adequately hydrated over the next several months, you’ll be setting your little bundle of joy up for a healthy life outside the womb. Cheers to H2O and a healthy pregnancy!