Not drinking enough, worried!

[Mumtobe94]

Hi, first time making a post as I’ve worried myself.
I’m 18 weeks pregnant and the last few weeks maybe more there have been days where I’ve been awful at remembering to drink, some days I’m okay and others I’m awful and end up not drinking for ages and ages then sometimes downing cups of really weak squash because I hate water, but I am getting headaches and whatever but I’m struggling to drink not due to actual sickness but it’s making me feel so sick to keep drinking all the time also the last couple of weeks I’ve just gone off food, the second trimester I’ve been awful and now I’m really worried for my baby, I feel like I’ve been terrible at keeping hydrated and eating well I feel like I’ve messed up and I’m just really worried and feel so stupid and horrible.

Why don’t you just keep a big bottle of water with you always? Or is that not possible? I had a UTI at the start of the week and was worried maybe I wasn’t drinking enough. I’ve started using a big glass that’s 1.5 pints and make sure I’m filling it up regularly throughout the day. I also drink at least a pint through the night too x

Yeah I should do, I did have a big 750ml bottle that I tried drinking about 3 of those a day but I’ve lost it so need to replace it I’ll be buying a new one now, I’m just scared I’ve read that it causes loads of problems with the baby not drinking enough, I’ve just struggled doing it so much and I just feel so stupid about it now as it’s been weeks not days, I’ve spoken to the midwife about it and she said it’s fine baby will take what it needs from me, I’m taking pregnancare too but I’m just really about the lack of water I’ve had now 😔

750 mil is approx 5 glasses of water and you are trying to drink 15 glasses of water a day no wonder you are knocking your self sick.the baby doesn't need ,all that give yourself a break 😉

@Mumtobe94

Yeah I should do, I did have a big 750ml bottle that I tried drinking about 3 of those a day but I’ve lost it so need to replace it I’ll be buying a new one now, I’m just scared I’ve read that it causes loads of problems with the baby not drinking enough, I’ve just struggled doing it so much and I just feel so stupid about it now as it’s been weeks not days, I’ve spoken to the midwife about it and she said it’s fine baby will take what it needs from me, I’m taking pregnancare too but I’m just really about the lack of water I’ve had now 😔

Not drinking enough will do you more harm to you than baby. It won't affect baby unless massively dehydrated. Which you won't be.

It can cause UTIs by not drinking much and like you already said, headaches.

Baby will take what it needs, you will be the one suffering if you don't drink enough, most likely with UTI's as other people have said. I have just come out of the first trimester and was dehydrated the whole time due to sickness. Maybe set alarms on your phone reminding you to fill up your glass? 🙂

In a bid to encourage myself to drink more, I've been using a smaller 400ml bottle but trying to fill it and drink it in 2 hour periods throughout the day. Aiming for 2litre of water a day, plus other drinks eg cups of tea, smoothie, orange juice etc. I find it also encourages me to get up and away from my desk regularly as well as feeling more manageable to achieve than having a huge bottle. So far it's working for me and I am terrible at drinking enough each day.

I'm sure you and baby are both fine. As others have said, it will be severe dehydration that affects baby, so just work on building up how much you're drinking and try to get into a routine with it. Don't forget some foods will up your water / fluid intake that baby will take from you too.

Keeping a big bottle by the bedside / office helps me a lot. I'm also not that big on water so I've been having sparkling water with some squash.

I bought 3 big 1L bottles which I keep full all the time, I carry one around the house with me wherever I go and the other two in the fridge for when one runs out. It's really helped me to keep hydrated, highly recommend!

What you need in fluid depends a lot on your diet too. If you eat lots of fruit and salad etc, you'll get loads of fluid from that. If you eat lots of carbs, your body needs a lot more fluid to deal with them.

You should theoretically feel thirsty when your body needs fluid. I think some people don't though, and some can mistake thirst for hunger and eat instead. How about every time you feel hungry, drink a glass of water/juice first? That way if you are mistaking thirst for hunger you'll be solving the problem, and your body will get what it needs. it might help you remember too?

Mostly the baby will take what it needs from you, so am sure you haven't harmed your baby. but it is better for the baby if you are also in good health, and you definitely don't want a UTI!

Thank you everyone for easing my mind a little, as soon as I saw online that I’m really harming the baby it worried me! I’ll definitely be taking on your suggestions and taking a glass to bed and filling up bottles to drink through the day!
Thank you everyone!