For many women, simply getting a positive pregnancy test can be overwhelming. Then if you add all of the “make sure you eat this” and “avoid that”s, your head may be ready to explode!
Here we’ll attempt to give you a simple list of what’s safe to drink during pregnancy and what isn’t.
Drinks that are safe while pregnant
The most obvious and best choice is, of course, water. Yes, we know it can be hard to drink something so “plain,” but it’s extremely important for you and your baby. Not only does it help keep your immune system stronger, it also keeps your amniotic fluid from diminishing.
If you’re looking for a more flavorful choice that still has health benefits, you can also drink fruit juices like orange juice or even sports drinks like Gatorade.
Women often ask if sports drinks are okay to drink and the answer is yes (as long as they aren’t energy drinks). These drinks are designed to hydrate you and replenish your electrolytes, which is also beneficial to your baby. Just be sure to watch your sugar intake as they can often be high in sugar.
Another option is to drink herbal tea. Herbal teas don’t have caffeine and often help with different aspects of pregnancy. For example, ginger tea or peppermint tea can help with nausea and red raspberry leaf tea helps strengthen uterine muscles for labor. You do have to be careful with certain ingredients, though. For example, chamomile can potentially slow a baby’s heart rate, so it should be avoided.
Drinks that AREN’T safe while pregnant
The biggest drinks to avoid while pregnant are alcohol and heavily caffeinated beverages. These types of drinks can cause major birth defects or problems with your pregnancy.
Other drinks that should also be avoided are anything that’s raw or unpasteurized and high sugar drinks. Unpasteurized milk or juice can have harmful bacteria that can hurt your baby. And as we’ve mentioned already, too much sugar isn’t good for you or your baby either, especially if you have gestational diabetes.
If you have any questions or concerns about certain drinks or foods, always run them by your OB/GYN to make sure they won’t harm you or the baby.
At All About Women, our staff wants to make sure you have the healthiest pregnancy possible. Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced obstetricians at our Gainesville or Lake City office today.