Will Drinking Pedialyte While Pregnant Harm My Baby?

Pedialyte is known for its rehydration benefits. Being pregnant you will understand how important it is to keep hydrated. Dehydration can strike during pregnancy thanks to morning sickness. Pedialyte is safe for children to consume which is why we are questioning ‘Will drinking pedialyte while pregnant harm my baby?’

Drinking Pedialyte While Pregnant – Can it Harm My Baby?

So the question is, is it safe to drink pedialyte while pregnant?

Pedialyte itself is thought to be safe to drink in moderation whilst pregnant. It offers a healthy balance of electrolytes, carbohydrates, and water to effectively help rehydrate anyone who may be suffering from dehydration.

Morning sickness sufferers turn to this drink to help get their intake of fluids back to normal but it is not deemed an essential pregnancy product.

Can You Have Pedialyte While Pregnant?

Keeping hydrated is a priority for pregnant moms. Water helps to fuel our cells and maintains the optimum conditions for our organs to function. Electrolytes found in water play a paramount role in your baby’s development and growth.

Knowing that fluids are so important in pregnancy it can be worrying for expectant moms to keep their hydration levels balanced. Sickness in particular can increase the risk of dehydration. If you have been suffering from dizzy spells, and frequent headaches then you could have missed the signs of dehydration.

Knowing good sources of hydration are important. Water alone can be boring so what’s the best way to ensure lost electrolytes are replaced? Pedialyte in particular is used to treat dehydration in children but can you drink pedialyte while pregnant?

What Is Pedialyte?

Pedialyte is a solution prescribed to young adults and children to help replace electrolytes and fluids lost after extreme vomiting or diarrhea. It contains water, salt, sugar, vitamins, and minerals.

It is available in a variety of flavors and comes in a powdered form. Mixed with water it is immediately ready for consumption.

So with such a handy product safe for children can it be safe for an unborn?

Will Drinking Pedialyte While Pregnant Cause Issues?

Due to its benefits in combating dehydration, Pedialyte is said to be safe for pregnant moms. According to the pregnancy food checker Pedialyte is thought to be a useful product that helps revitalize fluids and nutrients lost in morning sickness.

If you feel like you are living in the bathroom thanks to your sickness then reaching for a rehydration product like Pedialyte can be invaluable. If your sickness isn’t as severe then water alone should be enough to keep you balanced.

Vomiting in excess causes you to lose crucial electrolytes meaning your body cannot absorb fluids as it should and pedialyte is known to have the perfect balance between sugar and sodium to increase electrolyte levels and hence help the body to absorb fluids. It also includes zinc in its ingredients which helps your immune system even whilst your barriers are lowered.

Will drinking Pedialyte While Pregnant Harm the Unborn Baby?

With all the goodness packed into Pedialyte, it’s a thought why pregnant moms aren’t advised to use it as a supplement basis.

We know that this product isn’t harmful to you or your pregnancy however using this product on a regular basis can lead to excessive bloating from the sodium content. With a baby growing I’m sure that you don’t need to add bloating to your list of symptoms.

According to the FDA, you should not exceed a dose of 2300 mg of sodium per day. This equates to around 9 cups of Pedialyte a day, without looking at the natural sodium in your diet.

Overall Pedialyte is a known contributor to helping the body recover from fluid loss yet add the flavorings and sugars and your dentist may question the effect it can have on your teeth and gums.

Pregnancy Dehydration

Many of us have probably faced dehydration at some point in our lives without even realizing it. It’s important to recognize the signs of dehydration so we can easily rectify it to prevent further complications.

Tired
Aching muscles
Dry mouth
Cramping
Dizzy
Dark urine
Sunken eyes
Feeling irritable
Fainting
Low blood pressure
Constipation
UTIs
Low amniotic fluid

Causes of Dehydration

Becoming dehydrated during pregnancy can be caused by many factors that we tend to oversee. So what causes us to lose fluids?

Sickness

Morning sickness is the most obvious cause of dehydration. Alongside increased sweating, diarrhea, and nausea.

Sickness and vomiting can affect everyone differently. Personally, I was violently ill during key parts of my day, usually around meal times which meant that I had to alter my diet to smaller, more frequent snacks and meals rather than having big meals.

Diarrhea

Your hormone production is at the speed of light when pregnant and this can increase your sensitivity to foods. You tend to find a change in your bowel movements toward the third trimester, loose stools mean excess fluids leaving the body which can add to dehydration effects.

Sweating

Being pregnant during the summer months I think I honestly lived in the pool. Trying to keep cool was my main priority. Being pregnant increases your internal temperature regardless of the environment you are in.

Excess sweating can increase the risk of dehydration so it’s important to try and stay cool with loose clothing and drinking plenty of fluids.

Alternative Fluids

If you are feeling a bit dehydrated then there are plenty of safe drinks to help get you feeling refreshed and back to normal without using Pedialyte.

Water

The ultimate fluid is of course water. Nothing can beat it, no worrying about additives, sugars, or sodium. The clear stuff is a perfect drink to ensure you’re hydrated. The only downside is that it can get boring but you could add cucumber or lemon to give it a fresh flavor.

Juice

At times when water just isn’t quenching your thirst you can turn to juice. Fruit juice is fortified with vitamins which can be perfect for pregnancy. Be sure to drink fresh juice from concentrate as you can get the most out of its goodness without the pressure of adding synthetic sugars to your diet.

Smoothies

These are perfect to get more vegetables and fruits in your diet. Mixing a variety of fruits ensures that you are getting more vitamins and minerals to aid nutrition for you and baby. Fresh or Frozen fruits are equally as great but avoid adding sweeteners or sugar so choose your fruits wisely not to make it too bitter.

Coconut water

The coconut is a versatile food option or should I say drink? Drinking coconut water helps replace the electrolytes lost during excess vomiting, sweating or diarrhea.

As electrolytes help our bodies absorb the goodness from what we drink it’s important to keep on top of them. Coconut water is a tasty liquid and if you are feeling flamboyant why not drink it from a coconut shell? Add an umbrella and straw to add some jazz.

Wrapping Up

The question: will drinking pedialyte while pregnant harm my unborn baby? Has now been clarified. It is a safe option to help fight dehydration which is caused by pregnancy symptoms.

Dehydration can be serious for both mom and your baby so it’s important to get on top of your fluid loss. If you feel like using pedialyte as a staple supplement then consult your doctor beforehand.

Adding any type of supplement must be given the green light by a professional. If you would rather alternate between fluids then nothing beats water alone.