Is It Safe To Drink Hot Water During Pregnancy?

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One of the most common advice you may have heard from well-wishers is to drink plenty of water daily to stay healthy throughout pregnancy. Drinking enough water keeps you hydrated and aids in detoxification. However, you might be wondering if drinking hot water during pregnancy is healthy or not.

While drinking water is essential for the fetal development and health, drinking warm water adds to the list of advantages and is quite beneficial. It keeps dehydration, weariness, infections, and other illnesses at bay while helping you stay energetic and strong. Additionally, it provides nourishment and protects you from potential water-borne diseases. So, read on to know more benefits of drinking warm water while pregnant and some cautions to keep in mind.

Intake Requirements

Here are some guidelines on water intake for pregnant women:

• You must have eight to twelve glasses of water every day. This ensures proper hydration and healthy functioning of your body (1).
• Your water requirement may increase with the changes in your weight, weather conditions, and daily activities.
• After exercising, you must drink extra water to compensate for the body fluid lost during the workout.

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• It has been found that during pregnancy, drinking more fluids also helps to reduce water retention in the body.
• You should keep having water at regular intervals and never wait to get thirsty to drink water. However, please consult a doctor (or your physician) in order to determine the specific amount of water that is safe and advisable to be consumed.

Quick fact

Water aids in digestion and helps eliminate waste from the body through urine. It also plays a role in amniotic fluidⁱThe clear fluid surrounding the baby in the uterus that keeps it protected and aids in its overall development production during pregnancy (1).

Importance of Optimum Hydration

Dehydration and fatigue are common issues faced during pregnancy. Dehydration can lead to many complications such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, cramps, edemaⁱSwelling resulting from excessive fluid retention in the tissues , and urine infection. It can also exacerbate nausea and vomiting, which are common symptoms of morning sickness.

In some cases, it may also lead to more serious complications such as neural tube defectsⁱCongenital abnormalities of the brain or spinal cord caused when the neural tube doesn’t close completely , low amniotic fluid, insufficient breast milk production, and preterm labor (1).

Water also helps in the formation and functioning of the placenta and amniotic sacⁱA thin membranous sac filled with clear fluid that carries the fetus and provides protection Besides, it helps carry oxygen and nutrients from maternal circulation to the baby. Therefore, optimum hydration is a crucial component of prenatal care, which ensures proper growth and survival of the fetus (1).

Benefits of Drinking Warm Water During Pregnancy

Drinking tepid or lukewarm water renders many health benefits to both you and your baby. They are (2):

• Warm water helps to detoxify your body as it makes you sweat. You can get rid of irritants and toxins via sweat, which might help boost immunity.

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• It helps ensure proper and healthy bowel movement and provides relief from acidity and constipation, especially if you have a known history of hemorrhoids (piles).
• Warm water helps improve blood flow in your body. Drink a glass of warm water daily, especially with a small quantity of lemon in it. Drinking lemon water during pregnancy can help boost stamina and energy levels and keep fatigue at bay.

Dr. Michael Green

, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist from Lake Arrowhead, California, says, “There is no strict requirement to drink exclusively hot or cold water while pregnant, though many women prefer water at room temperature or slightly chilled. The most important thing is to drink plenty of it! As for hot drinkable liquids, they are safe to consume unless you’re drinking enough to raise your internal body temperature significantly. Don’t worry about drinking a hot cup of cocoa or herbal tea.”

• Warm water helps keep cold, cough, and flu at bay, which can help improve overall maternal health.

Point to consider

Experts advise using water only from cold water taps for cooking and drinking. It is because the water from hot water taps is more likely to have higher lead levels. Lead content in the water can’t be reduced by boiling the water (1).

Caution

Is it safe to drink hot water during pregnancy? It should be remembered that your drinking water should be tepid or lukewarm, and not scalding hot. Hot or warm water from taps is considered unsafe and not recommended for drinking during pregnancy as this may contain lead and high mineral content, accumulated from the pipes it flows through (3).

It may stunt the physical and mental growth of your baby and can cause considerable damage to the developing lungs, brain, liver, nervous system, kidneys and red blood cells in your baby. You must always have filtered and boiled water to eliminate the risk of lead, unwanted minerals and also microbes from your drinking water.

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Infographic: How Staying Hydrated Helps Pregnant Women

Regular water intake during pregnancy is recommended as it helps both the mother and the baby. You may need anywhere between nine and twelve cups of water to stay active throughout the day. Scroll through the infographic below to learn more about the benefits of staying hydrated when pregnant.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Is It Safe To Drink Hot Water During Pregnancy?

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Arpita ChakrabortyMS

Dr. Arpita Chakraborty practices at Bombay Hospital, Mumbai and has eight years of experience in the field of ob/gyn. She has passed her medical training with distinction and bagged gold medals in various subjects. Dr. Chakraborty trained in advanced laparoscopy at Bombay Hospital and did FOGSI Certified Course in Obstetrics Ultrasonography.

Read full bio of Dr. Arpita Chakraborty

• 
  Dr. Michael GreenMD Dr. Michael Green is a board-certified OB/GYN living in Lake Arrowhead, CA. He studied medicine at St. Louis University of Medicine and completed a Family Medicine Residency at the Ventura County Medical Center. Dr. Green did a second residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. In addition, he holds a masters degree in Chemistry from the California State University Northridge. With over 17 years experience, Dr. Green currently works as a site director for OBHG at Northridge Medical Center in Northridge, CA.
  
  Dr. Michael Green is a board-certified OB/GYN living in Lake Arrowhead, CA. He studied medicine at St. Louis University of Medicine and completed a Family Medicine Residency at the Ventura County Medical Center. Dr. Green did a second residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. In addition, he holds a masters degree in Chemistry from the California State University Northridge. With over 17 years experience, Dr. Green currently works as a site director for OBHG at Northridge Medical Center in Northridge, CA.

Anshuman MohapatraM.Tech (Biotechnology)

Anshuman Mohapatra is a biotechnology scientist with more than six years of research experience in analytical chemistry and biotechnology. He has submitted his PhD thesis at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) and served as a research fellow (JRF/SRF) during his PhD tenure.

Read full bio of Anshuman Mohapatra

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD

Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer.

Read full bio of Dr. Joyani Das