Carbonated water is one of the hotly debated products. So to drink or not to drink? The answer is clear - it’s better to forget about this drink, even if it’s one of your favorites, during pregnancy. There are several reasons for this.
The carbon dioxide contained in the drink concentrates gases in the intestines, causing flatulence to develop, which leads to heartburn and severe abdominal pain.
For the proper development of the fetus, for the formation of its skeletal and cardiovascular systems, calcium is necessary. The fetus actively uses calcium, receiving it from the mother's body. After all, it’s not without reason that during the period of bearing a child, some women experience problems with their teeth, aching joints appear, and carbonated water simply washes calcium out of the body. This is fraught with the fact that the child already in the womb begins to develop osteoporosis - bone fragility.
Sweet carbonated drinks contain many preservatives, dyes, flavor enhancers, sweeteners and acids. Manufacturers do this to improve the taste and attractive appearance of the product. However, all these additives are harmful to the gastric mucosa.
In addition, carbonated drinks are very high in calories; the expectant mother may have problems with excess weight.
Carbonated water can cause swelling because it contains chlorine compounds, which retain fluid in the body, which can increase blood pressure.
Almost all sodas contain the well-known E211 - sodium benzoate. It already does not have the best effect on the liver, and when it reacts with acid, it turns into a dangerous carcinogen. Think about it: is it worth risking the health of your unborn child?
What about mineral water?
Carbonated mineral water, although not as tasty and bright, has the same negative effect on the body of a pregnant woman. So, you will have to give it up too. Why do you need extra problems in an already difficult period of life?
However, it is possible and even necessary to drink non-carbonated mineral water, especially rich in magnesium, potassium and sodium. Read the label carefully before purchasing the drink.
It is advisable to abstain from carbonated drinks during breastfeeding.
Sometimes women have an irresistible desire to eat or drink something “forbidden”. Of course, in small doses it is unlikely to cause great harm, but even in these exceptional cases one cannot follow the lead of the popular saying: “If you can’t, but you really want to, then you can.” Therefore, if you really want it so much that you don’t have the strength to resist the desire, let all the gas out of the drink and drink a little.
Always remember that there are now two of you, that you are responsible for the future baby. What is harmful to you is doubly harmful to him. For the sake of your child’s health, you can tame your desires somewhat!
Is it possible to drink carbonated water during pregnancy? This is a frequently asked question among pregnant women. The essence of carbonated drinks is that they contain carbon dioxide (CO2), which creates the bubble effect. When gas bubbles enter the stomach cavity, its normal contraction and functioning becomes problematic. The fact is that carbon dioxide bubbles are released into the stomachs and accumulate, causing the stomach to burst. Part of this gas then moves towards the intestines, and part of it returns back along the esophageal opening, causing the pregnant woman to suffer from belching. When a expectant mother is susceptible to heartburn, an unpleasant burning pain will also pierce the esophagus. And at this time, gas residues accumulate in the intestines, which cause the intestines to swell and peristalsis is disrupted. This may cause loose stools or, conversely, constipation. In the presence of gastritis, peptic ulcers, or when there is a predisposition to them, exacerbations of these diseases may begin from carbon dioxide.
Why can't you drink sparkling water during pregnancy?
Many carbonated sugary drinks contain the nutritional additive aspartame. It is a sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. If you eat a lot of aspartame, your liver function can be significantly impaired and the concentration of triglycerides will increase. All this can provoke the development of obesity and diabetes. And, worst of all, this can affect not only the pregnant woman, but also her unborn baby, who, when born, will already have these diseases or a high predisposition to them. Another manifestation of the “insidiousness” of aspartame is that it increases appetite, and a pregnant woman often wants to eat a lot anyway. A peculiar “paradox” emerges: aspartame contributes to the fact that carbonated sweet drinks are characterized by low calorie content, but at the same time they can stimulate additional weight gain in a pregnant woman.
Many substances contained in sweet carbonated water cause harm to pregnant women and their babies. For example, carbonated drinks are distinguished by the presence of phosphoric (orthophosphoric) acid in them. It is responsible for regulating acidity in soda. If a pregnant woman has a hereditary history of diseases such as urolithiasis or gallstones, then the likelihood that stones will form in the kidneys or gall bladder increases. Pregnant women already have a double load on their kidneys, so stone formation is an even more likely problem and the risk is higher. In addition, the presence of orthophosphoric acid in the drink threatens exacerbations of gastritis and stomach upsets, and the absorption of elements such as iron, potassium and magnesium worsens.
Various dyes and preservatives contained in carbonated sweet water can provoke allergic reactions - allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, which is why the child may develop allergies in the future.
Sodium benzoate is also added to carbonated sweet water. It belongs to the preservatives, thanks to which drinks are stored for a long time. Ascorbic acid, which is also often found in carbonated water, in combination with sodium benzoate contributes to the formation of a carcinogen, which can cause cancer.
Dentists also add from themselves - carbonated drinks destroy tooth enamel, caries can develop faster. As you know, a pregnant woman is already susceptible to these problems due to the increased consumption of microelements such as calcium and fluoride - in the expectant mother they are used to build bones and form teeth in the baby. Therefore, if you drink sweet carbonated water during pregnancy, there is a high risk that the enamel will be destroyed even faster.
Carbonated mineral water during pregnancy
Is it possible to drink carbonated mineral water during pregnancy? Another pressing question. Everything regarding the effect of carbon dioxide on the body (the effect of carbonation) is described above; when a pregnant woman drinks carbonated mineral water, it acts in the same way as in the case of carbonated sweet drinks.
If we talk about the properties of mineral carbonated water, then its peculiarity is the presence of salts - potassium-sodium and chloride. Potassium and sodium are trace elements that contribute to many processes in the human body: the conduction of excitation along nerve fibers, metabolism in cells. But chlorides are a salt base that attracts water. Because of this, when consuming chloride-containing mineral water, there is a high probability that a pregnant woman’s blood pressure will increase and swelling will appear.
To summarize, we can say that the ideal option for a pregnant woman and the most beneficial for both the mother and the unborn baby would be to drink non-carbonated mineral water containing potassium, sodium and magnesium. When choosing mineral water, a pregnant woman should carefully study the label to determine the content of microelements in the water. As for carbonated drinks, it is better not to drink carbonated water during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although, of course, a couple of sips will not do any harm if the desire is very great, taking into account the nuances of “passionate” wishes for food and drinks among expectant mothers. Another good method that you can take note of is to release all the carbon dioxide from the bottle before use, so as not to provoke flatulence in the pregnant woman.
For a comfortable existence, a person needs not only to eat well, but also to drink enough fluids. This also applies to pregnant women - after all, the expectant mother is also responsible for the baby inside her womb. However, no less questions arise here than when discussing the daily menu.
The benefits of mineral water during pregnancy
Mineral water is water that is saturated with biologically active substances, microelements, natural salts and extracted from the depths of the earth. Its composition remains unchanged over time, the liquid does not change its chemical and physical properties.
REFERENCE! The healing properties of mineral water were known back in Ancient Greece. It was not only consumed daily, but also used for bathing.
The mineral water, which has flowed through rocks for many hundreds of years, has unique properties:
- Doctors say: the best way to saturate the body with the salts it needs is to drink a glass of mineral water. The liquid helps remove decay products and toxins from the body, and removes excess mucus and toxins.
- Mineral water is prescribed for diseases such as chronic gastritis and pancreatitis, colitis, cholecystitis, gastric ulcers, gastroduodenitis, constipation.
- Slows down the development of diabetes, restores the function of liver cells in fatty hepatosis and viral hepatitis.
- Helps cope with joint pathologies, urolithiasis, anemia, cystitis, bronchitis and tracheitis, and thyroid diseases.
A pregnant woman should not refuse mineral water. This drink improves metabolic processes within the body, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the stomach and intestines, and activates the production of adenosine triphosphoric acid, without which a woman will have neither strength nor a good mood.
According to the degree of mineralization, mineral water is divided into 3 groups:
- Table mineral water - the amount of salt in it does not exceed 5 grams. It does not irritate gastric secretions and is suitable for daily use.
- Medical dining room - salt concentration does not exceed 10 grams.
- Medicinal - more than 10 grams of salt per liter. It is divided, in turn, into alkaline and acidic.
Can pregnant women drink mineral water?
- with gas
Doctors strongly do not recommend this mineral water. Carbon dioxide often provokes belching, heartburn, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and exacerbation of gastritis. And in normal conditions the processes are unpleasant, and even more so during pregnancy. As a last resort, you can release the gas by leaving the container without a lid for a couple of hours.
- without gas
Mineral water without gas is ideal: it does not irritate the intestines and does not cause other negative consequences. But it actively participates in cellular metabolism and significantly strengthens the immune system.
Which mineral water should a pregnant woman choose?
It’s as easy as shelling pears to go to the store and take the first bottle you come across from the shelf, on which “mineral water” is written in large letters. But this is where the mistake lies. It’s so easy to run into a fake, which, unfortunately, is now half, if not the majority. Therefore, do not take unnecessary risks, but buy mineral water at the pharmacy - you can ask for documents confirming the quality of the products at any time. At retail outlets, these rules are often violated.
Table mineral water is suitable for a pregnant woman. This could be “Arkhyz”, “Lipetsk pump-room”, “Krasnousolskaya”. It will help you very well:
- Cope with nausea and dizziness due to toxicosis;
- Saturate the body with oxygen, increase immunity (this will protect against fetal hypoxia);
- Supports the body with potassium, magnesium and sodium.
When going shopping, follow these rules:
- Read the label carefully. It must indicate the manufacturer, name of the water, date of bottling, chemical composition, rules and shelf life, method of mineralization, type of water by cations and anions.
- Choose mineral water in glass bottles. Plastic containers are a questionable material. It does not accept even low heat: if the bottle was placed in direct sunlight or near heating devices, substances toxic to humans begin to be released from the plastic.
- It is not recommended to store an open bottle for more than two days. After 48 hours, almost all the beneficial components evaporate, and the salts precipitate, which will no longer bring benefit, but harm.
- The general shelf life of mineral water is 12 months from the day it was bottled. A longer period no longer inspires confidence.
- The liquid must be obtained from proven natural sources (springs, artesian wells). The well number must be indicated on the label.
When is it better not to drink mineral water?
An unchangeable rule: you can drink mineral water only with the approval of the doctor monitoring you. Concomitant diseases may be a contraindication for drinking this drink:
- Cardiovascular pathologies (with circulatory disorders);
- Jades;
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract during exacerbation (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea);
- Bleeding of any origin;
- Postoperative period;
- Individual intolerance.
In rare cases, side effects occur: hand tremors, insomnia, irritability, headaches and stomach pains.
Daily fluid intake during pregnancy
Hydraulic deficiency negatively affects the body of both mother and fetus. Constipation appears, the risk of thrombophlebitis and varicose veins increases, and blood pressure decreases. Decay products begin to poison the body, immunity decreases, the skin loses firmness and elasticity, and the woman feels tired. In the first trimester, you can drink a lot of water (both plain and mineral): if you weigh 50 kg - at least 2 liters per day, if you weigh 60 kg - 2.5 liters, if you weigh 80 kg - more than 3 liters.
In the second trimester, try to maintain a drinking regime without abuse. Exceptions are poisoning, toxicosis, extreme heat. But the third trimester is the time to adhere to the drinking regime, which your doctor will probably tell you about. If the pregnancy is going well, and you (which is important) have minimized the consumption of salt and sweet foods, then, in general, there will be no strict restrictions. But if you have health problems - edema, late toxicosis, kidney pathology - you will have to be patient.
Mineral water cannot be heated or frozen. Drink only at room temperature.
ATTENTION! There must be a fluid reserve in the body, because amniotic fluid is renewed 8 times a day! You can do an easy test yourself at home: collect a portion of urine - what color is it? A dark, saturated shade indicates that too little liquid is being supplied, a light shade indicates that there is enough liquid. Sometimes, when you are thirsty, you can try to eat a juicy fruit - this will save you from excess fluid.
REFERENCE! You can also drink medicinal table water, but no more than 2-3 glasses per day and only for 1-2 weeks.
Conclusion
Mineral water is very different from regular water, so the rules for using it are completely different. But by following them, you will receive an effective and useful remedy for maintaining the body’s strength while carrying a child. The main thing is to drink it wisely and listen to medical recommendations.
Especially for Elena TOLOCHIK
Many people know how beneficial Borjomi mineral water is because it is of volcanic origin. It is recommended to drink it if you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, if you are overweight, and it also improves immunity and cleanses the body. But no matter how beneficial mineral water is, most expectant mothers are worried whether pregnant women can drink Borjomi.
Contraindications
It is worth clarifying that despite the enormous benefits of Borjomi water, its rich mineral composition, it is medicinal. Consequently, the doctor prescribes it, taking into account the patient’s condition, and even more so when a woman is carrying a child.
Basically, the main contraindication to drinking water is that you should not drink it when a person has aggravated diseases of the stomach and intestines. There are no other contraindications; bearing a child is not an exception.
Contraindications for consuming Borjomi:
- stomach ulcer;
- obesity;
- serious intestinal problems;
- disturbed microflora;
- antibiotic treatment.
The main point here is compliance with the rules of admission and standards. The fact is that with excessive use of Borjomi, the consequences can be negative. Water has an alkaline reaction and can contribute to the appearance of ulcers on the walls of the stomach. In addition, it causes exacerbation of other diseases. Thus, doctors allow and prescribe Borjomi for pregnant women, but a measure is necessary.
Features of use
While expecting a child, a woman must drink high-quality water. Only a specialist prescribes Borjomi and its quantity. Here it is advised to drink water without gases in it, because there is an opinion that drinks with gases are harmful to both mother and children. This is due to the synthesized substances in their composition.
Carbonated water contains phosphoric acid, which causes urolithiasis and stones develop in the gall bladder. During pregnancy, the kidneys work intensively, they are stressed, and if there are genetic tendencies to these diseases, then Borjomi will negatively affect women’s health. If you drink carbonated water, heartburn develops. Therefore, if the expectant mother drinks water without gases, she protects herself from many negative signs. For example, the drink helps cope with toxicosis.
It is believed that the expectant mother should start drinking high-quality water six months before planning to conceive a baby.
According to observations, if a girl drinks Borjomi mineral non-carbonated water during pregnancy, then her unborn baby has a strong immune system and, accordingly, gets sick less in childhood.
Is it possible to drink Borjomi during pregnancy? Naturally, it is possible and necessary, but it is recommended to consult your doctor in advance. To prevent illnesses from affecting the body, it is desirable that there are no gases in the water.
Fighting diseases
Borjomi water is considered an excellent recipe for coughs. This is possible when a woman is expecting a child. During this period, antibiotics are contraindicated for the girl, but mineral water perfectly removes phlegm, relieves coughing attacks and prevents the occurrence of pneumonia and bronchitis. Experts say that inhalations with Borjomi help you recover faster, the flu or common cold does not drag on, and chronic forms do not occur.
Water is poured into the inhalation device, and then you need to breathe over the vapor for seven minutes. In winter, it is recommended to improve your health by mixing milk with Borjomi in equal parts. This is an effective remedy for both treating and preventing diseases. According to reviews from people and advice from doctors, it is enough to take one glass of this mixture per day.
Many women, when carrying a baby, feel belching, heaviness in the stomach, and heartburn after eating. Here Borjomi helps relieve such symptoms, it really works. With the help of mineral water, it is possible to normalize the functioning of the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and get rid of constipation. Naturally, if an ulcer is detected in the stomach, then mineral water eliminates it and also acts as a form of prevention.
While expecting a baby, most women experience swelling in the body. The limbs and face swell. This happens because there is a malfunction in the water-salt exchange process, which occurs due to a serious load on the kidneys and liver, and on other organs. As a result, swelling occurs. This is felt in the second half of the gestation period.
At the very end of the term, the uterus is greatly enlarged, the baby is fully formed, the fetal head is at the bottom, and accordingly, it is difficult for the kidneys to work. This is when pregnant women are advised to drink Borjomi. Thanks to mineral water, the functioning of the kidneys and urinary system is normalized. Excess fluid is removed, it does not stagnate in the body.
Thus, drinking Borjomi during pregnancy is necessary. But water is medicinal, there are certain rules for its consumption. It is not accepted in liters. Experts recommend drinking no more than two glasses of water per day. But if you decide to introduce Borjomi into your diet, then it is advisable to consult a doctor. Before taking it, it is better to open the bottle to let the gases escape. The main point here is knowing the measure.
Pregnancy gives rise to so many quirks: you want strawberries at 3 a.m. or chew the leaves of that beautiful tree that we passed in the park at 3:23 p.m. But sometimes, I don’t have the strength, I would like some water, a simple soda...
Many women don’t even think: yes, it’s useful, even doctors prescribe it for diseases of the biliary tract, chronic hepatitis, obesity, anemia, to improve coagulation, strengthen teeth and bones, muscle tone, etc. In essence, yes: mineral water does not contain harmful elements, this water perfectly quenches thirst.
Mineral water is even better than tap water. It contains a low salt content, no sugar, metal and chlorine, as well as other harmful components, from which even an installed filter does not always save.
I would like to warn you right away: sweet soda is extremely undesirable.. In addition to gases and sugar, it also contains many dyes and flavors.
We won’t bore you for too long: yes, you can drink mineral water during pregnancy. The only question is which one and how much.
What kind of mineral water is there?
Mineral water comes in 3 varieties:
- dining room – mineralization 1 g per liter,
- medical dining room – mineralization 1-8 g per liter,
- medicinal – mineralization more than 10 grams per liter.
A pregnant woman can only afford a dining room. Other varieties, also known as Borjomi, Essentuki, should not be drunk unless specifically prescribed. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe it if indicated. Such water should be perceived as medicine; it is called medicinal for a reason. You won’t just eat pills or drink solutions of healing powders, just “because you want to.”
If you drink medicinal mineral water without indications, problems may arise:
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract,
- renal pathologies.
Therefore, before you buy mineral water, study its label carefully. Although sometimes stores sell artificially mineralized water. This is not a mineral you can drink. It only “disguises” itself as water, but in reality it is ordinary purified water with salt. It is difficult to recognize a fake by taste. Be careful!
The label must indicate:
- from which source, its location and well number,
- production date and shelf life.
Sometimes you can see on the labels what diseases the water is recommended for.
https://youtu.be/68GxI1OkdgE
Unsweetened soda: is it possible?
There is also soda. Some people also call it mineral water. Usually it is based on a healthy liquid without harmful additives. But there is carbon dioxide, and it is precisely undesirable. Because of it, bubbles appear, they enter the stomach and impair its functioning. The gas affects the contraction of the organ; it seems to swell from the inside. Gas can come out as an unpleasant belch, and a pregnant woman, not knowing the true reasons, will attribute all this to the fact that “pregnancy is difficult,” etc.
Sometimes gas may not exit through the esophagus, but move into the intestines. This disrupts peristalsis and causes a completely unpleasant symptom: bloating. And this leads to either constipation or diarrhea.
The question of whether it is possible to drink mineral water during pregnancy and what kind has been sorted out a little. Let's go further and find out when it is even desirable.
Mineral water in the 1st trimester
A pregnancy that announces itself with nausea and vomiting can, simply put, come as a surprise. Not the most pleasant. Mineral water helps cope with unpleasant symptoms. The pregnant woman feels better.
The website immediately wants to warn: if in the first trimester mineral water alleviated your condition, then in the 3rd trimester if you feel unwell, you should not do the same experiment. Don't drink soda because the carbon dioxide in it can cause heartburn.
Norm per day: a healthy pregnant woman can drink seven or eight glasses daily, provided that the mineral water is table grade.
Prevention of fetal hypoxia
Just a question. Do you think pregnant women can drink oxygenated mineral water? What is this, you ask a counter question? This is a mineral water containing oxygen in large quantities. As a rule, it is extracted from mountain mineral springs. This liquid is not only possible to drink, but even necessary. It is beneficial for the fetus as it helps prevent hypoxia, or lack of oxygen.
This is especially true if a pregnant woman spends little time in the fresh air and hardly walks. For example, if you work indoors throughout your pregnancy, and there is so much work that you rarely have time to go out for a walk. This applies to office workers or store employees. But freelancers – those who work from home – often suffer as well. If in the first case the pregnant woman leaves home and work in order to at least cover the road, then in the second she can sit for hours and days without getting up from the table. This is fraught with complications, but mineral water will not help here. However, this is a topic for another article.
Lay out the straws
Of course, first a woman plans, only then is she pregnant. Therefore, logically, it is worth talking about the period before conception at the very beginning. But the article is aimed mainly at those who are already in an “interesting situation.” If we are being read by those who are just planning to become a mother, or perhaps in anticipation of a second/third or further pregnancy, this information may seem interesting to you.
Let's not languish any longer - here are the statistics for you. The more healthy water a girl drinks during the planning stage, the better she will feel when pregnancy occurs.
And now some more statistics, but for mothers . The health of the baby depends on the quality of water that the mother drinks during breastfeeding. Thus, almost 40% of early childhood pathologies are associated with the quality of the water that a woman drank.
And finally, another valuable piece of advice. If you really, really want soda, then allow yourself a couple of sips, but watch your condition. And don’t lean too much even on the dining room - after all, even in excess volume it can even turn out to be harmful and cause...
Have an easy pregnancy and may all your whims be satisfied!
