Can You Drink Pedialyte While Pregnant? Here’s What You Need To Know
Pregnancy brings various changes to your body. As the baby grows inside your womb, they can also feel what’s happening to you physically, emotionally, and mentally, so nutrition plays an important role during pregnancy. One of the most common nutrition-related issues during pregnancy is dehydration. That’s where Pedialyte comes in. It’s commonly prescribed for kids who have lost fluids. But can Pedialyte help mothers during pregnancy? Here’s what you need to know.
Table of Contents
- Is It Safe To Drink Pedialyte While Pregnant?
- The risks of drinking Pedialyte during pregnancy
- Side Effects Of Pedialyte
- Advantages Of Using Pedialyte While Pregnant
- Is it okay to drink Pedialyte every day?
- Best Time To Drink Pedialyte
- Pedialyte popsicles while pregnant
- Conclusion
Is It Safe To Drink Pedialyte While Pregnant?
It is generally safe for pregnant mothers to drink Pedialyte as an aid for dehydration. Its ingredients are simple water, salt, sugar, and vitamins and minerals.
Morning sickness tends to hit in the first trimester, and dehydration is a common concern among expecting mothers.
Morning sickness can be a different experience every time it strikes, but you will most likely lose a lot of fluid from vomiting, sweating, and frequent urination. Drinking Pedialyte is a great way to help stay hydrated and replenish your lost electrolytes.
However, when adding anything to your diet during pregnancy, it is best to consult with your doctor first.
The risks of drinking Pedialyte during pregnancy
A 12-ounce serving of Pedialyte contains 370 mg of sodium. If you have high blood pressure, excessive sodium consumption can cause problems, so it’s best to drink Pedialyte in moderation if this is a concern.
Pedialyte AdvancedCare Plus also contains milk-derived probiotics that may not be suitable for expecting mothers with milk allergies.
Some Pedialyte also has red dye, an allergen for some people. You should read its label before drinking it to ensure that all ingredients are safe for you and your baby.
Lastly, Pedialyte contains 9 grams of sugar per serving. While it’s not a huge amount of sugar, it can add up, especially if you are drinking quite a bit. Excessive sugar consumption can be risky if you are diabetic or predisposed to gestational diabetes. There is, however, an organic version of Pedialyte that replaces sugar with stevia, the sugar-free sweetener, for those who wish to reduce sugar consumption.
Side Effects Of Pedialyte
Pedialyte is great for treating dehydration in adults, children, and even pregnant women. Its solution is rich in electrolytes and helps replace the lost fluid in the body while restoring vital nutrients.
However, some users report several side effects after using Pedialyte. This includes drowsiness, headache, and even an upset stomach due to its dextrose content.
In addition, some report having difficulty sleeping after drinking it. The extended use of Pedialyte may also cause nutritional imbalances like abnormal blood electrolyte levels and low blood sugar.
Advantages Of Using Pedialyte While Pregnant
Incorporating Pedialyte into your diet while you are pregnant provides many benefits, specifically for the following conditions.
Dehydration
Pregnant women experience dehydration due to many factors, but mainly from the physical and hormonal changes in the body—these speed up the loss of bodily fluids and electrolytes essential for a healthy pregnancy.
While Pedialyte was created initially to aid kids, it also works well for adults. Their website even suggests drinking Pedialyte can help those expectant mothers experiencing dehydration.
This drink contains an ideal blend of water, salt, sugar, and electrolytes for helping with dehydration.
Morning Sickness
Nausea and morning sickness is normal and expected during pregnancy. It occurs in the first few months of pregnancy when your body is adjusting to the changes. Regular vomiting and sweating can lead to dehydration, and Pedialyte works as an excellent treatment for this.
Nausea may sometimes keep you from drinking the necessary amounts of fluid during the day, so keeping some Pedialyte on hand to catch up on your hydration needs can be a good option.
Is it okay to drink Pedialyte every day?
Pedialyt’s ingredients follow the World Health Organization’s guidelines for Oral Rehydration Solutions, and it’s generally considered safe to drink Pedialyte daily. However, Pedialyte should not be used as a substitute for water. It should primarily be used to supplement a healthy diet or treat dehydration.
Best Time To Drink Pedialyte
There is no such thing as one particular best time to drink Pedialyte, as each person’s experience may differ. However, some pregnant mothers say that drinking Pedialyte before bed helps ease some of the morning sickness symptoms the following day. You can also drink Pedialyte when you’re starting to feel the initial symptoms of dehydration.
Pedialyte popsicles while pregnant
Pedialyte is meant to be taken orally, primarily as a drink. However, some mothers make Pedialyte popsicles as the popsicle’s coolness helps relieve some of the nausea associated with morning sickness.
Chewing on ice is a normal pregnancy-related pica, but munching on popsicles may be a better option because they are softer on the teeth. It is also relatively easy to do at home, and you can make as much as you like and store them for the future.
To do this, pour the rehydration solution into a popsicle mold and let it freeze for at least four hours or overnight. Once the solution has been set, you can enjoy it on a hot day.
Conclusion
Pedialyte is an excellent solution for treating dehydration, nausea, morning sickness, and more. It can also act as a supplement that helps with your daily intake of electrolytes. Just remember to use Pedialyte in moderation as it is high in sodium and make sure to check the expiration date! If you have additional concerns or discomfort when consuming Pedialyte, make sure to ask your doctor before continuing.
