Water intake tips and tricks

[negirl824]

How are you managing to get your fluids in for the day? Share some of your ideas to help others.

I am starting to struggle with plain water, it is making me feel more nauseous. I started putting some ginger ale in my water and that was helping but today I can't seem to get enough fluids in me. I might start mixing it up with some sports drinks and other drinks. I know it is very important to stay hydrated and according to the color of my urine I need to be drinking more.

[LanE]

I use a pint and half Ball mason jar with a Cuppow lid. I make a game of trying to beat the day before record of how many I can drink. So far the best is 8 in a day but that includes my morning decaf, water, seltzer, and splash of crystal light.

[rmpar29]

I have added sugar-free lemon additive to my water in the past to help get the water in and keep the nausea away. I'm sure I will get to the point where water doesn't taste good anymore, but adding something bitter seems to work for me.

[lovegrilledcheese]

Apr 21, 2015 13:28:31 GMT -5 negirl824 said:

How are you managing to get your fluids in for the day? Share some of your ideas to help others.

I am starting to struggle with plain water, it is making me feel more nauseous. I started putting some ginger ale in my water and that was helping but today I can't seem to get enough fluids in me. I might start mixing it up with some sports drinks and other drinks. I know it is very important to stay hydrated and according to the color of my urine I need to be drinking more.

Gingerale and water, and sports drinks. Also popsicles and jello (both are considered to be a liquid) so I have a lot of them on hand. I do better with adding a little lemon to my water and it is easier to handle.

[NatalieDavid]

I wanted to share this amazing flavored water recepie with you ladies bc the citrus in it has really been helping my nausea and drinking plain water all day has gotten old very fast. Juice 3 lemons, 1 lime and a half of a red grapefruit. Mix that and a half a cup of sugar into a gallon pitcher of water and enjoy!

[towerclimberswife]

I'm pretty crunchy... so I'd stay away from anything that has sugar, artificial sweetener, coloring or weird additives. Just a personal preference of mine.

I too feel like water is getting boring. You can always add fruit or veggies to your water. Raspberries, Strawberries, Cucumber and Citrus are always good. I also like adding herbs like basil or mint to my water. Hot tea could be an option. I know some people are concerned about herbal teas, but I think peppermint and any pregnancy tea (raspberry leaf, nettles, alfalfa) are all okay. There is also sparkling water. There are some with natural flavors that are quite nice and they help with jazzing things up. Also picking up a mineral water can sometimes be enough to create a change of pace.

Good luck!!

[PaperRing]

Apr 21, 2015 14:13:02 GMT -5 @musicboxdancr said:

I've found its easiest for me to drink from a plastic water bottle (I don't know why, I just seem to be able to get more down- straws are too slow and normal cups I drink way slower too). So I drink one with breakfast (and re-fill it up each time because I hate to waste plastic bottles) drink one by lunch, one with lunch till the LO I nanny for wakes up, one more before I leave her house, and at least one or two more when I get home.

Oh my, I'm the opposite. The straw is key for me. I find it easier to drink more because I mindlessly sip through a straw.

[RoLoMa]

I am a big fan of the flavored La Croix or Canada Dry sparkling waters. I think it gives a nice change from regular water and the bubbles help settle my stomach when it gets a little queasy. I generally have one in the afternoon each day. Plus there are no artificial sweeteners which is a good thing.

[negirl824]

I just googled DIY flavored water and they sound amazing. I will be stopping at the grocery store on the way home to get some fruits and veggies!

www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/fruit-infused-waters#.gjyBP8RVM

[belou]

I cut out artificial sweeteners when I started my IVF journey and changed out all my plastics for glass. As a result, I found these awesome reusable glass water bottles (18 oz each) that I fill from my faucet water purifier and refrigerate. They came in a pack of 6 and I bought two packs. I now just automatically drink half of one in the morning with my pills and I pack 3 for the work day along with my breakfast and lunch. When I get home I try to drink 1-2 more and also fit in a ginger ale. I just keep viewing water as a sort of medicine that keeps my body working properly. Its been really tough giving up artificial sweeteners which ultimately lead to giving up coffee (I put 4-6 splendas into my coffee every day!) since I hate the after taste of white sugar. Crystal light used to be my drug of choice and it was a big transition to be able to drink just plain water.

[BeachBum678]

I've got a whole Pinterest board right now just for flavored water! TBH I've never been a fan of just plain water, and thanks to my hormones tap water has a really funky aftertaste, so I usually just try to load it up with things that will make it taste better: cucumbers, lemons, berries, mint leaves, etc. The mix I've really been liking lately is a couple of muddled strawberries, a lemon wedge, and a torn up basil leaf.

[bugsy54]

I am more motivated to drink my water if it is in a cute water bottle! I don't know why, but psychologically is does something for me. So today I chose my turquoise bottle~ I make a game of it with myself of how many I can drink for the day.

I give up all coffee, including decaf, for the first trimester per my RE. They are over-cautious and my normal OB says that's just ridiculous. Still though, I follow the instructions.

In the mornings I have been drinking hot lemon water, and on certain mornings I make myself a vanilla steamer (heated milk with a bit of vanilla syrup).

[mosy]

I read somewhere that you drink more when you drink through a straw, but YMMV. It's definitely true for me, though. I have a LifeFactory glass water bottle with a straw top and a 32 oz. Camelbak Eddy. I started drinking a lot more water when I got a reusable bottle to carry around with me all day.

+1 to adding fruits and herbs to flavor.

[anonymouseliza]

While I personally drink pregnancy tea, it's worth consulting with your doc because there is some controversy about nettle and red raspberry leaf in the first tri. As I said - I drink a cup daily that contains both of those, but some people have opinions on it (my doc said in small doses, commercially prepared, it's fine).

There is also disagreement about teas (even herbal) counting against water consumption.

For me, I am killing the planet one plastic water bottle at a time. I aim for 3 at work. At home, I try to drink sparkling water via the soda stream, usually with a splash of juice to add a bit of flavor. I love the soda stream because you can control the amount of carbonation. I'm trying to limit caffeine and sugar and artificial sugar, so I try to stick with plain water as much as possible.

Also helping with nausea - keeping it very cold.

[NatalieDavid]

Does anyone else use an app to monitor the amount of water you drink per day? I downloaded Plant Nanny and it's a cute way to remind me to keep drinking.

[cnf2013]

I have a big 32oz waterbottle at school that i try to make sure I drink all of by the end of the day. I also try to have a cup right after I wake up. If I can get down another two to three in the evening I like to think I'm pretty in the clear. But really having a giant refillable bottle that I make myself down in full is the right answer for me.

[ainslie325]

I add fruit (citrus , berries) or cucumber to my big Nalgene and chug two cups at a time or more. I have to make myself. Making a concerted effort is the only way I can do it. I'm not a sipper, and I rarely feel thirsty, but I feel like a different person when I'm getting 64 oz. or more daily. I keep myself honest by recording my water intake in myfitnesspal with my food and exercise.

[booklover811]

I have to have cold water. I bring a refillable bottle full of ice to school each morning and drink that over and over until the ice is melted. Then I also keep some ice trays in my freezer and use that when my morning ice is gone. The colder the better for me.

Once in a while I'll add some lemon, but lately that's been making things worse rather than better.

[Deleted]

I have a jug of green tea in the fridge and I like to add just a tiny splash of it to my water. I quit drinking all other caffeine as soon as I got my BFP, I figure the amount is negligible but I still get the flavor. Plain waiter makes me nauseous as well. I've always had trouble drinking enough, but now it's even harder!

[Deleted]

Apr 21, 2015 17:32:01 GMT -5 booklover811 said:

I have to have cold water. I bring a refillable bottle full of ice to school each morning and drink that over and over until the ice is melted. Then I also keep some ice trays in my freezer and use that when my morning ice is gone. The colder the better for me.

Once in a while I'll add some lemon, but lately that's been making things worse rather than better.

You need one of these!  It keeps water ice cold for literally over 24 hours.  The ice that I put into mine last night has not yet melted.

[booklover811]

Apr 21, 2015 19:06:53 GMT -5 @equestrienne said:

Apr 21, 2015 17:32:01 GMT -5 booklover811 said:

I have to have cold water. I bring a refillable bottle full of ice to school each morning and drink that over and over until the ice is melted. Then I also keep some ice trays in my freezer and use that when my morning ice is gone. The colder the better for me.

Once in a while I'll add some lemon, but lately that's been making things worse rather than better.

You need one of these!  It keeps water ice cold for literally over 24 hours.  The ice that I put into mine last night has not yet melted.

That looks awesome, but I also have to have a straw. No straw, no deal!

[crinita]

I agree with a lot of the suggestions... Drinking with a straw, drinking seltzer, adding lemon or lime... Another thing I did that worked well for me last time was mixing 50/50 Gatorade and water. That especially helped when I was really throwing up. Taking small sips helped me, and I hate looking at a huge amount and knowing that I need to drink it so I just used a small glass and refilled it as needed. I also count decaf tea as liquid intake. Mixing juice with seltzer is good too.

[hollandmama]

Apr 21, 2015 13:55:40 GMT -5 NatalieDavid said:

I wanted to share this amazing flavored water recepie with you ladies bc the citrus in it has really been helping my nausea and drinking plain water all day has gotten old very fast. Juice 3 lemons, 1 lime and a half of a red grapefruit. Mix that and a half a cup of sugar into a gallon pitcher of water and enjoy!

Genius. . Citrus make nausea better!

[evenkeeled]

I have given up caffeine so I drink mint herbal tea in the morning and then water the rest of the day (unless I am queasy or really tired; the hot tea seems to help with both). I have a 32 oz water bottle and I have it done early afternoon and take a break and walk down and up the four flights to fill it up. I fill it up at least once more at dinner.

If I am bored of water I add lemon slices, raspberries, strawberries, cucumbers, etc. The flavor helps me chug it.

I have been doing this for awhile so haven't seen an increase in my drinking amount.