When you’re pregnant, it’s essential to stay hydrated. And when it comes to breastfeeding, you want to ensure your child is getting as much out of it as possible. Electrolytes are minerals—particularly sodium and potassium—that help maintains fluid balance in the body. They also play a prominent role in transmitting messages from your brain to your muscles. Keeping fluids in your system is especially important during the summer months and even more vital if you spend time outside while pregnant. That’s why specific breastfeeding drinks often come in handy since regular water isn’t enough to sustain electrolyte balance.
Why We Need Electrolytes
Most of us have heard about electrolytes before, especially with popular sports beverages. Whether it was something you learned about in health class, as an athlete, or at a doctor’s office when you were sick, many of us have experience with these life-supporting minerals.
These electrolytes are in a delicate balance within our bodily system; therefore, it can be easy to tip the scale in the wrong direction. When electrolytes become imbalanced due to losing too much sodium or drinking too much water (without electrolytes), dehydration can cause mental fogginess and general fatigue. This means even drinking fluids when you aren’t thirsty.
Pregnant women may also notice increased cramps and muscle contractions if they exercise too rigorously. Severe dehydration can also lead to uterine muscle contracting and possibly leading to premature labor. That’s why it is crucial to ensure you take a good amount of electrolytes when pregnant.
Other symptoms of dehydration include:
- Confusion
- Numbness or tingling sensations
- Headaches
- Irregular or fast heartbeat
- Convulsions
In rare cases, death can result from electrolyte imbalances. Therefore, it is essential to watch for these imbalances in athletes and very active people, especially children and older adults.
Why You Need Electrolytes While Pregnant
Drinking more water while breastfeeding isn’t a bad idea, but there are some supplements (such as lactation drinks) that can help hydrate even further. Yes, water will increase hydration levels and help restore balance to the body, which is compromised through breastfeeding. However, for many women, plain water is not sufficient for maintaining bodily hydration as well as the nutrients and energy lost while creating and supplying breast milk for their baby.
Many water brands add specific minerals to their water for increased health benefits. But few contain enough electrolytes to improve hydration. In addition, it is essential to remember that water is not all lost from the body during milk production; nutrients are also decreased during routine breastfeeding.
Water also does not increase energy outside of providing hydration. On the other hand, electrolytes are imperative for our mental and physical energy supply and well-being. Most women find themselves fatigued during breastfeeding. Therefore, consuming food and drinks that boost energy is vital to sustaining the demands of nursing a child and their daily life. Water restores hydration but does not replenish energy, while electrolyte-filled lactation drinks have been shown to do so.
How Breast Milk is Impacted by Dehydration
On average, breast milk is made of 87% water. Of course, this varies from person to person and even the time of day. Essentially, dehydration can cause a dramatic decrease in breast milk production. By staying hydrated and intaking electrolytes, your body will have the healthy and energy-generating fluids it needs to build a steady milk supply.
The losses sustained during lactation can be a severe problem for women trying to maintain this balance. The only solution is to supplement the amount of water or nutritive, hydrating drinks consumed daily to restore the body’s water content balance.
Stop Dehydration Before It Starts
Usually, when people want a steady stream of electrolytes, they get a sports drink. Unfortunately, popular sports drinks contain electrolytes and high sugar levels, which can defeat the long-term purpose of taking in electrolytes in the first place. However, a few sports drink alternatives are well-equipped to provide the body with electrolytes without the massive amount of sugar.
Greater Than provides a healthy, non-GMO, and vegan line of lactation drinks that offer endless benefits to both mother and baby. Not only do these breastfeeding drinks stop dehydration in its path, but they also soothe pregnancy cramps and support clean lactation with no artificial ingredients. You can even purchase a trial pack that includes each of their wonderful flavors, so you can try and see what stands out. Greater Than supports healthy lactation and encourages moms to keep finding what works best for them and staying well hydrated during their breastfeeding journey.