Quick answer
The most obvious signs of dehydration during Pregnancy include feeling very thirsty, having dark yellow or strong-smelling urine, peeing less often, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and having a dry mouth or lips. Pregnancy Sickness can make dehydration more likely because nausea and vomiting can make drinking difficult. If you're struggling to keep fluids down or your urine is very dark or infrequent, speak to your GP, midwife or maternity team.
What are the signs of dehydration during Pregnancy?
It can be difficult to know whether you're becoming dehydrated when you're already feeling exhausted and unwell with Pregnancy Sickness.
Some of the most common signs include:
- Dark yellow or strong-smelling urine
- Peeing less often than usual
- Feeling very thirsty
- A dry mouth, lips or tongue
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Feeling unusually tired or weak
- Feeling faint, particularly when standing up
Your urine can be a useful thing to keep an eye on. The NHS advises that you should drink enough during the day for your urine to be a pale colour. Darker urine, particularly alongside peeing less frequently, can be a sign that you're not getting enough fluids.
Why is dehydration more of a concern with Pregnancy Sickness?
Pregnancy Sickness can make drinking difficult in several ways.
You may be vomiting fluids back up, feel too nauseous to drink, or find that certain drinks - even water - trigger your nausea. This can mean that you're taking in less fluid than your body needs.
The RCOG lists thirst, feeling dry, feeling drowsy or unwell and urine becoming dark yellow or brown among the signs of dehydration associated with severe Pregnancy Sickness.
Dehydration can also leave you feeling dizzy, tired and generally unwell, which can make an already difficult day of Pregnancy Sickness even harder to cope with.
What can I do if I think I'm becoming dehydrated?
The most important thing is to try to get fluids in, but you don't necessarily need to drink a large glass at once.
The NHS recommends starting with small sips if you're feeling sick or have been vomiting, gradually increasing the amount you drink as you can tolerate it.
You could also try:
- Taking frequent small sips rather than drinking a large amount.
- Trying drinks at different temperatures.
- Sucking ice cubes or ice lollies if you can tolerate them.
- Eating foods with a high water content.
- Avoiding drinks or smells that trigger your nausea.
- Speaking to your GP or midwife if staying hydrated is becoming a daily struggle.
If you're losing a lot of fluid through vomiting, a healthcare professional or pharmacist can advise whether an oral rehydration solution is appropriate for you.
When should I seek medical advice?
Don't wait until you're severely dehydrated before asking for help.
The NHS advises contacting your GP, midwife or NHS 111 if you're vomiting and have very dark urine or haven't passed urine for more than 8 hours, are unable to keep food or fluids down for 24 hours, or feel very weak, dizzy or faint when standing.
If your Pregnancy Sickness is making it difficult to drink normally, it's worth discussing it with your healthcare team even before you reach this point. You don't have to prove that you're "sick enough" to ask for help.
From someone who's been there
"I think one of the hardest things about Pregnancy Sickness is that you can feel absolutely awful but still convince yourself that you should just be coping better. I remember knowing I was thirsty but finding the thought of drinking something completely overwhelming as I knew it probably wouldn't stay down. It became a constant calculation of what I could tolerate. Looking back, I wish I'd paid more attention to the signs my body was giving me rather than waiting until I felt really unwell."
Laura, Founder of Replenish
How Replenish may help
Replenish comes as a small 28ml liquid sachet containing electrolytes, glucose, vitamin C and B vitamins, including bioavailable folic acid (5-MTHF). It is key to replace your electrolytes if you are vomiting, as well as replacing the fluids you are losing by drinking water when you can.
Key takeaways
- Dark urine and peeing less often can be important signs of dehydration.
- Other symptoms include thirst, dry mouth, tiredness, dizziness and lightheadedness.
- Pregnancy Sickness can make dehydration more likely because drinking can become difficult.
- Small, frequent sips may be easier to tolerate than large drinks.
- If you're unable to keep fluids down or have very dark urine or haven't peed for more than 8 hours, seek medical advice.
- You don't need to wait until you're severely unwell before asking for help.
References
- NHS - Vomiting and morning sickness
- NHS - Dehydration
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - Pregnancy sickness (nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum)
