My first OB appointment was a little nerve wracking. I felt like a bad mom already because I found out I was pregnant around 8 weeks. I went to my family practitioner doctor, but needed to find an OB. Well my first visit with him was at 11 weeks. Mind you this is my first baby, and I was both very nervous and excited. So, I went in and a nurse sat down with me to go over all of the forms and monthly appointments I would need.
I had turned in my first urine sample, and this nurse really let me have it. I guess I was dehydrated as it looked 'cloudy,' and she (whom I affectionately call the Nazi Nurse) told me how important it was to stay hydrated. She gave me all of the reasons with some of them being:
- As you get further along, you may be able to feel more if you're hydrated
- It will help your ligaments stretch and make it easier on your joints
- It will give you more energy
- You will have fewer urinary tract infections which could harm the baby
- You may have less general pain
So as you can see, that is quite an impressive list of benefits of drinking enough water. Almost all of the pregnant women I have known over the last couple of years have suffered from at least half of those ailments. When they tell me about them, the first question I ask is "How much water do you drink a day?" Usually the answer is a glass or two. I tell them it needs to be at least 8-10 and your urine should be clear (as in not cloudy). I'm always so surprised at how all of these moms tell me they have never heard that before. They may not have even been told to stay hydrated let alone the benefits.
Luckily I had that one very authoritative nurse at my first appointment, and even though she scared me it worked. I got the message, and I try to pass that message on to others to help their pregnancies be a little more comfortable.
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