Can You Consume Pedialyte While Pregnant?

When dehydration “kicks in,” many pregnant ladies wonder if taking Pedialyte while pregnant is a safe option for them and their babies.

After all, they know that their bodies are fragile during pregnancy; hence they are not sure if Padialyte while pregnant is the best idea in the world and something that could potentially harm their unborn baby.

You need to know that Pedialyte is frequently prescribed to children who have lost fluid, but does it mean that it is safe to drink Pedialyte while pregnant?

If you are one of the pregnant women who is puzzled by this question, then just keep reading, and I’ll tell you everything there is to know!

Are You Allowed to Have Pedialyte While Pregnant?

If you are currently dehydrated and would like to know if you can drink Pedialyte while pregnant, I will tell you that, yes, it is safe to consume Pedialyte while pregnant.

At the end of the day, this drink doesn’t contain anything in particular that can potentially be detrimental to you and your baby. It is packed with water, sugar, salt, minerals, and vitamins.

Unfortunately, dehydration is a very common “inconvenience” during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester when morning sickness takes over your body.

And the level of severity (when someone is dehydrated) isn’t always the same. At times, you will “only” feel sick, and then there’ll be moments when you will feel like your soul has left your body due to sweating, vomiting, and urination. Some healthy fluid is then the best solution!

And that’s precisely the moment when Pedialyte comes into play. Drinking Pedialyte while pregnant is actually recommendable. It will help you stay hydrated and fill your body with electrolytes, which is one of the main reasons why you are currently dehydrated.

So as you can see, you can use Pedialyte while pregnant.

However, before you start using Pedialyte while pregnant, it would be best to talk to your healthcare provider first. You need to know whether he/she will give you the green light when it comes to this.

Taking Pedialyte While Pregnant – Risks

In case you didn’t know, one bottle of Pedialyte has roughly 370 mg of sodium. So the question is if you suffer from high blood pressure, is it safe to use Pedialyte while pregnant in these instances?

It is safe to drink Pedialyte while pregnant even if you’re dealing with this health condition, however, then it is safe to drink Pedialyte while pregnant only in moderation.

More questions concerning drinking Pedialtye while pregnant keep piling up. The next one is related to future moms who have milk allergies.

So can you drink Pedialyte while pregnant if you have any milk allergies?

If that’s the case with you, then I honestly do not think you can drink Pedialyte while pregnant due to the fact that this fluid has milk-derived probiotics that can potentially cause some issues to pregnant women with allergies, which can negatively impact the baby.

Another thing that’s worth mentioning is the fact that this drink contains red dye as well, which represents an allergen for some individuals.

This leads me to conclude that you can drink Pedalyte while pregnant, but it would be best to first properly investigate the label to see if there are any ingredients that can cause some health issues for you and your baby.

You need to be aware of all potential risks for your and your unborn baby.

If you determine that it doesn’t, then you can drink Pedialyte while pregnant.

Speaking of its ingredients, you need to know that one serving of this beverage has around 9 grams of sugar.

While that’s not that abnormally huge in comparison to some other beverages, it can definitely add up if you’re drinking loads of it, which isn’t good for your health or anyone else’s health, for that matter.

Therefore, as I previously stated, you can drink Pedialyte while pregnant, but only in moderation.

This mainly refers to pregnant women who experience sugar spikes or are already suffering from diabetes, then something like this can definitely worsen their current health situation.

On a more positive note, if you are yearning to drink Pedialyte while pregnant yet stay healthy, you can always opt for organic versions of this drink that contains stevia instead of white sugar.

Stevia is generally great for your health, so it would be best to choose it over white sugar.

Pedyalite While Pregnant & Side Effects

As stated above, Pedyalite, while pregnant, is overall a good idea because it’s high in electrolytes and aids in replacing the lost fluid in the body that occurs while the body is combating dehydration.

That’s precisely the main reason why it is so popular among children, adults, and pregnant ladies too!

But does it mean that there are no side effects from it?

Unfortunately, there are. Now, this doesn’t immediately mean that you will experience them, but my duty is to mention them just as a precaution.

So what are the most common side effects?

According to the research that I’ve conducted, headache, upset tummy, and drowsiness are the most common side effects of this drink.

Additionally, some people have even dealt with insomnia precisely because of it.

That’s why it isn’t advisable to take Pedialyte while pregnant for a more extended period of time. It can lead to various nutritional imbalances, such as low blood sugar and abnormal levels of electrolytes.

How Much Is Too Much?

Many pregnant women who drink Pedialyte while pregnant are scared of overdoing it. And although that’s completely understandable (because you do want to be responsible while pregnant), it can be pretty hard to overdo it.

However, if you’re stressing over it too much, then just drink plenty of water (coconut water is okay too) to satisfy your hydration needs.

But to answer your question, I’ll make things more transparent below.

To put things simply, generally speaking, women should drink somewhere between 8 to 12 glasses of liquid per day during pregnancy. 

Well, that’s at least what American Pregnancy Association suggests. This means that you shouldn’t drink more than that unless you are constantly sweating.

Further, there isn’t enough chloride or potassium to come close to meeting the RDA through this beverage alone. However, the situation with sodium is entirely different.

Even though there isn’t any specific reason to steer clear of sodium during pregnancy,  having vast amounts of it is definitely not good as well. You’ll be bloated all the time and won’t feel very comfortable, particularly in the later stages of the pregnancy.

So when it comes to sodium, you shouldn’t have more than 2,300 mg of it, which is approximately around 9 cups of Pedialyte.

This shows that you would have to drink that beverage only to hit the aforementioned amount, which is practically impossible.

In a nutshell, you cannot “overdose” on it. However, it would definitely be best to have it occasionally and ensure you drink plenty of water, especially if you notice any signs of dehydration.

The Best Ways to Take Pedialyte While Pregnant

Well, to be frank, there’s no right or wrong regarding this. If you have the desire to start consuming Pedialyte while pregnant, or you’re currently dehydrated, then pick the option that suits you the best.

There are several ways you can take Pedialyte while pregnant, through powder packs, popsicles, etc. and you’ll still reap all the benefits of it.

Pedialyte Popsicles

One of the best and most popular ways of consuming Pedialyte is precisely this one. And it’s not only popular among pregnant women, but among children as well (because who doesn’t like to have some popsicles?)

Two servings of it have around 1/3 of the carb and electrolyte content. If you frequently deal with vomiting, or you are tired of morning sickness, try to find some relief by having these popsicles.

They are overall a much better option in comparison to plain, boring ice. Another question that oftentimes arises when it comes to this is whether you can make your own rehydration popsicle at home.

Of course, you can! And it couldn’t be simpler! All you have to do is to put an oral rehydration solution into freezer pop molds and give it some time to freeze, and that’s about it!

Pedialyte & Constipation

Constipation is, unfortunately, a pervasive issue during pregnancy, which is one of the main reasons why so many pregnant women want to know whether this and that (for example, almond milk)can cause constipation.

But before I answer this question, let’s first try to figure out what causes constipation in pregnant ladies in the first place.

First things first, progesterone relaxes the muscles of the GI tract, which then slows down the entire process.

And then, the growing uterus comes into play to put additional pressure (good for her) on the intestine, which worsens the whole situation.

Plus, if you’re continuously using iron supplements during pregnancy, then that’s something that can also result in constipation.

You have probably figured out by now that pregnancy significantly impacts your body, and as time goes by (and your baby becomes bigger), your entire digestive system will slow down, which leads to constipation.

In these instances, a vast majority of pregnant women start employing laxatives or softeners to alleviate all the inconveniences they’ve been experiencing, but that also comes with a specific price in the form of cramping and diarrhea.

So is it then recommendable to use Pedialyte or not?

The good news is that you can take Pedialyte while pregnant and dealing with constipation.

Since it is rich in electrolytes, it will soften your stool, making it much easier to pass. More importantly, it’s going to replace any fluids that have been lost because of diarrhea and vomiting.

So yes, I am giving you the green light regarding this. Who knows, Pedialyte may help you combat this problem after all. But don’t forget that drinking water is as equally important when suffering from constipation.

Pedialyte & Nausea

Morning sickness (and nausea in general) is something that most pregnant women deal with.

So the question is, can morning sickness be mitigated when drinking Pedialyte?

Some people claim that drinking Pedialyte can decrease morning sickness electrolytes that are found in this beverage.

However, there isn’t enough scientific proof to support that fluids and electrolytes can help you with this issue.

Dehydration & pregnancy are closely linked, which can easily be resolved with Pedialyte; however, when it comes to nausea, it doesn’t hurt to try it to see if things will change for the better.

What I do know (and most pregnant women will agree with me on this one) is the fact that morning sickness can be highly unpleasant.

So what are the most common symptoms of it?

They include bloating, gurgling stomach, dizziness, headaches, and even vomiting (in these instances, Pedialyte & pregnancy combination can help you decrease dehydration).

And there’s no doubt that all these symptoms can be very debilitating, not allowing you to function properly.

Although, unfortunately, there isn’t any ideal solution that’s going to help you successfully treat pregnancy-related nausea, a vast majority of pregnant women have concluded that hydration helps them maintain a healthy pregnancy and manage these symptoms.

Another thing that can help you with this issue (and simultaneously maintain a healthy pregnancy) is probiotics.

Many probiotics on the market can help you maintain a “safe pregnancy” and, at the same time, make sure your digestive system is strong and healthy.

To cut a long story short, if you need a drink that’s going to help you with nausea, then give Pedialyte a try.

However, if you would like to have something that’s more natural, you can always opt for ginger or peppermint supplements.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what suits you the most, and should consume things based on your current needs.

Just bear in mind that not every single potential solution is going to help anyone. Therefore, whenever you have second thoughts about something, be sure to consult with your doctor first!

Pedialyte & Acid Reflux

Another health condition that has become very common among pregnant women is this one. Fortunately, it’s not a problem that should stress you out too much because there are lots of things you can do to relieve the symptoms.

And “surprisingly”, Pedialyte might just be one of them! Namely, since it is high in electrolytes, it can decrease heartburn and aid in neutralizing stomach acids.

Not to mention the fact that it won’t harm your baby, which means that it’s perfectly safe for all the women out there who are currently struggling with acid reflux.

Can You Drink It Every Day?

As I stated somewhere above, you should drink Pedialyte in moderation, and if that means having it every day, but in smaller amounts, then that’s completely fine.

Just remember that it can never replace water and that you should drink a lot of water if you want to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Secondly, even though there’s no denying that this beverage can replenish electrolytes, it doesn’t instantly mean that it should be perceived as a sports drink.

If you love to exercise, then you should turn to water to prevent dehydration or opt for a healthy sports drink to make up for lost electrolytes and fluids.

So yes, you can drink Pedialyte while pregnant, but please make sure you are getting all the necessary nutrients from other healthy sources.

Don’t forget that this drink should never be perceived as a meal replacement; hence a healthy, balanced diet must always be prioritized!

Conclusion

After everything that’s been said and done here, I hope you now realize that Pedialyte is safe while pregnant, within normal limits.

Getting pregnant for a lot of women nowadays is not an easy thing to do, so make sure to take care of yourself (and your little angel) by making the most thoughtful decisions possible.