Is Vitamin Water Safe During Pregnancy?

Pregnant women need to eat healthy, well-balanced diets during pregnancy because it ensures their babies get the nutrients they need to grow.

Staying hydrated is also essential while you are pregnant because it helps your body absorb the nutrients your growing infant requires. Plain water is your best bet because it's safe and calorie-free, but certain types of Vitamin Water might be safe, too, in moderation.

Water Needs During Pregnancy

Adults, including pregnant women, need between 1 and 1.5 milliliters of water for each calorie consumed.

Most pregnant women should consume an extra 300 calories a day, which means they also need to increase their water intake by between 300 and 450 milliliters.

This translates to between 10 and 15 additional ounces of water per day. Vitamin Water can help pregnant women accomplish that goal, as long as they're choosing a safe formulation that's been approved by their doctors.

Vitamins in Vitamin Water

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Several Vitamin Water formulations contain up to 100 percent or more of the vitamin C you need each day. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron, a mineral that can reduce the risk of low birth weight and premature delivery, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Vitamin Water might also include vitamin A, which helps bones and teeth grow, and vitamin E, which helps form your baby's red blood cells and muscles. Most varieties of Vitamin Water also contain vitamin B-12 and niacin, and all varieties contain a good dose of vitamin B-6, which helps form red blood cells.

Minerals in Vitamin Water

Certain varieties contain small amounts of zinc, a mineral that helps produce insulin and enzymes. The lemonade and orange-orange flavors also contain calcium, which helps your baby's bones and teeth form.

A few varieties contain potassium, a mineral essential for normal heart and muscle function. The lemonade variety contains a small amount of magnesium, and the acai-blueberry-pomegranate flavor has manganese.

Sugar, Calorie and Caffeine Concerns

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Weight gain during pregnancy is essential because it means your baby is growing and your body is making accommodations to support the development of your little one. At the same time, gaining too much weight isn't healthy. Women who were at a normal weight before pregnancy should aim to gain between 25 and 35 pounds, while underweight women might need to gain more and overweight women might need to gain less, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

Because vitamin water often has added sugar, it can add a significant number of calories to your diet, especially if you drink several servings per day.

Vitamin Water has about 120 calories per 20-ounce serving, and some varieties have as much as 31 grams of added sugar. The tropical citrus energy version contains 50 milligrams of caffeine per serving, so always check with your doctor before drinking it.