Decades ago, having children was taken for granted and contraception was more of a problem, but nowadays it’s the other way around. Attempts to get pregnant are taking longer, you can read tips and tricks in many newspapers on how to have children more easily and how to support fertility. When the time comes, women go to great lengths to maintain the pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child. Sufficient and correct drinking is an aid on the way to having a child.

Create good conditions before pregnancy

At birth, the human body still consists of 80 percent water. This value decreases until adulthood, when it is still around 65 percent. In old age, the figure is only 50 percent. Two to three liters of this is excreted per day and must be replaced – through the liquid we consume with our food, but above all by drinking. We recommend drinking 1.5 to 2 liters a day.

Water permeates the cells of our organism; it is only through water that “communication” within our body is possible. It is involved in all functions of the organism such as metabolism, digestion, cardiovascular function, etc. As the main component of the blood, water is used to transport oxygen and nutrients to the organs and their cells and to remove metabolic products.

Water also plays a decisive role in fertility. Cervical mucus is a natural barrier that protects the inside of the uterus from invading germs – but it is also a barrier that sperm have to overcome on their way to the egg. It consists mainly of water and mucilage. It is important to drink enough so that the cervical mucus has the optimum consistency for the sperm to pass through. It is advisable to drink plenty of water and herbal teas, especially in the first half of the cycle, preferably well distributed throughout the day. This gives the cervical mucus an elastic consistency and makes it easy for sperm to pass through.

Restrict where necessary

It has long been known that smoking and alcohol have a negative effect on fertility. However, it has now also been confirmed that caffeine has a detrimental effect on fertility. Bill Ledger, a fertility expert at the University of Sheffield, puts the decrease in fertility caused by coffee consumption at ten percent.

Dr. Elmar Breitenbach, a specialist in gynaecology and reproductive medicine, has critically examined the coffee studies on fertility. It shows that daily caffeine consumption influences many factors relating to fertility. He names 300 to 500 mg of caffeine per day as the critical threshold above which a negative effect occurs. So there’s nothing wrong with two cups of coffee a day, provided you bear in mind that cocoa, chocolate and teas also contain caffeine. You should also take into account the slightly dehydrating effect of coffee and drink more accordingly, preferably (mineral) water, unsweetened herbal or fruit teas or juice spritzers.

During pregnancy

Many pregnant women automatically drink more because they feel thirsty more often. One of the reasons for this is that the volume of body fluids and blood increases by around half during pregnancy. The metabolism also works more intensively. It needs water to function properly. The rising oestrogen level dilates the blood vessels so that the heart has to pump harder and the circulation can fluctuate slightly.

Drinking a lot also helps against constipation, one of the classic pregnancy complaints. In addition, urinary tract infections are less likely to occur with increased urine production and excretion.

Choice of drinks during pregnancy

The ideal drink for pregnant women and women who want to become pregnant is (mineral) water. Without calories and additives that may be harmful to the child, it supplies the body with the water required for all processes in the organism. If you choose mineral water, this benefits the increased mineral requirement during pregnancy. If edema occurs, for which the increased progesterone level is held responsible, it is particularly important to drink enough. In the past, a diet low in salt and fluids was recommended for edema during pregnancy. These recommendations have been revised. The latest recommendation for edema during pregnancy is to drink plenty of fluids and consume plenty of salt and protein. Mineral water with a sufficiently high sodium content is recommended.

If you don’t want to drink the approx. 2.5 liters you should drink during pregnancy with water alone, you can also drink juice spritzers. Although vitamin juices provide healthy building blocks that are especially needed during pregnancy, they can also cause or worsen heartburn. A mixing ratio of one part juice and at least two parts water is therefore recommended. It is important to note that herbal teas do not induce labor. Cinnamon or raspberry tea, for example, should not be drunk before the 37th week of pregnancy.

The rule for all drinks is to drink them in small portions throughout the day. This prevents thirst in the first place, the body is evenly supplied with fluids and the stomach, which is pushed upwards by the growing child, is not overloaded with too much fluid.

The same applies to coffee during pregnancy as during the fertility period: one or two cups a day won’t do any harm.

When the child is born

The baby is born, the body is exhausted from pregnancy and childbirth, the drop in hormone levels flushes out all the fluid retention – and then it’s on to the next stage. The body becomes a milk power plant and should produce milk at full speed to satisfy the newborn’s hunger. We recommend drinking 2 – 3 liters per day, depending on the temperature and the hormonal tendency to sweat. To stimulate milk production, breastfeeding teas are suitable, which are drunk in small sips throughout the day and also prevent flatulence in the child. Malt beer or carafe coffee are also suitable for getting the milk flow going. They also provide additional energy, which women need especially during breastfeeding.

Drinking healthily from the desire to have children to the desired child

The time from wanting a child to motherhood is an exciting one. Good hydration is essential for coping well with them. If you provide your body with enough of the right drinks, it will be well equipped for all the stresses and strains of pregnancy and childbirth. If you ensure that your body has sufficient fluid reserves after the birth, nothing stands in the way of the production of sufficient milk and the new mother can enjoy a harmonious and restful puerperium.