34 Weeks Pregnant and Always Thirsty

Hi. Sounds like you are drinking too much water. When I was pregnant, I concentrated on drinking lots of water. Towards the end of the day, I would be thirsty no matter how much water I had drunk. I started to use Gatorade to suppliment my water intake and then I wasn't as thirsty. I think that drinking too much water flushes out too much salt and electrolytes. Good luck.

I constantly craved ice cold water when I was pregnant. It used to frustrate me because it was mainly at night that I'd wake up thirsty so it also made me have to get up and pee multiple times through the night. You're not alone!

I had this exact same issue when I was pregnant with my third child. I was always thirsty and craved ice like crazy. My doctors were also not to concerned when I mentioned it to them, so I started doing my own research. What I learned is that this is a side effect from an iron deficiency. Unfortunately I found out near the end of my pregnancy, so did not have time to take the iron supplements and see if it truly helped my symptoms. It might be worth a try for you though:0)

I was sooooooooothirsty during the end of both of my pregnancys. I pretty much got up every 45 minutes at night to pee and then guzzle more water. After my first birth this actually continued for a few weeks not so with my second though.
I didn't have diabetes with either pregnancy either. I don't think you can have a later onset but as the saying goes "never say never".
If it is a concern then I would talk to the doc again. It can't hurt to ask a few questions just to ease your mind.

I remember being very thirsty my last trimesters with both pregnancies with my second I chose Gatorade over water because I felt a better thirst quench with that.

It may be possible even though you passed your first test that you still have GD I know I failed both of my first test but past the 3 hour (gtt?). You might just have it the other way around! Hold in there only 6 weeks left!!!

Hi A.,

It looks like you've gotten lots of responses, but I wanted to add a midwifery based perspective, which is very different from the medical one. For your review and information-you can make up your own mind.

One thing I studied intensively in my midwifery studies was nutrition, and it's effect on maternal physiology as you progress through the stages of pregnancy. For informational sake, obstetricians very typically do NOT study this topic very extensively, as medical approaches are not oriented towards a "whole body" approach and they have a whole host of medications to use that midwives typically don't. So the focus on nutrition is very extensive with midwives.

First, there is little real evidence to suggest that there is really any such disease as "gestational diabetes". I know that is a very inflammatory thing to say in American maternity society, so I'll back that up...
1) It is normal physiology for a pregnant woman to increase her blood volume by 50% or more during pregnancy. Because of this, and because she is also handling the nutrients for her developing baby, as well as all waste products, etc, the edocrine system goes through enormous changes, especially in the second and third trimesters, including changing pancreatic output of insulin to keep blood sugar levels high longer after eating--this is to give those nutrients and energy to the baby, among other things.
2) The standard for "normal" blood sugars, among other things, was developed in the 50's for male, middle aged patients. NO ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFERENCES WITH A YOUNGER, PREGNANT, WOMAN! All three of those issues-- younger, pregnant, and female--make a difference. So when you are getting tested for "gestational diabetes", you are being compared to the standards of a physiology that does not match yours at all.

So...let's move on.
It is normal to be thirsty, especially in mid to late pregnancy. Remember that blood volume increase of 50%? Most of that takes place now. You are also needing higher levels of fluids to flush your wastes through your kidneys, as they are processing more because of the baby.

Now, one more thing...and you can do an experiment to prove it if you don't believe me. It may be that you are needing more electrolytes--not just water. That would include salt, citric acid, and potassium. These things, in the correct amounts, are required for your cells and blood vessels to maintain the proper membrane strength so fluids may pass through when they are supposed to and not when they aren't supposed to. Try this. Take a stalk of celery and cut it into three pieces. Get three small bowls or cups and put plain water in one, water with a couple teaspoons of salt dissolved in another, and water with as much salt as you can dissolve in the third. Place the celery stalks with one cut end in the water in each cup and put in your refrigerator overnight. Around lunchtime the next day, take them out and try to bend the celery stalks. You will find the one with plain water (no salt) to be crisp. The one with a small amount of salt will be flexible but not soft. The one with lots of salt should be pretty soft. There is naturally water in the celery, and what you did with the small amount of salt was create a "matching" amount externally to what was internal--and that allows fluids to pass both ways through the outer membrane of the celery. The crisp celery is that way because water can go in, but cannot come out. The mushy celery is that way because water can come out, but cannot go in--the salt is imbalanced either way.

You want your fluids to have some salt, just not too much. The one taste instinct that humans still seem to have is the ability to know by taste how much salt they need--so unless you have really blown your tastebuds by eating super salty foods all the time, feel confident to salt to taste. That way you will get enough electrolytes.

If you have been drinking so much water while you are reducing your salt intake, you are actually diluting your system too much possibly.

An excellent electrolyte drink is Recharge--it's made with natural ingredients so it is guaranteed to be healthy for a pregnant mom.

Finally, remember that this is the time to eat LOTS of proteins to prevent pre-eclampsia. A spoonful of peanut butter between meals, or an extra egg here, cups of yogurt, whatever.

good luck!
Fiora

I am 31 weeks along and always thristy too. I wouldnt worry too much about it. If your ob wasnt concerned dont stress. I am always thristy around this stage in pregnancy this is my third. It is just normally because of my body temp i have found. it normally goes away if it is cold. But if you are still concerned about it at your next visit i would stress it to your ob again and maybe they can check for gd again. Good luck and congrats!

Hi A.!
Sounds like you have too much sodium intake. I would always got really thirsty especially after fried foods, chinese food, anything that had lots of sodium in it. Try really watching how much salty foods you eat and keep drinking plenty of water. You should be drinking about a gallon a day which is about 4 liters - which in reality probably won't happen giving the little one sitting on your bladder. Good luck!

A.,

I had my daughter 13 months ago, and still get really thirsty sometimes. While I was pregnant with her I would do the same thing. Even having a supply of Gatorade didn't really help. Propel seemed to help me more. Target has the boxes of little powder thingy's for a dollar less that the grocery store. You can get lemon, berry, or umm, I forget. The box has 10 doses of the stuff that you mix with 16.9 oz of water. That was, and is, a good thirst quencher for me.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

Hi A.,

Request another test and do the longer one. I was boarder line in my first pregnancy, and we did the test at about 34-35 weeks. Check to see what is in the food that you are eating and try to cut down on sodium and sugars. Raw veggies and fruit really helped me out a lot- celery, cucumber, tomato, and grapefruit were the ones that help me beat my thirst!
C.

A.~
I would not worry. Talk to your Doc for sure for your own peace of mind but when I was prego with my second, a boy, during my last trimester I drank like water was going out of style plus craved watermelon. I ate at least a whole watermelon every other day!!! I would even take it back to the store if it was not watery enough!!! Not to worry. Just relax and enjoy the taste of ICE COLD WATER YUMMMMMM!!! The only draw back with so much fluid is the bathroom becomes you new lazy boy. hahaha!! All this talk about water is making me thirsty!!
Take care and Good luck. Congrats on the upcoming baby boy.
C.

A.,

I am thirsty all the time too and I am 28 weeks. With the GB test it is important to understand how the test works. It measures sugar levels you have at the time of the test, in fact if you ate a well balanced diet of low sugars before the test, you would test lower vs if you drank a big ol glass of orange juice right before you took the test. So your sugar levels can easily change, but if you are worried about your sugar, carb, sodium intake I would continue with what you are already doing, cutting down on them for the rest of you pregnancy.

I am 38 weeks and I have been thirsty as well. I have water or something with me all day and some by my bed at night too. I was boarder line with my son and normal with this one but I think it is just the weather and the humidity this year. Plus it is cold season and well maybe you dont have a full cold but your body is trying to fight off something for you. So dont worry about it. Just know if you drink more you pee more but not like anyone will notice :) As long as you are feeling good and your baby is active you shouldn't be alarmed.

A., I know it sounds like a funny question but are you chewing alot of gum? I was chewing gum and found I was so thirsty during the day it took my 13 year old son to tell me that the ingredients in the gum where the problem.

I went through the same thing when I was pregnant with my son! I was up throughout the night and just couldn't get enough to drink! I ended up having very low amniotic fluid and had to be induced. Don't know if there's a corilation but you might ask your doctor next visit! good luck.

I did have a late onset of gestational diabetes with 2 (of my 4) pregnancies. It progressively got worse the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy ( I only made it to 36 weeks with both of those pregnancies) and I remember being oh so very thirsty, but that really isn't a necessary sign. It wouldn't hurt to ask to have your sugar levels checked while at the doctor, it's just a simple finger prick. Also, make note of when you last ate beforehand.
Take Care and congrats, not much longer to go!
D.

My first pregnancy I couldn't get enough to drink! I was getting up 7-9 times at night just to pee. I craved raspberry lemonade from concentrate. I would make my husband buy 6 or 7 at a time. I was concerned about diabetes too, but it was all negative. You are just bulking up on your liquids. When you have your baby the good thing is you lose the water!

Sounds like you know your body and you should do what you feel. I like to be prepared just in case. Good luck-

Hi A.,
2 quarts is what we all should do at a minimum, and most of us don't. You are eliminating wastes for 2 right now so more is probably needed. Nevertheless, thirst can be a symptom for diabetes. If you have any diabetic friends, see if you can check your blood sugar, preferably fasting, for a few days with thier glucometers and see if that is a problem. Hopefully, it will relieve your worries; if not, you will have some evidence for your doctor.
L.

Hi A.,

Check your potassium levels.
Things that contribute to potassium depleting include: alcohol, caffeine, excessive salt or sugar and chronic stress.

Symptoms associated with depletion include: irregular hearbeat, poor reflexes, weakness, fatigue, continuous thirst, edema, constipation, dizziness and mental confusion.

Potassium is one of the body's three major electrolytes.

Potassium rich foods include fresh fruit and vegis, peanuts, meat and milk. An average banana supplies over 600 mg (if it has been vine ripened)

Cantaloupe, spinach, carrots are great.

Estimated safe levels for potassium from 1.8-5.6 g/day

Hope that helps,
T. W.

Maybe you are lucky and your one strange craving this pregnancy is (non-calorie) water instead of (tons of calories) chocolate and pickles and ice cream! :)
I would mention it again to your OB, no harm in that. But if she says you are fine, then go ahead and stop borrowing trouble. I drank a LOT of water when I was pregnant, too. A LOT.

Hi and congrats!! Speaking from experience, I too was told I did not have GD with my first pregnancy and ended up having a baby that weighed 11.5 lbs. that ended up injured at birth because of her size and is still in therapy. Fortunately with my second child and new doctor who was very, very careful and tested me multiple times for GD which I infact did get but with a heathly diet and exercise (exercise very important)I had a healthy normal sized baby. I believe it is common for woman to get GD later in pregnancy which is often looked over. Please, please insist your doctor take this seriously. I think you are doing the right thing by watching your sugars.
Good luck

I had a similiar experience, but earlier in my pregnancy. I was about 17 weeks and had the same thing. My OB wasn't concerned either, but when they drew blood she tested and it was negative. I'm just now getting ready for the glucose test, but eventually, the thirst subsided. This is my fourth pregnancy and didn't experience that kind of "dry mouth" thirst with the first three, so that's why I was so concerned. I would guess that if your OB isn't concerned, it's just your body's way of telling you it needs extra water during this time for whatever reason, so drink, drink, drink :)

Iwould definately go in to my OB & demand a repeat test, if she doesn't seem concerned, I would make sure she gave me one. It's the health of ou & your child, so be adement, you m0re than anyone, even a doctor, knows your body the best, so trust your instincts & hopefully nothing is wrong, but at least you'll know. Don't let her tell you it's not important, it's a very easy test to do. And yes, you can develop gestational diabetes after 24 weeks, so I would definately get another test. Take care!

A.~
Like you I had GD with my first child, so I will be on a very strict diet for the 2nd, as per my OB. If you passed your GD test for your second, I wonder if maybe your salt intake is to high? I was extrememly thristy while pregnant, and seemed to last until she was weaned. I'd mention it to your OB again at your next appointment. Tell her/him that you are a bit concerned about your water intake. Personnally my OB told me that you couldn't drink enough water while pregnant, that it is very important to just drink, drink, drink.
I hope that you find some peace of mind!
T. S.

I had the same thing happen me and what i did was to have sugar free hard candy with me at all times. Also you may want to contact your dentist and see what he/she thinks.

Keep in mind that water is a natural diaretic. Water itself rarely quenches my thirst. I started drinking Vitamin Water when I was pregant and it helped. It helped keep my hydrated, gave me an extra boost of vitamins, and had just enough flavor to keep me interested. Good Luck. Definately keep mentioning it to your OB if it keeps bothering you.

A.,

I was extremely thirsty during my pregnancy too, and no gestational diabetes for me. No worries. Even if you didn't experience this with your first pregnancy, every pregnancy is different, and this is completely normal. It's because of all the extra blood you are making for your baby. Just listen to your body and give it the extra water it needs to grow your baby. Hope this helps!