Is coconut water safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about coconut water during pregnancy?

1. Sipping cold or partly frozen fluids throughout the day, about eight cups total, is one of the food and lifestyle changes that can help with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. 1
2. Aim for 8 to 12 cups of water a day during pregnancy: it helps digestion, forms amniotic fluid, and carries nutrients through your body. 2
3. Not drinking enough fluids can make nausea worse, and dark or scant urine and a racing heartbeat are dehydration warning signs that call for a check-in with your provider. 3
4. Pregnant adults need about 2,900 milligrams of potassium a day, a bit more than the 2,600 milligrams recommended for adult women who aren't pregnant, to support normal muscle, nerve, and heart function. 4
5. In one study of dehydrated adult men after exercise, coconut water hydrated about as well as a sports drink, though it caused more bloating and stomach upset for some. 5

Is coconut water safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. When morning sickness makes plain water hard to stomach, cold coconut water is one option worth trying alongside small, frequent meals. No single drink works better than another here: what matters is getting fluids in however you can. If you can't keep anything down or notice signs of dehydration, call your provider instead of relying on any one drink.
• Second trimester. Nausea usually eases up by now, so coconut water can just become part of your regular fluids, especially in warm weather or after activity. It has natural sugar like juice does, so count it toward your carb tally if you're watching blood sugar ahead of your glucose screening.
• Third trimester. You still need plenty of fluids now, and cold coconut water can feel especially good if you're dealing with heat or swelling. One small study found it hydrates about as well as a sports drink, though some people felt more bloated, so sip it slowly if your digestion feels sensitive this late in pregnancy.