About Natural Diuretics & Pregnancy

Water retention, or bloating, is a common experience during pregnancy. That extra fluid causes your feet, hands and face to swell. But what can you do about bloating when you do not want to take any prescription or over-the-counter diurectics? Fortunately, there are many naturally diuretic foods and herbs. Always get your doctor's approval before trying anything, not only for safety but also to make sure the fluid retention is not causing, or caused by, a more serious health problem like high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia during pregnancy can lead to pre-term births), heart disease and circulation problems.

Foods

• There are many common foods that act like diuretics, so there is an option for even the queasiest of stomachs. Not only are the following foods natural diuretics, they also have a high water content, which combats fluid retention by flushing toxins out. High-water-content foods also help prevent dehydration because insufficient fluid intake actually leads to retention as your body holds onto the water it needs.

  Asparagus, brussel sprouts, cucumbers and tomatoes aid your kidneys in removing excess fluid from your body. Beets, cabbage and carrots help break down the fatty deposits that retain water. Artichokes, bananas, horseradish, lettuce, oats, raisins, raw onions and radishes, watercress and watermelon all contain diuretic properties, and many of them also speed up your metabolism, helping you lose the extra fluid faster.

  These foods also provide important vitamins and minerals, essential to a healthy pregnancy, that replace any nutrients lost with the extra water. Vitamin and mineral loss affect your electrolyte balance as well, which is another reason to choose natural foods for fighting fluid retention.

Beverages

• In addition to diuretic foods, many drinks also work against water retention. Make water one of your primary daily beverages; not only does adequate intake prevent and reduce bloating, it is also necessary to your health throughout your entire pregnancy and even while breastfeeding. Green tea, cranberry juice, herbal and dandelion leaf teas all fight fluid retention. Cranberry juice and dandelion leaf tea also help prevent urinary tract infections. Apple cider vinegar, in small amounts like in salad dressings, also provides some relief from bloating as well.

Herbs

• Some herbs contain diuretic properties like the foods and beverages mentioned above. The two most familiar herbs for water retention are peppermint and anise; both come in candy/lozenge and tea form in addition to their natural plant form. Fennel, garlic, nettle and parsley all also provide bloating relief when added to food.

Tips

• You can also take action against fluid retention by lying down and/or elevating your feet, where excess fluid collects the most often thanks to gravity. Avoid tight clothes, shoes and socks, not just for comfort but also because they restrict your body's circulation. Light exercise, only as approved by your doctor, like swimming, walking, water exercises and yoga also alleviate bloating, mainly by improving and increasing both circulation and your metabolism.

Conclusion

• Most pregnant women should be able to use at least one of the options mentioned previously without the same risk level as some prescription and over-the-counter diuretics. Keep in mind, though, that safety must be your most pressing concern, so do not put off consulting your doctor about fluid retention and remedies.