It's important to stay well-hydrated during pregnancy to prevent complications such as headaches, nausea, cramps, edema and dizziness.According to registered dietitian Julie Redfern, you need eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily, and an additional 8 ounces for ever hour of activity you have.Lemon water does count toward your water intake, and can have many benefits during pregnancy.The American Pregnancy Association advises that consuming and even smelling lemons can help relieve morning sickness4. However, if you're experiencing heartburn during pregnancy, you may want to avoid citrus fruits5.

Preparing Lemon Water

To avoid harmful bacteria, buy pasteurized lemon juice and combine it with water, or use a fresh lemon at home. If you're using a fresh lemon, wash the lemon first.Cut it in half and squeeze one half into a glass using your hand or a citrus squeezer.Fill the rest of the glass with water. Sweeten it with a natural sweetener, like honey. Drink the lemon water immediately after washing and squeezing the lemon. Squeeze the other half of the lemon into the same glass for stronger lemon water, or store it in the refrigerator to make another glass later. The juice of half a lemon gives you 20 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement and only contains about eight calories.