Some people believe that drinking ice while pregnant can have a bad effect on health fetus. whereas, in reality that is not necessarily the case.
Drinking enough water during pregnancy is very important to maintain the health of the mother and fetus. Pregnant women are recommended to drink 8-12 glasses of water every day. Otherwise, pregnant women are at risk of becoming dehydrated.
But because they are bored with plain water, not a few pregnant women consume ice water or other cold drinks, such as milk or juice mixed with ice. Moreover, pregnant women are more easily stifled, so cold drinks can be very tempting.
Myths and Facts about Drinking Ice While Pregnant
There are several myths circulating in the community regarding pregnant women drinking ice or eating cold food. One of them is drinking ice can make the baby sick, or born with an above average size and weight. In fact, this is not true.
The size and weight of the baby are not affected by the temperature of the drinks or food consumed by the mother during pregnancy. Babies can be born with a large size and weight if:
- Having heredity or genetic factors for a large body.
- Pregnant women have a history of giving birth to babies with large weights.
- Pregnant women suffer from gestational diabetes.
- The baby was born earlier than expected.
On the other hand, drinking ice water during pregnancy actually has several benefits for pregnancy, namely preventing the body of pregnant women from overheating, and helping stimulate the movement of the baby in the womb.
If pregnant women are worried because they can't feel their little one's movements as usual, drinking ice can stimulate them to move. When drinking ice, the cold temperature can be felt by the baby so that it stimulates him to move.
Safe Ways to Eat Ice While Pregnant
One of the efforts that pregnant women need to do to safely consume iced water is to ensure that the water or ice cubes that pregnant women drink are made of boiled and clean water. The reason is, water that is not cooked until cooked can carry germs and viruses that cause dangerous infections.
In order to avoid these risks, pregnant women can apply the following tips:
- When traveling, bring your own drinks as much as possible and make sure they are clean.
- If pregnant women buy bottled beverage products, make sure the bottles are well sealed. Avoid buying products with damaged, leaking, or discolored packaging or seals. Also always check the expiration date before buying it.
- If you want to drink ice while pregnant, instead of consuming drinks with ice cubes, choose packaged beverage products that have been refrigerated. Make sure again that the packaging and seals are not damaged to prevent contamination of germs.
Drinking ice while pregnant is basically okay, but pregnant women still need to be vigilant. Make sure the ice is made from clean water, and stored and processed hygienically. In addition, make sure the cold drinks that pregnant women consume do not contain a lot of sugar or chemical additives, such as dyes, flavorings, or preservatives.
To ensure that the health condition of the mother and baby is good, don't forget to have regular obstetrical check-ups with the obstetrician. The doctor will help pregnant women make a list of foods and drinks to avoid during pregnancy.