So far, many people believe that drinking ice water during pregnancy can have a bad effect on the health of the fetus. But is that true? Let’s look at the explanation below together!
Consuming enough water during pregnancy is very important to maintain the health of the mother and fetus. Pregnant women are advised to drink 8-12 glasses of water per day, to prevent dehydration in pregnant women. Not a few pregnant women drink ice water or other cold drinks, such as milk or juice mixed with ice, because they are bored with plain water. Moreover, pregnant women get hot more easily, so cold drinks will feel very tempting. So will consuming ice water have a bad impact on the fetus? This raises questions about the safety of consuming ice while pregnant.
Myths and Facts about Consuming Ice Water During Pregnancy
There are several myths circulating in society regarding pregnant women drinking ice or consuming cold food. One myth is that drinking ice during pregnancy can cause the baby to get sick, or be born with a size and weight that is above average or large. However, this did not actually happen because the mother drank ice water. If the mother consumes ice together with soda water or drinks with high sugar or calorie content, the mother’s risk of developing gestational diabetes will be higher. This is what makes the baby bigger. This is why mothers are not advised to consume ice water together with other drinks that are high in sugar or calories. If it’s just ice and mineral water, this is not a problem and will not have a negative impact on the growth or development of the fetus in the womb. Until now, there have been no scientific studies that have succeeded in proving a positive correlation between ice water and babies born with a large body weight.
Several factors can influence the size and weight of a baby at birth
- Having hereditary or genetic factors with a large body.
- The mother has a history of giving birth to babies with a large birth weight.
- The mother during pregnancy suffered from gestational diabetes.
- The baby was born later than expected.
On the other hand, drinking ice water during pregnancy actually has several benefits for pregnancy, namely preventing the pregnant woman’s body from overheating, and helping to stimulate the movement of the baby in the womb. If a pregnant woman is worried because she doesn’t feel the fetus’ movements as usual, drinking ice can stimulate it to move. When drinking ice, the cold temperature can be felt by the baby, thereby stimulating him to move.
The Right and Safe Way to Consume Ice During Pregnancy
One of the efforts that pregnant women need to make to safely consume ice water is to ensure that the water or ice cubes that pregnant women drink are made from boiled and clean water. This is because water that is not cooked thoroughly can carry germs and viruses that cause dangerous infections.
To avoid this risk, pregnant women can apply the following tips if they want to drink ice while pregnant:
- Pregnant women are advised to bring their own drinks when traveling and make sure the drinks are safe and clean for consumption.
- If pregnant women buy packaged drinks, make sure the bottles are still well sealed and also check the expiration date. Avoid buying products with packaging or seals that are damaged, leaking, and whose color has changed.
- If you want to drink ice while pregnant from a drinks seller, choose packaged drinks that have been chilled rather than drinks that add ice cubes.
- Drink enough ice cubes, don’t let consuming ice cubes make pregnant women forget to fulfill other nutrients that are more important to support pregnancy. Because malnutrition during pregnancy can hinder the growth and development of the fetus.
Drinking ice during pregnancy is basically fine, but pregnant women still need to be careful. Make sure the ice is made from boiled and clean water, and stored and processed hygienically. Apart from that, make sure that the cold drinks that pregnant women consume do not contain a lot of sugar or chemical additives, such as colorings, flavorings or preservatives. To ensure that the health of the mother and baby remains in good condition, don’t forget to regularly check your pregnancy with an obstetrician or midwife. The doctor or midwife will later help the pregnant woman make a list of foods and drinks that should be avoided during pregnancy.
