Can you have an ice cream during pregnancy?

Recently, one of my friends asked on an Instagram community that we were both part of the question of whether she could have a Ice swimming during pregnancy.A

Now, I am not currently pregnant, but as a admitted well-being with a weakness for a sauna and a cold dive, his question made me a break.

This slight obsession started when I lived in Scandinavia, where I was initiated into swimming in free water, ice dives and therapy with cold water immersion. Since then, I have seen trendy ice baths more widely, especially rented for their help in recovery from training.

Thus, already convinced of many advantages, I have plunged into the waters (certainly, slightly troubled) of the subject of cold diving during pregnancy.

Here is the expert consensus.

What should we know about ice baths and cold diving?

First of all, ice baths and cold dives are both forms of cold water immersion (CWI), a practice that implies submerging the body in cold water for a short period.

• Ice bath: A bathtub or a container filled with cold water and ice, usually at temperatures between 50 years. Most people overwhelm to the chest or neck.
• Cold diving: Similar for the purpose, but often refers to diving basins or barrels designed to contain coherent water without added ice.

The sessions generally last between 30 seconds and 3 minutes, and can be done at home (in a bath or a barrel), in a spa or a gymnasium, or in a natural setting like a lake or a sea.

What science says

First of all, a 2022 Review of several studies on CWI indicates an increasing set of evidence Voluntary exposure to cold can provide benefits for physical and mental healthincluding:

• reduced inflammation
• improved mood
• Faster post-exercise recovery

All this seems quite positive, but the review also highlights a big gap. »»

There are not too many bigger studies by peers on the immersion of cold water, and very little to focus on pregnancy.

What about pregnancy, especially?

Zoom on this selected group, A small study of 2020 hypothesizes that pregnant Women who regularly like swimming with cold water could undergo improved obstetric results Compared to those who do not.

Although intriguing, it looks more like a starting point, and is not specific to ice baths or cold diving during pregnancy.

However, To 2025 Review of the scope of the range of swimming of cold water and pregnancy highlights new considerations specific to exposure to cold water. These include:

So, can you have ice bath during pregnancy?

The answer is “it depends, but use prudence.”

Most of the existing tips on temperature and pregnancy focus on heat, with advice to avoid things like saunas and whirlpools, especially in the first 12 weeks.

And while the advantages of ice baths and CWIs are explored more seriously than ever, it turns out that There are still a lot of things that we don’t know when it comes to the safety of cold pregnancy.

This means that it is difficult to give specific recommendations and directives around him.

Here is a small summary of general advantages and disadvantages:

Potential advantages

• Remain active: According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the NHS, a soft exercise can support traffic, reduce stress and facilitate pain and pregnancy pain. Ice baths can continue to improve your recovery.
• Relief of inflammation: Cold therapy can help reduce swelling, especially in the legs, feet and ankles – current during subsequent pregnancy.
• Breathing regulation: Exposure to cold triggers a shock response which requires slow and controlled breathing. Some use it to practice breathing techniques that support calm and resilience during pregnancy and birth.

Conclusion and challenges

• Cold water shock: May have serious consequences if it occurs below 59 ° F (15 ° C).
• Cardiovascular strain: The cold means that your blood vessels are tightening and your heart rate increases. Your pregnant body is already working a double time for you and your baby, and this can be risky if you already have high blood pressure.
• Keep it in short: Most general councils suggest that short and supervised diving only – ideally within a few minutes – to prevent your central temperature from lowering too much.

The main thing on ice bath or cold diving during pregnancy

It’s obvious, I think, but important. If you have weighed recent research and consider a cold dive during pregnancy, Speak first with your doctor.

They are your best guide and can help you weigh all the advantages compared to your personal health history and the progression of pregnancy.

For example, for someone who is healthy, has no complications of pregnancy and who is already used to exposure to cold water, he could be sure to continue with the doctor’s approval – keep the sessions brief and make sure that you never do it without someone else in space too.

But if you are new in cold dives or ice baths, pregnancy may not be the time to start experimenting and stress on your body. There are softer ways to support your well-being, and by doing (certainly) of your body without additional stressors.

Whether you are regularly bathed in ice or simply curious to know what is certain, it always amounts to listening to your body and obtaining medical advice adapted to you.

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