Pregnancy for a woman is a rather difficult period. This is especially true of the summer season, when you want to feast on something light, cool and non-nutritious. Many people prefer to eat watermelon. This berry refreshes, quenches thirst. But is it always possible to eat watermelon during pregnancy? This is a matter that worries expectant mothers.
Should women in position have a watermelon?
Watermelon during pregnancy is not only possible to eat, but also necessary. It contains a large number of vitamins and minerals, which favorably affect the fetus. Among them are:
a complex of vitamins A, B1, C, folic acid;
magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium;
zinc, iron, copper, iodine.
We should also talk about folic acid, which is so important in the formation of the fetus in the first trimester. Thanks to her, it is possible to exclude neural tube defects in an infant.
If folic acid is vital in the early stages of pregnancy, then iron is required before delivery. The oxygen saturation of the baby's body directly depends on it. If the mother has anemia of blood, then the benefits of watermelon during pregnancy are enormous. The only moment: you should not use this striped berry as the only source of iron. Drugs containing this element should also be present.
Fiber, which is part of the watermelon, helps to cope with constipation, which often affects women in position.
Useful properties of striped berries
Many people are interested in: “What is the use of watermelon during pregnancy?” The answer is given by leading nutritionists:
This is an excellent diuretic that helps cope with natural edema.
Due to the fact that the berry has a good choleretic property, watermelon is able to bring down a low temperature.
150 grams of sweet pulp is enough to completely replace the daily dose of folic acid.
The berry is absolutely non-nutritious, which is very important for pregnant women.
3 kg of watermelon replaces the daily iron requirements for blood anemia.
Greatly quenches thirst.
For those who are wondering if it is possible to eat watermelon during pregnancy, the answer is yes - yes. But still there are situations when it is better to refrain from eating this berry.
When is a watermelon contraindicated in pregnant women?
If we generally consider the question of whether watermelon is harmful during pregnancy, we can confidently say that it is not. But still there are cases when it is undesirable to eat it:
Individual intolerance (manifestation of allergic reactions).
It is worth noting that this berry contains a large amount of fructose and sucrose, therefore, women with diabetes during pregnancy should not eat it.
Is there an urolithiasis? Problems with fluid outflow? Then the watermelon is strictly contraindicated for you, so as not to burden the kidneys even more.
Digestive problems (pancreas, intestines).
Watermelon contributes to flatulence, the intestines presses on the bottom of the uterus, as a result of which a tone can occur. If such problems were noticed on an ultrasound, it is better to refuse a slice of watermelon.
As you can see, there are not too many contraindications, if you still have doubts whether it is possible to eat watermelon during pregnancy, you should consult a doctor.
Watermelon and swelling, are they compatible?
Edema is a common occurrence during pregnancy. As a rule, they occur in the 3rd trimester. To understand whether it is possible to eat watermelon with edema during pregnancy, it is necessary to find out their cause. They can be caused by natural processes occurring in the body (the kidneys can not cope with the stress associated with pregnancy), climatic features (high temperature, humidity), a disease called "gestosis".
In the first two cases, you can eat watermelon during pregnancy. It will help to cope with edema, remove excess water from the body. If a woman has gestosis, the berries should be discarded. Otherwise, there may be disastrous consequences.
What to do if you were poisoned by a watermelon
Many people prefer to eat watermelon during pregnancy in the later stages, it is non-nutritious, quickly quenches thirst. Is it possible to poison this berry? Infectious disease doctors claim that at the beginning of the season this risk is quite large.
First of all, you need to list the signs of poisoning, so as not to confuse them with a common cold:
Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness. All this speaks of intoxication of the body.
Sudden bouts of migraine, dizziness.
Loss of strength.
Fever.
Cramps.
Watermelon poisoning during pregnancy is a fairly common phenomenon, therefore, in case of the appearance of these symptoms, you must call an ambulance. Unscrupulous manufacturers, in order to improve their product, resort to prohibited methods: the use of nitrates and chemicals to add taste and sweetness, and rapid crop growth. These substances accumulate in the body with a new piece eaten. If measures are not taken in time, the consequences can be dire, up to a miscarriage.
Prior to arrival, ambulances can be alleviated with activated carbon or another sorbent that is allowed to pregnant women. Many advise to make a solution of potassium permanganate and drink a few glasses, this can in no case be done, the same applies to enemas. Remember: only a doctor can and should prescribe treatment.
How to choose the right watermelon
If the doctor gave a positive answer to the question of whether it is possible to eat watermelon during pregnancy, you need to know how to choose it correctly. To do this, examine the appearance of the berry. Note:
Watermelon should not be too large and very small, try to take a medium-sized berry.
Have a dry ponytail? You can rest assured that this fruit is fully ripe.
Stripes should be bright, glossy, contrasting.
A characteristic feature of the ripe fruit is a yellow spot on its side, on which lay a watermelon.
Try to pierce the peel with your fingernail. If you easily managed to do this, it is better to leave such a watermelon on the counter. He will be immature and lethargic.
A ripe fruit makes a dull sound when tapped lightly.
When purchasing a watermelon during pregnancy, it is better to ask sellers to cut the fetus. At the place you can see if it is ripe or not.
Signs symbolizing that it is better not to use watermelon
So, the watermelon was bought, it remains to cool it and enjoy the sweet pulp. There are ways to check at home whether this fetus can be eaten by pregnant women, or better not to risk it, as it contains nitrates. In order to find out, it is not necessary to do a special test in the laboratory each time, it is important to know some tricks:
After cutting the watermelon, pay attention to the color of the pulp. If it is uniform, you can safely eat. Often you can see the saturation of the color scale closer to the crust, this indicates that the fruit was tinted chemically.
The veins should be in the form of thin white threads, if they are thick with a yellowish tint, it is better not to eat such a watermelon.
The pulp of nitrate watermelon is perfectly smooth to the touch. But the pulp of the fruit, not treated with chemicals, will be with grains.
Pour cold water into a glass, cut off a little pulp and mash it. If the water becomes cloudy, but this does not change its color, the watermelon has passed the test. Has the water turned pink? The striped berry is crammed with nitrates.
Eating watermelon during pregnancy, you need to be extremely careful and pay attention to the above points. Remember: you are responsible not only for yourself, but also the health of the unborn baby.
How to eat a watermelon for pregnant women
Doctors and experienced moms give tips on how to eat a watermelon:
If you prefer to eat fruit with bread, you should choose only white varieties. Borodino bread in combination with the pulp of watermelon causes flatulence, which can lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
The cut fruit should be stored in the refrigerator, and not more than a day.
Watermelon during pregnancy in the later stages can be consumed only during the day, not at night, so as not to overload the bladder.
Know the sense of proportion, do not overeat. 500 grams of pulp per day will be enough.
Do not eat the bracket to the crust, always leave 3-4 cm of pulp.
It is better to eat a watermelon 3-4 hours after someone has already tried it.
Observing these simple rules, you can safely eat a watermelon during pregnancy.
On a note
Finally, I want to share some tips on what should not be done for pregnant women, buying a watermelon:
You can not buy watermelons before mid-August, wait for the season, and only then try a delicious berry.
Cut or beaten watermelon is a source of bacteria.
You can not buy watermelons along the tracks. Firstly, the quality is doubtful, and no one did sanitary tests, and secondly, the berry quickly absorbs car exhaust.
Before cutting a watermelon, it must be thoroughly washed with hot water and wiped dry. Then divide into slices, slightly separating the flesh. In this case, the probability of bacteria entering is minimal.
By purchasing a watermelon, you can safely ask for a document on laboratory research, there must be a conclusion about the content of nitrates and other chemical elements, if any.
So, what is the benefit of watermelon during pregnancy? Firstly, it is a source of vitamins. Secondly, it relieves swelling, quickly quenches thirst. And thirdly, it’s just a delicious berry that everyone eats with great pleasure and appetite.