Not only can the heat affect you when you’re pregnant, but it can affect your baby as well. When you’re exposed to extreme heat while pregnant, especially in the summer time, there are risks of possible complications with you and your baby. Below is advice from a Sanford Health obstetrics and gynecology physician assistant Stephanie Nottestad and some tips on how to stay cool while pregnant.
Overheating pregnancy complications
- If you are in your first trimester, be careful not to overheat because your baby can also overheat, which may lead to fetal anomalies.
- When you’re pregnant and overheat, you may become dehydrated, which can lead to decrease in amniotic fluid. The amniotic fluid helps to protect your baby and also helps with lung, muscular, skeletal and neural development, so it’s very important to stay hydrated and out of the heat for long periods of time.
- If you are postpartum and nursing, you may become dehydrated, which can affect milk supply.
Dehydration symptoms
Even mild dehydration can cause pre-term labor, increase constipation, cause heat rash, fainting and bladder infections. Here are some symptoms that you may be feeling if you’re dehydrated while pregnant:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea
If these symptoms occur, treat them and get out of the heat. If your symptoms don’t improve then go to your hospital to be evaluated, so that you can keep you and your baby safe.
How to stay cool while pregnant
Pregnancy in the summer heat can be miserable. Here are some tips on how to stay cool while pregnant:
- Drink plenty of water. Drink at least eight to 12 glasses of water per day to keep you and your baby hydrated. If you’re going to be exercising, make sure you drink plenty of water before and after exercising.
- Eat water-rich foods such as melons, berries, cucumbers, lettuce and peas.
- Wear loose clothes that are light in color. Lighter colors of clothing will attract less sun and keep the heat off of you. When you wear looser clothing, you can be way more comfortable in the summer heat.
- Pay attention to the weather forecast. It’s not the best idea to go to the pool during hotter days. Pay attention to the weather to make sure that you can still enjoy time outside, but on the cooler and cloudier days. This will keep you from getting dehydrated and overheating while you’re pregnant.
- Avoid caffeine. Drinking caffeine while you’re pregnant can cause an increase in your blood pressure and body temperature, which will lead to overheating and dehydration a lot faster.
- Stay inside. If it’s too hot out, stay inside an air conditioned building. If there is no air conditioning, make sure that you have a fan to help you stay cool.
- Do not exercise in extreme heat. Exercising in extreme heat can cause harm to you and your baby because you can overheat and become dehydrated very quickly.
Learn more
- Why women need to drink water, especially when pregnant
- Managing stress while pregnant
- The best foods to eat while pregnant
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Posted In Health Information, Pregnancy, Women's
