Surviving the Summer Heat: 5 Essential Tips for Pregnant Women
Summertime is our favourite time of year. The weather is nice, the days are long and filled with all the summer BBQs, and of course, beach days!
But many women who have experienced a summer pregnancy (especially if they’re further along) have said that it’s not a walk in the park. It leaves you feeling hot, hot, and oh, did I mention, hot.
If you’re currently pregnant and dreading the summer heat we know is coming then check out these 5 tips for surviving the summer during pregnancy:
1. Stay hydrated
Drinking water is both a great way to keep yourself from getting dehydrated and also keeping your internal temperature cool. When it gets hot the body works to regulate its temperature by sweating. In order to sweat we need to have an adequate amount of water in the body.
Things like sugary drinks and caffeine can dehydrate you, so it’s important to ensure that during pregnancy, and especially during the hot summer months, you keep yourself hydrated. Go ahead and enjoy yourself (that’s what summer is all about!) but while you’re having your favourite fruity mocktails also keep a bottle of water close by!
2. Wear loose comfortable clothing
Wearing loose clothing made of natural fabrics such as cotton and linen ensures breathability and it typically does a better job of keeping you cool. When you wear tight clothing, your body is restricted and the sweat cannot evaporate as easily.
Finding some nice flowy tops or cute, non-tight summer dresses allows you to both stay cool but also ensures you’re as comfortable as you can be in the later stages of your pregnancy. Try to avoid clothing that is tight around the waist and abdomen and stay away from clothes that decrease circulation in your legs such as tight-fitting pants or shorts that press into your thighs.
3. Protect your skin from the sun
During pregnancy, your skin can become extra sensitive to the sun and UV rays so it’s essential to protect it even more than you normally would. Chances are you’ll more easily get a sunburn (and no one wants those tanlines!).
Wear, at minimum, SPF 30 and reapply every hour or after each time you swim and towel dry. Also, try to stay out of direct sunlight during the day's peak hours of 10am until 3pm. Enjoy the bulk of your outdoor time in the morning or evening and if it’s unavoidable make sure you wear a hat and stay in the shade as much as possible.
4. Stay cool as much as you can
As mentioned above, while you’re pregnant you can more easily overheat and dehydrate. When you become dehydrated you may experience symptoms of pre-term labour. Keeping your body temperature cooler protects both you and your growing bundle of joy.
We also recommend staying indoors during the peak times as much as possible and ensuring you have a fan or AC going. If you start to feel uncomfortable from the heat you can jump into a cool shower, bath or pool (paying special attention to protect yourself from the sun). You can also put a cool compress on your neck or forehead. Treat yourself!
5. Take it easy!
You are growing a new life so you deserve to relax and take it easy. Summertime can be tough when you’re pregnant but ensuring you’re not overtaxing yourself and simply putting your feet up can definitely help.
Pregnancy is exhausting, especially in the heat. So, ensure you’re listening to your body and taking a load off when you know it’s time. Accept help in these later months and allow yourself to get everything your body requires to bring your healthy baby into this world.
Mama, you’re working hard and you’re doing an extremely important job right now. Keep yourself calm, hydrated, cool and well-rested so you can go into motherhood happy with your best foot forward.
