Being pregnant in summer: beat the heat

When summer and the hot weather come, some people can really experience discomforts and misery. Dehydration, dizziness, low blood pression and movement difficulties are just some of the symptoms that occur when summer is particularly hot. But they are just small discomforts that, most of the time, do not have consequences but they can really be very annoying for people in particular conditions, like pregnant women. Facing a pregnancy in summer can be very uncomfortable but there is nothing to worry about for you or your baby. If you are pregnant and summer is very humid do not worry, you only have to follow some tips to help you coping with the hot weather in order for you to get back to enjoying the excitement of awaiting the arrival of your baby.

At the beach

With regard to sun exposure on the beach, it is very important to clarify that the body temperature is stable even when we are exposed to the sun. The heat perception can wrongly induce to think that body temeperature has also risen but this not what actually happens; even the temperature inside the womb does not change. However, hot weather and sun exposure can cause discomfort to expectant mothers who already find themselves in a state of hypotention. When blood pression lowers due to the heat, perspiration and dehydration can actually lead mother to collapse. What is the best thing to do to avoid this from happening? It is advisable not to expose yourself for long periods, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and, if you are at the beach, walk along the beach with your legs in the water to avoid that vasodilatation lead to vein failure and increase the risk of varicous veins on the legs. Also it is very important to protect the skin by using a high protection sun lotion: in fact, sun exposure can bring chloasma, also known as “mask of pregnancy“.Chloasma has the appearance of brown patches of pigmentation on the forehead, cheeks, neck and lips. It's caused by the increased production of melanin, the tanning hormone, which protects the skin against ultraviolet light in certain areas of the body. It will begin to fade once the pregnancy is over, within 3 months of your baby’s birth and it does not have any negative effects on the baby.

Everyday life

Fighting the heat during pregnancy does not only mean avoiding the heat from the beach and sun exposure. Annoying problems can also occur due to the heat while at home or taking a walk. First of all, it is advisable not to go out during mid-day sun exposure as the sun is more dangerous. However it is necessary to drink plenty of fluids, like water, fruit juices, milk and drinks rich in mineral salts dehydration. For the same reason it is very important to make sure that your diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables. Get indoors at the first sign of weakness, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, or excessive thirst. Lie down and drink some cool water or electrolyte replacement liquid. If you don't feel better soon, call your doctor.

Clothing must obviously be light to allow the body to breath. The material of the clothing and maternity lingerie must also be breathable, preferably cotton or linen, which easily absorb sweat and don't wear constrictive clothing, especially around the waist. Wear comfortable shoes and, if possible, wear one pair of shoes that are a half size larger than your normal size; it is better to remove your rings if they seem to be tight. Some pregnant women experience mild swelling of the hands and have to get their rings cut off.

If the house or outdoor are unbearably hot, it is going to be quite refreshing going inside supermarkets, shops or shopping malls. A good idea for example would be visiting a shop that stocks baby products so you can get something for your baby. Make sure that the air conditioning inside the shops is at a regular cool temparature, if you feel a big difference between the temparature outside and the tempearture in the shop just find another shop where the temeprature is not too cool.

And you, expectant mothers, what are you doing to beat the heat of these days?