By Laura Keiley, RN
Being pregnant is hard work, especially during the hot summer months. Because your body works so hard to protect and nourish your baby, you are more likely to experience negative effects from the heat than someone who isn’t pregnant. Your body is trying hard to cool itself and your unborn baby, and also keep you both healthy. This means that you need to take extra care when you are exposed to very hot conditions.
Here are some tips for staying cool and safe on hot days:
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
- On very hot and humid days, seek shade and air-conditioned areas when possible
- Wear loose-fitting clothing
- Avoid exercise outside in very hot and humid weather
If you are exposed to high temperatures and experience the following symptoms, seek medical care:
- Unusually warm skin
- Unusual headache
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
- Braxton-Hicks, or ‘practice contractions’
If you experience any of the above, move to a cooler area if possible, apply cool, wet cloths to skin, and/or sit in a cool bath until you can receive medical care.
References:
- Cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/heat.html
- Heart.org/en/news/2019/07/01/summer-heat-brings-special-health-risks-for-pregnant-women
Laura Keiley is a Registered Nurse and Diabetes Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program. She can be reached at lk528@cornell.edu