"Bun in the oven"--that popular euphemism for pregnancy even sounds hot. As the heat index in Middle Tennessee climbs upwards this summer, how can pregnant women stay cool and safe?
Research suggests that this is more than a question of comfort. A California-based study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology last year found a link between extreme heat exposure in pregnancy and lower birth weights in babies. While some sources identify temperatures above 102 degrees as dangerous to developing babies, the CDC cautions that every woman's body reacts uniquely to different levels of heat. Expectant mothers should listen to their own bodies and take a break from the heat as soon as they feel uncomfortable, rather than waiting for the thermostat to reach a specific number.
Ascension Saint Thomas writes below with recommendations for expectant mothers.
• Throw some shade. If required to be outside for lengthy time periods due to work or social obligations, pregnant woman should bring along a wide-brimmed hat or an umbrella to create makeshift shade.
• Put your feet up. To combat the infamous foot-swelling that comes with summertime pregnancies, expectant mothers can rest with their legs and feet propped on a raised surfaced like a coffee table or a pile of pillows.
• Refill your cup. The American Pregnancy Association stresses that drinking sufficient amounts of water works to keep both mom and baby healthy. Water helps form the placenta and the amniotic sac. By drinking up, expectant mothers are also helping their bodies regulate heat. 10 cups of fluid daily--liquids other than water count towards this number--is the Institute of Medicine's recommendation for pregnant women.
• Be your own fan. Small, hand-held, battery-operated fans can be purchased online and in many stores for 10 dollars or less. Pregnant women can keep one of these in their purses so that cool air is available in a pinch.
• Splash around. Water isn't just refreshing when it comes from a glass. Pregnant women who don't have access to a pool can cool down with cold showers and cold, wet washcloths. Lawn sprinklers and blow-up kiddie pools are low-cost ways of imitating the relaxation a pool provides. For expectant mothers who do have pool access, water workouts are a safe way to stay fit in pregnancy.
• Loosen up. Flowy fabrics in light colors will help expectant mothers avoid overheating. Loose-fitting clothing also promotes sweat evaporation--thus limiting the likelihood of heat rash.
• Choose cool accessories. Many online retailers sells cooling headbands and bandanas that can be doused in cold water before wear. These products are designed to keep body temperatures low without messily dripping water.