Summer and Pregnancy (Summer Dos and Don'ts)
The weather is hot, humid and you are pregnant. Although the situation may not seem very encouraging, there are always ways to deal with it.
Hot Intolerance
When you are pregnant, your body temperature rises a few degrees more. When the temperature rises outside, there may be intolerance to the heat. If the air temperature is more than 30 - 35 degrees, it may be a good idea to stay home and run the air conditioner. You can cool your neck and forehead with a cool, damp cloth. If you are sweating a lot due to the heat, make sure you drink a lot of water. As well as water, orange juice, milk, sports drinks that restore electrolytes excreted in sweat are also beneficial.
Too much water is just as harmful as too little water, and it causes a condition known as water intoxication. Overhydration can dilute electrolytes, causing muscle fatigue, cramps, and fainting. If you are thirsty, you are dehydrated and you need to drink water.
cool down
- Your face. Swimming not only cools you down, it also takes the weight off your sciatic nerves. You can also swim in the sea instead of the pool, but be careful that the waves do not overturn you.
- Wear breathable fabrics so that you can cool down so you don't get nappy rash on the breasts and abdomen.
- Carry water with you.
- Exercise during the cooler times of the day, avoid exercising during the hottest times. When it comes to exercise, be sure to consult your doctor before and during exercise.
- Breathing is also an important issue to cool off. Breathing too fast or too slow is not good. If you have breathing problems due to allergies or asthma, do not leave the house.
- Avoid the midday heat because pregnant women are more prone to sunburn.
- Avoid outdoor activities during the hot times of the day.
- Use sunscreens with a high protection factor.
- In cases of weakness, dizziness, weakness, go inside immediately, lie down and drink plenty of water. If you do not feel well after a while, call your doctor.
Another problem of summer pregnancies is leg swelling. If the second half of pregnancy is spent in the summer, the degree of swelling of the legs may increase. Here are the dos and don'ts of pregnant women with swelling in their legs:
DO:
Lie down for 30 - 60 minutes at the end of the day or after lunch.
- Keep your legs up while sleeping.
- Wear comfortable shoes, even shoes ½ size larger than your foot size if possible.
- Take a walk 2-3 times a week, avoiding the midday heat.
- If it's tight, take off your rings. Some pregnant women may have excessive swelling in their hands and therefore they have to have their rings cut.
DON'T:
clothes that tighten your waist.
- Don't stand too long.
- Reduce salt from your diet, but do not remove it completely.
- Avoid diuretics.
The summer heat increases the discomfort you feel due to hormonal fluctuations, extra body weight and other physical changes. If you are exposed to extreme heat, experience excessive dehydration, and extreme body temperature rises, it can be harmful to you and your baby.
Early signs of dehydration (excessive fluid loss) include thirst, dry lips, dry skin, fatigue, and constipation. You may also notice that your baby is less active than usual. If you experience any of these symptoms, go to a cool place, sit down, drink cold water or juice. If you feel dizzy, lie on your left side, forehead and place a cool cloth under your neck.
Hyperthermia (excessive elevation in body temperature) is a common name given to many diseases caused by heat, such as heat cramps, exhaustion and paralysis.
Heat cramps are the least serious of these ailments. Excessive sweating causes electrolyte loss, which causes painful muscle spasms. If you experience heat cramps, take it as a serious warning and lower your body temperature immediately.
Fatigue is a more serious and complex condition and is the result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures and low fluid intake. If you experience heat exhaustion, your skin may be cool and moist and pale in color. You may experience headache, nausea, weakness, fatigue, fainting, and mental confusion. Your blood pressure may drop as your breathing becomes rapid and deep.
Heat exhaustion can turn into heat paralysis that requires immediate medical attention and can be life-threatening. It is experienced as a result of exposure to high temperatures for long periods and low fluid intake. In heat stroke, the body temperature reaches 40 degrees, mental confusion, vicious and strange behaviors may be exhibited, and fainting may occur. The heart rate is around 160 - 180 per minute, dryness and redness of the skin may develop. Sweating is less, loss of consciousness occurs quickly.
While it may seem logical that all that extra fluid in your wrists, hands, and waist will protect you and your baby from dehydration, it can actually cause dehydration. Fluid retention can cause swelling in the body by taking the fluid where it is needed.
Dehydration is especially dangerous during pregnancy because it can cause the baby's heart to beat too fast and may cause premature birth.
Your baby's temperature is always about 1 degree warmer than you, and he cannot lower his body temperature by sweating. It is very important to prevent fetal heat stress, especially in the first 3 months when the baby's organs develop. Hyperthermia can cause some birth defects, heart problems, abdominal wall defects, and nervous system defects.
If you show any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor;
- More than 5 cramps or contractions per hour
- Light colored vaginal bleeding
- Acute or persistent vomiting
- Back pain
- Severe pelvic pressure
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration and to protect yourself and your baby's health in hot summer months. Less and lighter foods will also help you with this. Be in air-conditioned environments as much as possible. If you do not have air conditioning, you can also use a fan. Reduce your time outside as much as possible, and if you must be outside, try to stay in the shade. Choose light-colored, light clothing, and always wear a hat when in the sun. Sunburns damage the body's ability to cool itself and cause the loss of body fluids. For this reason, always use sunscreens with a minimum protection factor of 15 that protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
Take warm showers or baths, swim in the pool if you can.
If you pay attention to your body's warnings and cues that it's getting hot, you can stay cool even on the hottest days of summer.
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