When I gave birth to my first child in August and my third in October, I learned firsthand what being pregnant during the summer was all about. It was not at all like the second child I delivered in the warm, but not blistering temperature of May.
With my first, when I was 18, I remember the return of my extreme early pregnancy fatigue and feeling like a sleepwalker as I sloshed through the oppressive outside heat. With my third, at 23, I remember visiting the World’s Fair at Flushing Meadow and ending up with such swollen feet that my original shoe size never came back.
I mention age here because, relative to today, I was a young mother. In the times we live, however, most mothers start having children later, many in their mid-thirties and even early forties. And, as everyone knows, dealing with discomforts becomes more difficult with age.
What to do? According to WebMD.com, Adelaide Nardone, M.D., an OB-GYN in Rhode Island, a woman’s body temperature is already a bit higher than normal, so added heat from the outside temperature is bound to cause added discomfort. “Pregnant women already have some degree of heat intolerance,” she says. She advises women to:
- Stay indoors if heat (and humidity) is in the nineties.
- Apply a cool damp washcloth to your head, back of neck and forehead.
- Drink fluids throughout the day — in moderation — including orange juice, milk and sports drinks, which replace electrolytes that are being sweated away.
- Avoid direct mid-day sun.
- Avoid vigorous outdoor activities during the hot hours of the day.
More Cool Advice:
Ann Douglas, author of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books and also a WebMd.com contributor, has these tips:
- Swim to cool off.
- Wear breathable fabrics.
- Carry a water-filled squirt bottle to mist yourself.
- Exercise at the cooler times of day.
For Leg or Finger Swelling:
- Lie down and rest for 30 to 60 minutes a day.
- Wear loose clothing.
- Remove your rings.
- Keep your legs elevated when you’re sleeping.
- Wear comfortable shoes, even if they’re a half-size larger than normal.
For Leg or Finger
- Make a priority of resting during the day. Even 15 minutes of meditation, prayer, listening to music or reading can be rejuvenating.
- To ensure a better night’s sleep, restrict fluids after 6 pm.
- For summer nasal allergies, use over-the-counter saline nasal gels, drops or mists that soothe and moisturize the membranes.
- For the itchy skin that’s common in hot weather, try Aveedo oatmeal baths.