Summer pregnancy: How to cool down now

It’s summer, folks! Some people love the long days and not having to freeze to death outside, but it can be a challenging time for pregnant women who overheat. While it’s normal to feel a little bit hotter than usual when pregnant, if it starts to feel too much then these tips to cool down now will come in handy. Hopefully your summer pregnancy will be a bit less uncomfortable in the hot weather.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Unfortunately dehydration while pregnant is relatively easy to do. If your body is low on fluids then you’ll likely feel one or more of the following:

• Thirsty
• Lightheaded
• Dizzy
• Tired

The best way to avoid this issue is to carry a bottle of water around with you and take small regular sips throughout the day. The usual recommendation is that pregnant women drink around 8-12 glasses of water daily, if possible.

It’s so important that you drink water to stay cool and comfortable. Moreover, water is vital to the healthy development of your baby.

How to cool down? Air conditioning, hello!

Try and make the most of air conditioning, if possible. Fans and air conditioning are one of the fastest and most effective ways to cool down.

During your summer pregnancy, if you have an air conditioning unit already but aren’t sure if it’s working properly then you’ll want to get that checked out. Use a professional like airecontrol to help fix your problem quickly.

If you don’t have an air conditioner, don’t worry; there are a few other easy ways to reduce your heat level. For example, you could open windows at night, but close the shades during the day.

It’s important to note though that it can take longer for a pregnant woman’s body to adjust to any temperature changes. So, if you do have air conditioning then make sure that you gradually change it.

Summer pregnancy: Avoid warm food and drinks

Did you know that the body produces more heat when it consumes warm or hot things like tea or soup? Also, foods that have more carbs, fat, and protein typically heat the body as you digest them.

While I’m not saying to avoid these foods as you want to make sure that you and baby are on a healthy eating plan, it’s good to keep these things in mind during those moments when you’re uncomfortably warm. For example, the answer for how to cool down could be choosing a cooler alternative, such as a chilled soup rather than a piping hot one.

Or how about a frozen fruit snack? You’ll get the healthy benefits of the chosen fruit as well as avoiding sweating uncomfortably. All of which helps you get through your summer pregnancy during the sticky weather.

More on food choices, summer pregnancy, and how to cool down

Also, make sure you avoid eating food that has been left out in the sun for too long. It might have gone sour, which means eating it might upset your tummy.

Lastly, just the idea of going to a barbeque might actually leave you sweaty. The good news is that although the hot weather might be rough for a summer pregnancy, there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in season that are yummy and healthy.

These fresh fruit and veggies include:

• Watermelon
• Berries
• Greek yogurt
• Cucumber
• Tomatoes
• And many more

To make things even better, all these foods are refreshing. They also contain essential nutrients for you and your baby’s health.

When it comes to how to cool down, find what works for you to make it through the even the hottest days. For more tips as an expecting mother to make your pregnancy a bit easier, click here.