Pregnancy is both joyful and stressful at the same time, especially when you have to endure morning sickness during the early stages. And if you find yourself pregnant during the summer, the added heat coming from the sun can be quite brutal. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, as well as sun damage can be considered as real threats to you when you are pregnant during the summer, but the good news is that there are ways in which you can deal with your summer pregnancy, so that it will be a breeze. Sounds, good? Let’s get started!
Reduce your consumption of sodium
Being pregnant means that you may end up with swollen legs and feet. This makes it hard to wear your shoes and can be painful too at times. A good trick here is to reduce your salt intake to prevent water retention in your lower extremities. However, keep in mind that you shouldn’t completely eliminate salt in your diet, because it contains iodine which is essential to your baby’s growth.
Stay hydrated
Being hot as well as bloated during the summer will not make your pregnancy any easier. Since your body temperature is already high, you’ll most likely be sweating hard. That said, it is important that you keep yourself properly hydrated by drinking 8 cups of water on a daily basis. Aside from protecting you against dehydration, drinking water can help you cool down, eliminate the waste from your body, and maintain the smoothness and suppleness of your skin. What’s more, drinking enough water can also mean less water retention on your end.
Go for a swim
Just because you are pregnant, it doesn’t mean that you should avoid the beach or the swimming pool even. As a matter of fact, swimming is one way for you to beat the heat and it is completely safe for your baby too. The natural buoyancy of the water lessens the impact on your body while you are in the water. Another plus to swimming is that it reduces pain in your legs because you will feel weightless.
Try misting bottle
There are days when the heat can become unbearable, and if you are not within easy access to an airconditioned room, the pool, or even the beach, you may want to pack some misting bottle in your bag. All that you have to do is to fill up a spray bottle with cold water and mist your skin when the heat is getting to you. You can make your misting bottle even better by adding a few drops of essential oils too.
Take a nap
The sun is usually the hottest during the afternoon, so instead of being up and about at these hours, why not take a nap instead? This will help you cool down while helping your body recuperate with the growing baby inside your womb. Plus, you will be skipping the harsh sun too.
Wear light clothing
Summer pregnancy is best dealt with when you are wearing the right clothing. Think light and breezy clothes that are made from cotton. Keep in mind that your goal here is to reduce your body temperature to a more comfortable level.
Damp washcloths help
Another tip that can help you stay cool during summer while you are pregnant is to have damp washcloths at the ready. Placing a cold washcloth on your forehead or your neck even can help you feel better immediately.
Summer pregnancy can be tough, but this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to take steps to make it more bearable. Just try the tips mentioned here and you’ll feel better in no time.
