What Is Considered a High-Risk Pregnancy?
Being pregnant means a lot of changes in your body over a nine month period. It always comes with some level of risk but when does a pregnancy become high risk, and what can be done about it?
Thriving During Your Summer Pregnancy
While it’s certainly true that every day is somebody’s birthday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) records more births in the months of July, August, and September than any other time of the year. This means that if you’re expecting this summer, you’re not alone.
Being pregnant in the summer can lead to unique challenges such as heat intolerance, but there are many ways to stay cool and thrive while waiting to welcome your baby into the world. Let’s explore how summer weather affects you while you’re pregnant, and what you can do to take advantage of the season.
If you’re an expecting mother in the Las Vegas area, you can find support from Dr. Staci McHale and the expert staff at New Beginnings OB-GYN. Our award-winning clinic is here to assist women throughout all their life stages, including prenatal care.
How summer heat affects your pregnancy
A rise in body temperature is a perfectly normal change that can occur when you’re pregnant. However, overheating during pregnancy can be serious, and summer heat can exacerbate that risk if you’re not careful.
Pregnant women often deal with some degree of heat intolerance, and the combination of warm weather and humidity can make you even more uncomfortable. It’s important to pay attention to the heat index on a summer day to avoid being outside during the hottest parts of the day.
How to take advantage of the season
While being pregnant may increase your body temperature and decrease your heat tolerance, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the lovely weather outside. There are still many ways to enjoy the summer festivities:
Comfortable clothes
Wearing light clothes, preferably natural fibers like cotton or linen, can keep you cool by allowing your skin to breathe while perspiring. Picking light colors rather than dark helps reflect the heat rather than absorb it. Additionally, wearing a hat not only keeps you cool, but it keeps the sun out of your eyes and protects your skin.
Stay hydrated: inside and out
Hydration is vital to staying healthy, which means drinking plenty of water. But did you know that some time in the water can also help during a summer pregnancy?
Being in the water can reduce swelling, provide some gentle exercise, and offer relief from the heaviness associated with being pregnant for a short while. If swimming isn’t an option, a bath or a shower can provide some of the same benefits.
Enjoy the sun safely
Catching some sunshine is important for many reasons, including generating vitamin D and boosting your mood. The summer is the perfect time to embrace your body and celebrate your journey to childbirth with fun, flowy summer clothes. If you do catch some sun, try to avoid being outside at the hottest part of the day and don’t forget your sunscreen.
Cool down creatively
It can be hard to rest during a summer pregnancy. A wet cloth around your head and neck can help cool your body down. Similarly, spraying a light mist of water on the sheets before bed can offer you a cooler rest at night.
Of course, staying in during the hottest days also reduces overheating, but there’s no need to let that keep you from enjoying your favorite summer activities. If you have other questions about what you can do to stay healthy and comfortable during the summer months, contact Dr. McHale and New Beginnings OB-GYN today.
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