12 Ways That Can Be Done to Overcome Heat During Pregnancy

Medical Video: How to reduce body heat during pregnancy | home remedies

When you are pregnant, you may feel overheated. This happens not only the effect of weather changes, but is caused by an increase in body temperature. Plus the weather outside the room is erratic, the mood changes easily. Is that normal? The following is the explanation.

Why do pregnant women often feel hot?

According to Adelaide Nardone, MD, an ob-gyn in Providence, Rhode Island, and medical advisor for Vagisil Women's Health Center cited by webMD, changes in body temperature are indeed experienced by pregnant women; also called heat intolerance. Body temperature increases because you have about 40% more blood pumping your body to supply the needs of the unborn baby. The energy needed to move while pregnant can make you feel warm. In addition, your heart will enlarge and shift slightly to one side because your uterus has widened for several months. This will make your body work harder to stay cool.

The heat in the body, especially the hot weather, will make you sweat and dehydrate easily. When you are excessively dehydrated it will cause weak muscles, cramps, and in severe cases some pregnant women can experience loss of consciousness.

Compress with cold water that is applied behind the neck, on the forehead, and in your head to keep your body temperature down. Make sure you also drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, at least 8 glasses of water or use electrolyte replacement fluids such as orange juice and milk, when you are outside, sweating, and hot weather.

What ways can be done to keep the body cool?

There are a number of ways you might try to overcome heat, such as:

Swimming not only makes your body cool, but can also help reduce your weight. According to Ann Douglas, writer The Mother of All Pregnancy Books quoted by webMD, swimming is a good exercise for pregnant women
Use comfortable clothes. You can choose clothes that can absorb sweat, made from cotton. This method will keep you cool and help avoid heat under your breasts and stomach; problems that are often experienced by pregnant women.
Bring water in a bottle that can be sprayed, you can use it every time it starts to feel hot.
If you want to exercise, do it in cool weather. Also avoid sports that can cause you to overheat. However, before exercising you should consult your obstetrician first to find out whether or not there is a risk for pregnancy.
Breathing exercises can also make you feel cold. You can take yoga classes for pregnant women, because you can also practice breathing to prepare for birth.
Avoid direct sunlight, because pregnant women tend to get sunburned more easily than those who are not pregnant.
Avoid heavy outdoor activities during hot weather outside.
If you feel weak, tired, dizzy, feel 'floating' or excessive thirst when the weather is hot, you should immediately go into the room. Lie down and drink water. If you do not feel a good change, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Buy a small fan with a battery so you can carry it everywhere, you can use it when you feel hot.
Make your bedroom feel cold. When you are at home all day, you can open the bedroom window, but close the curtains to avoid the sun entering. Bathing cold water (plain water) before bed can also be done to overcome the feeling of heat at night, but make sure you do not sweat before taking a shower. If you can't stand the heat felt at midnight, you can also take a shower again. Try when you decide to take a shower, you don't feel cold.
Avoid caffeine. Caffeine can increase your body's blood pressure and core temperature. In addition, caffeine drinks can make your bladder disrupted, so you will go to the bathroom more often.
Eat cold or fresh food. You can choose for those that are rich in water, such as melon, watermelon, berries, fruit salad, cucumber and lettuce. Cold fruit soup, fruit juice, popsicles, even spinach can also make your body feel refreshed. According to Adela Hamilton, a midwifery lecturer at City University in London, natural yogurt directly from the refrigerator with pieces of fruit is also good for consumption.