Did you know that July, August, and September are the months with the highest number of births in the U.S.? It’s true, according to the CDC.
Take it from me… when you have a summer pregnancy, one thing that you forget to consider until it’s actually here is the HEAT.
Summer heat is notoriously uncomfortable for pregnant women, and it poses some unique risks. (Overheating can lead to a higher chance of miscarriage during the first trimester, and dizziness, fainting and dehydration are possibilities for those of us who are further along.) Source
As fun and exciting as summer can be, many pregnant women find themselves struggling to cope with the high temperatures outside. It’s hard to keep yourself cool when you’re trying to grow a baby and you have so much blood flow!
Plus, when you’re pregnant, you tend to feel hotter than other people — because your body is working so hard to nurture life. (Psst… your baby feels even hotter than you do.)
Your fetus is warmer than you (1° Celsius/2° Fahrenheit). While you can lower your body temperature by sweating, your baby cannot. One study suggests that exposure to excessive heat and humidity during the first 3 months of pregnancy could lead to lower birth weights. Late in pregnancy, high temperatures have been shown to lead to premature labor and an increased rate of miscarriage. Heat and humidity contribute to dehydration, which can cause your baby’s heart rate to beat faster. Dehydration also raises the risk for preterm labor by decreasing your blood volume and increasing the concentration of oxytocin – the hormone responsible for uterine contractions. Source
Whether you’re planning to spend some time outside or bask in the cool air inside, following are some clever ways to beat the heat when you’re expecting.