9 Ways to Keep Cool in a Summer Pregnancy

Stay Cool, Mama!

By Larissa Phillips

Summer can be brutal for everyone, but pregnant women have special cause to take care of themselves. Incorporate these basic precautions into your summer routine.

• Stay hydrated. Carry water with you at all times and avoid caffeinated beverages. Some health practitioners recommend eight to 10 glasses of water a day.

• Plug in the AC. Whoever invented the air conditioner should have a special place in every pregnant woman’s heart. You have the rest of your life to worry about freon. Seek out these incredible inventions wherever you go.

• Avoid the sun. Wear sunscreen, or better yet, just stay inside, near the above-mentioned miracle appliance, during the hottest hours of the day.

• Wear sunscreen. Because of hormonal changes, pregnant women sometimes develop irregular patches of melanin. Known as the “mask of pregnancy,” it will only worsen with tanning.

• Wear natural fibers. When sweaty skin rubs against itself, heat rash can develop. Wearing cotton and linen help your skin breathe, and perhaps help you avoid this uncomfortable condition. If you do develop heat rash, some naturopaths recommend chilling a stalk of aloe vera (available at many bodegas) and applying the gel to the rash.

• Stay off your feet. Getting horizontal may help keep edema at bay – and it will help you stay rested and relaxed.

• Take your rings off – now! Don’t wait until you can’t get them off. It’s summer. You’re pregnant. Chances for swelling range from highly probable to almost definite.

• Take a shower. Frequent tepid showers and baths are one of the best ways to cool off.

• Plump the pillows. This is one of the last times you’ll have to pamper yourself for quite some time. Put your feet up. Turn on the air. Order in. Take a nap. Your main job is staying cool and relaxed. This time of year, it’s a tall order. We think you can do it.

More: 8 Ways to Fight Fatigue During Pregnancy

Larissa Phillips is a freelance writer and former editor of New York Family. .