Tips for staying cool

[ExhaustedMamasita]

This is my first pregnancy and can?t believe I?m saying this but NOT enjoying the summer. 32 weeks and feel like a cooked chicken! Night times are hell!! So low on energy ? I genuinely don?t know whether to laugh or cry. Desperately need sleep but dread night times! If it?s not the multiple trips to the loo, it?s the desperate need to run my feet under cold water. Urgh! If like me you?re struggling with the intense heat at night ? here are some tips for staying cool. Just received them from a very wise relative so thought I?d share ? will be trying these out tonight, fingers crossed they work!!!

Keep sheets and flannels in freezer and use as needed
Keep cold water bottles in freezer for a couple of hours and bring them out just before night time
Tepid shower before bed (not cold as body generates heat to compensate for heat loss)
If you?re using a fan, keep a bowl of cold water in the room as the water evaporates
Cooling foot sprays (with mint for fresh feel)
Eating smaller meals and avoid too much protein before bed time (apparently it increases metabolic heat)
Eat spicy/ hot food (sweating makes the body cool down)

If you have any good tips ? please share also! Thanks. x

[SeriousStuff]

Thanks for that. I'm only 27+3 but feel the same. I told DH as soon as we got our positive result in Feb that I had a feeling we'd get a heatwave this year! Typical...

During the day, I have the fan on and sometimes have my feet in a bowl of cold water.

Apparently, placing ice cubes on your wrists is meant to help but I haven't tried that yet.

Also, keeping curtains closed and even windows can help keep the house cool (difficult one though!)

Sucking on ice lollies.

As for night time, a fan, a light sheet, window open and foot spray is all I have been doing so far. Oh, and sleeping as far away from my DH as possible!

[Rollermum]

My sympathies! I am 32+4 and melting. I don't like summer heat too much anyway (am hypothyroid and find it hard not to overheat!) Also I commute 1.5 hrs to work in London and am moving house this week! YAY!

Those are good tips thanks :-) ExhaustedMamasita I will do the cold water bottle one. I have found the following helps:

• Not going on public transport without an ice pack. I even balanced one on my head on the train today. I don't care if I look mad.
  
• Working longer hours (to stay in the air con) - very sad, but quite enjoyable compared to sitting around naked at home feeling massive!
  
• Feet in bowls of water
  
• Complaining constantly :-)
  

SeriousStuff - so true about staying away from DH - mine is a human furnace.

[JassyRadlett]

Frozen grapes. I kid you not. (DS was an early September baby).

[ExhaustedMamasita]

Nice tips girls - I'll add them to the list. Good luck to you all - heard the heatwave is here to stay until end of August. Not sure whether to laugh or cry!!!

[Queazy]

I bought a fan to take on the train, and have a battery operated one on order. I'm trying to drink loads of water and to wear really light, breathable layers. I think the ice pack is a great idea.

I'm staying cool tomorrow by working from home. My commute has been ridiculous two nights in a row with train problems and has taken 2hrs to get home including horribly sticky, non-air conditioned trains.

Thanks for the tips xx

[FraggleRock77]

Lemonade ice lollies mmmmmm x

[DawnOfTheDee]

I recommend lurking in the freezer aisle of the supermarket and perusing every single item there very closely....

But if you're at home yy to icecubes on your wrists. Running your wrists under the cold tap is nice as well

[Sparkeleigh]

Those evian/magic cool sprays, I lie down and have DH spray me with one when I go to bed, it's lovely. Or a normal refillable spray bottle with iced water in it...

[marushka82]

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow and I'm not enjoying this heat at all....
Just read that it's going to be around 35-36 degrees on my due date and I really feel like crying! We live next to quite a busy road so I have to keep the window shut at night, otherwise we'll get no sleep. Seriously considering buying a fan, although money is tight at the moment....
I'm so so miserable, blergh. And I'm sleeping with a wet towel over my feet...
I'm really really worried about how the baby will cope in the heat... the temperatures at night are around 24 degrees now, so I guess baby will be sleeping in a vest only? Maybe covered by light muslin?

[ExhaustedMamasita]

marushka82 - defo get a fan! You don't need a pricey one but it'll make your life so much happier. I've heard the heat will last throughout July and the whole of August! Baby will need some cool air circulating in the house otherwise it may become irritable along with Mummy!

[marushka82]

Exhausted Mamasita - I'm definitely thinking about it, but there seems to be a national fan shortage! Checked Argos and most fans are out of stock! ugh!

[marushka82]

I'm happy to report I found a fan!!! Spent the whole morning searching online and was ready to give up (or call Argos and beg them to recheck stock :D when I found a fan on B&Q's website. Yay, they're going to deliver it tomorrow! I honestly feel like I won the lottery or something :)

[HotSoupDumpling]

Now you have a fan, try showering, not drying yourself properly, then standing in front of the fan... it's heavenly.

[FraggleRock77]

Currently walking around naked which is helping! TMi x

[afrikat]

God I am so miserable and have turned into such a grump. My office is horribly hot by the afternoon and I could have cried today. Currently lying naked in front of my fan (not in office anymore!) and going swimming soon. My afternoon swim is the only time I feel happy all day so the upside is I am suddenly doing alot more exercise..

[chickieno1]

Bottles of water in freezer.

Ice lollies+++++

Yay for fans!!

I don't seem to learn ds born early sept (3years ago) and now 27 weeks with dc2. Need to avoid being heavily pregnant in summer

[beachesandbuckets]

My ds slept in his nappy only when he was born and it was hot, was fine. Am 35 weeks with twins and two older dcs, am very hot, grumpy and fed up!