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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Tips on coping in this heat wave please

18 replies

Abbodabs · 02/07/2018 08:54

With it being very hot at 29 most days,I want some tips on how to get through this heatwave,with me being on the rather fat side and pregnant as well,I’m finding it very uncomfortable,please any tips would be greatful,Thankyou

OP posts:
bsbabas · 02/07/2018 08:55

Freeze your hot water bottle nice and ergonomic when it melts

FairfaxAikman · 02/07/2018 08:56

Damp towel draped round your shoulders - the evaporation helps cool you.

Stefoscope · 02/07/2018 08:57

portable air con unit and ice lollies

ICouldHavePrancedAllNight · 02/07/2018 08:59

I hold ice cubes to the back of my head, wind my hair round them, and clip them in place.

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 02/07/2018 09:01

Feet in a bowl of cold water! Sympathies to you, it’s hard work being pregnant over summer

MarsBarsAreShrinking · 02/07/2018 09:01

Move as little as possible!

I'm just about coping okay as long as I am sitting in front of the fan with a cold drink. As soon as I move to do pretty much anything it's sweaty city Sad

blackteasplease · 02/07/2018 09:08

If you are pregnant it will be very hard.

The icey bottles of water sound a great idea. Drink loads.

Try to wear loose, light clothing rather than as little as possible as this will help. (Says someone all in black but that's another matter)). Shorts or light trousers ratherthan skirts to stop your legs heating each other!

Next year you won't be pregnant so hold on to that thought! If you can try to lose a bit of weight that is helpful (although I know hard) as that's the worst thing for making the heat unbearable.

speakout · 02/07/2018 09:11

I've got my heating on today!

TheSandgroper · 02/07/2018 12:44

Well, as I have just put another log on the fire, here are some ideas.

Shut your curtains. We keep the heat out with ours. If you don't have a pelmet (as hot air rises), perhaps a sheet or some towels along the top will help.

If you have an upstairs window facing north, open it a crack to create a draft. Moving air is cooler than warm air.

Three inches of water into a bath with a stool beside it. Don't let the water out until bedtime. Every so often, sit with your feet swishing. When you wash your face with cool water, make sure you wash your ears because you can lose heaps of heat from there. Standing under a shower until you are cool uses heaps of water but sitting in that bath before bed and sloshing yourself over and over will do the same job.

Lots of people recommend a cheap spray bottle of water but that's best in a dryer climate. The water doesn't evaporate properly in higher humidity (I think).

Any clean tea towels or flannels can be wet and put into the fridge. Do it overnight so you have a supply for the day. However, opening your fridge often is highly inefficient so anything you have in the way of a cooler box, ice blocks, frozen water bottles and sorted out in the morning is better. Cover the cooler box with towels to help insulate it.

Set yourself up in a north facing room with your fan or what have you - curtains pulled for most of the day. If you have a more open plan house, set yourself up near the stair case to take advantage of the draughts.

Loose clothing, wide brimmed hat. Long sleeves in the car. If you are wearing a skirt and are in the car, a dry face cloth shoved up your clacker and separating your thighs (drape it over the steering wheel when you get out of the car). Sooo much more comfortable than sweat. A large towel going from car door to car door over the windscreen is a good thing. Try to park facing the sun in that case.

I hope all this helps.

longwayoff · 02/07/2018 13:05

Freeze a couple of small bottles of water and keep them nearby for rolling on your neck arms, etc.if you have room in freezer get your clean sheets and roomiest tea shirts put them in it and take out to cool you when required.Very good for instant cooling.

SlinkyB · 02/07/2018 13:12

My kids are struggling to sleep, even with a fan on and little ice packs in their bed. So last night I placed cool damp flannels on their foreheads and this helped.

Loving the suggestion of a face cloth "up your clacker" to avoid chub rub whilst driving! Grin

Blobby10 · 02/07/2018 13:33

Put the inside of your wrists under a cold running tap. Not environmentally friendly at all but very good at cooling your body down quickly.

OiWhoTookTheGoodNames · 02/07/2018 13:36

Chain scoff cornettos, swear and pray for winter. That's the approach I'm taking.

DinaCaliente · 02/07/2018 13:45

Hand held USB fan, mines from Amazon £12.99 very powerful.
Feet in bowl of cold water whenever possible, that's how I survived being heavily pregnant in the summer.
Cooling spray - I bought some in Poundland last year.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 02/07/2018 13:51

if you're struggling to get to sleep, shower before bed and go to bed still damp.

NameChangeUni · 02/07/2018 13:53

Drink loads of water - 2 litres as an absolute minimum, but MORE if you’re actually out and about in the heat. (Eg sitting in an office all day vs walking around outside). Obviously make sure you’re aware of toilets when you’re out as you will need to use them more often. The more hydrated you are, the less sweat you’ll produce.

Wear sunscreen - I find that sunscreen cools me down a fair amount. I feel more prepared to tackle the sun as my body doesn’t get warm, sweaty and stuffy with it on.

Get a better deodorant to prevent underarm sweat - you’ll feel more comfortable in your clothes without damp underarms and sweat patches.

If you don’t work and can be flexible with your day, plan your day so that you’re not driving/walking around in peak heat. Better to get somewhere early and kill time after, rather than rush through peak temperatures and get all hot and bothered.

As far as clothing, just wear what you’re comfortable in. Sometimes I wear thin shorts under skirts to prevent slight thigh rubbing, but generally I’m okay in that aspect. I have been wearing dresses, skirts and sleeveless tops as I stay quite cool. A denim jacket or blazer as a jacket - light enough to carry around if I don’t want to wear it, but also light enough to wear in this weather. Both trousers and longer sleeves make me feel overly warm so have been avoiding that altogether.

Sparklesocks · 02/07/2018 14:09

Oh poor you.

Some great tips here. I find cooling the back of my neck helps cool the rest of me down, if you can hold a wet cloth/ice on the back of your neck it should have a knock on effect for the rest of you.

Take a colder than usual shower and let your hair dry naturally.

And put a towel in the fridge for a few hours before bed and then drape over your pillow when you go to sleep - heaven!

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