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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Ladies who gave birth in this heat.....

53 replies

SPARKS17 · 24/07/2018 16:27

I'm due next week (csection) and am dreading being in a hot sweaty hospital.

If you gave birth in the last 2 months or so is their anything I should add to my hospital bag to make a day or two's stay more bearable.

Our hospital is old and does not have aircon!

Thank you!

OP posts:

Mishappening · 24/07/2018 16:29

I gave birth in 1976 - even hotter than now - and the hospital ....wait for it......had the heating on!!!!!

You can get wipes of 4711 Eau de Cologne and they are wonderful!

Good luck!

mrs2468 · 24/07/2018 16:43

I was almost exactly two months ago. I was in hospital for a week and hardly slept due to the heat. Get a fan and also a hand held one. As much as you want your privacy keep the curtains open as it's even hotter with the curtains closed. Cold flannel and flip flops rather than slippers. Also took cordial to help me drink more water. Something to keep your hair up too! Good luck

DuggeeHugs · 24/07/2018 16:46

Both my CSs were in this heat in the last three years. Take plenty of water and a flannel you can cool down with. A hand fan is useful. Lightweight loose clothing is also good.

In fairness you'll probably not be as aware of the heat as you expect as there will be a lot else going on!

Heratnumber7 · 24/07/2018 16:49

I had DD in August 1995. Similar temperatures, and it was awful. In the hospital, and before and after giving birth.

I can't think of anything that would have made it better.

BertieBotts · 24/07/2018 16:49

You can get this amazing spray mist by evian which is really cooling. I can't find it at a reasonable price though but maybe somewhere like Boots would have an own brand version.

Freeze a load of 2-litre bottles full of water with chunks of cucumber or mint leaves or fruit or sliced fresh ginger in. Ask somebody to bring you in a fresh one every day (or even twice a day!) and drink as it melts. If you don't have room in the freezer, just freeze 2 and get your person from home to refill and refreeze.

You can rub the frozen bottle on your pulse points as well to cool yourself a bit.

HotStickyTired · 24/07/2018 16:53

cool gel strips are very good

iamthefox · 24/07/2018 17:22

Good idea for a thread Sparks.

I’m a week overdue today and seriously dreading the prospect of hospital in this weather. I had been hoping to try and bypass the postnatal ward by going to the midwife led unit and praying for a straightforward birth and quick discharge... However, the more overdue I go the greater likelihood of being admitted for an induction (for which I’d want an epidural, so even longer in hospital!)

I’ve been looking at fans, ice towels and cooling sprays on amazon but the delivery times are a bit sketchy... might have to heft myself to the shops

Good luck for your section, hope all goes well and you are in on slightly cooler days!

Wellthisunexpected · 24/07/2018 18:37

I gave birth in January and the heat on the postnatal ward was unbearable. I couldn't sleep and was constantly thirsty! Take a large water bottle you can operate with one hand! And loose clothing/ PJ's. Flip flops not slippers.

welshmist · 24/07/2018 18:40

Gave birth to two in heatwaves like this. Thunder and lightening for the second one hospital hit so emergency generators needed. To be honest did not really notice. I did have cotton nightie and cotton dressing gown for decency. Flip flops and lots of water.

happymummy12345 · 24/07/2018 18:44

I gave birth in 2015 when it was very hot. I just had water. The birth centre was quite warm as well. Tbh I didn't notice it, had far more important things to worry about at the time, like wondering exactly how much longer it would be before our little boy or little girl decided to come and join us in the real world. Couldn't wait to meet him or her.

MrsL0805 · 24/07/2018 18:50

I gave birth 9 days ago and it was the hottest day so far, I had a bed by the window which I left open and took a spray bottle and flannels which I kept soaked in cold water. I was only in for 1 night so I was happy to return home and put my fan on

GetOffTheFrog · 24/07/2018 18:52

I gave birth 2 weeks ago and tbh the hospital was a blessed relief as much cooler than my home. Stayed in mlu and wasn't put on post natal ward though.

Jestem · 24/07/2018 18:54

I gave birth at the start of this heatwave, I was actually cold the one night I spent on antenatal, didn't notice either way during labour then went home the same day without a stay on postnatal, so you never know! However from previous experience I know postnatal wards are invariably hotter than hell, so I'd pack a handheld fan, face spray, drinks to keep in communal fridge if your ward has one. And you could get your visitors to bring you frozen stuff!

rollingonariver · 24/07/2018 18:54

I doubt the heat outside will make much of a difference! I had my cesarean in October but they put the heating up really high on the ward because the babies need to be warm (or something I never really got a straight answer).
My partner brought me some of that spray water and a fan and that helped ! Good luck!

Digestive28 · 24/07/2018 18:57

I did and it was hot. But on mlu there was air con! It was worse at home in early stages but fine once on unit.
The annoying thing was that air con was only in labour rooms so I had lots of staff coming in who would be “checking on me” but essentially standing under the air con for ten mins before they ran out of excuses to be there and left!

BrutusMcDogface · 24/07/2018 18:58

I was sweating absolute buckets, and the only thing that really helped was a cold shower three times a day and fans aimed at all angles. (I was in for over a week).

Hotter than hell.

Digestive28 · 24/07/2018 18:58

It also means your cute newborn wears nothing but nappies, and maybe a vest at night so all those new outfits for 0-3 months won’t be used. But there temp is regulated by your body temp so loads of skin to skin is lovely

BrutusMcDogface · 24/07/2018 18:59

Oh and I drank a fuckton of water. I miss the lovely ladies refilling my jug throughout the day, and the lovely water cooler just outside the room!

theruffles · 24/07/2018 19:44

I had a c-section two weeks ago and found the hospital unbearable in this heat - 30+ degrees on the ward! I made sure I had lots of cold water (ice machine on the ward thankfully!) and took some of those ice packs you usually use to stop the swelling on a twisted ankle or similar injury.

With hindsight I would have taken a handheld fan but LO was in a hurry to arrive and I didn't have the time!

If you can take a shower while on the ward, do - it'll feel a bit more refreshing (even if only for a short while!)

metellaestinatrio · 24/07/2018 21:04

I gave birth on Thursday and stayed in for two nights (C section). The postnatal ward was boiling but I had a handheld fan and face spray and drank plenty of water and it wasn’t too awful. The hospital also provided fans in each cubicle. Second flip flops instead of slippers.

Jillyjollyjandy · 24/07/2018 21:17

I had a c section last week and took:
Flip flops
Desk fan
Cooling spray
Lots of bottles of water
Paid for a room, cooler than the curtains.

It wasn’t too bad.

Callmemaybe17 · 24/07/2018 21:19

I just brought my tower fan in 😂
Two weeks in hospital and as cool as a cucumber

Vampyress · 24/07/2018 22:34

I am 38 weeks pregnant and this heat doesnt look like it's going to abate soon so very glad for this thread!! I gave birth last may (yep 2 in 2 years -it was planned and I agree possibly psychotic) and I was sweating buckets as all that water retention decides to start fleeing as soon as baby is born (although this pregnancy I feel so soggy I might not notice this time). I found regular antiperspirant couldn't keep the inevitable body odour at bay for more than a couple of hours and I now swear by Mitchum roll on. I would definately advise taking more than one nursing bra just in case... in this heat you would be amazed how quickly your milk will leak even before your milk fully comes in. Beyond that I have nothing to add that others havent already said. Hoping for cooler days soon for all of us expectant mummy bears x

laurG · 25/07/2018 07:40

I gave birth last week. I was quite lucky as he came quickly and Labour started at 7am and was over by 12. It was 30 degrees that day and the nextbon the post natal ward. To be honest I didn’t notice the heat in hospital too much. Just drank loads. It was far worse when we got home. Carpets, soft surfaces, south facing home... all made it much worse than the hospital. The heat has made it all that bit more difficult. The bsbybis super thirsty, the heat makes it hard to sleep, we can take him out because it’s too hot... it’s pretty relentless.

Original poster

SPARKS17 · 25/07/2018 11:34

Thanks for the replies everyone, I am about to Amazon prime myself a fan!

I have already packed a giant water bottle and flipflops and one friend recommended taking an extra towel to lie on in the post natal ward in case I found the beds "sweaty"!

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