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Childbirth

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

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:
differentnameforthis · 25/07/2018 12:33

A damp towel over the fan helps cool the air better

Damp flannels for your pulse points, wrists, neck, forehead good too, under boobs is REALLY good. When they start to feel warm, remove them, wave them in the air (cools them again) roll them up and put them back.

Water spray for your face is better (IMO) than any spritzer you can buy, and cheaper! All you need is a cheap spray bottle!

Lots of water, of course. Freezing them is a good idea, but make sure they aren't full as the bottom will bulge and they won't stand.

ItsalmostSummer · 25/07/2018 12:40

I gave birth during a heatwave too. What I found harder was afterwards at home. Baby was always very hot so I lay my baby in a room (not alone) with a fan on several times. Just to help cool down. Baby’s can’t regulate their temperature I believe.

CoodleMoodle · 25/07/2018 12:46

I had DS on the 8th. Contractions started at 7:30am, got to hospital at 12:45 and he was born at 13:05. I didn't notice the heat at the time! Then we had a one night stay in the hospital and it was unbearably warm on the ward. There was one fan but it didn't reach us. We survived by constantly washing our faces with cold water and drinking loads.

We were boiling hot when we had DD as well, and she's a March born. Those wards are so warm! We were stuck in hospital for three days and I thought DH was going to melt...

ifonly4 · 25/07/2018 13:01

I gave birth on the hottest weekend of the years (many moons ago). Had a long protracted birth and it wasn't the heat that bothered me. However, after giving birth my temperature shot up and the hospital soon had three fans on me.

After leaving hospital we just had DD is a bodysuit (no vest) as it was so warm and the midwife said she was relieved to see a baby who wasn't incredibly uncomfortable with layers on.

Daffodil2018 · 25/07/2018 14:32

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.

They often have these water sprays (different brand) in Poundland.

Mummygoogler · 25/07/2018 14:34

Gave birth 2 weeks ago. My labour from first pain to finish was 1 hour 5mins. The sweat was literally pouring fromantic me. Like you would see in a cartoon! They stood me in front of a fan...iterally cms away from my face. It was the only thing that would calm me down as I was one of those hysterical screaming mums. Lol

caterpuller · 25/07/2018 17:28

I was in labour 12 years ago in 2006 during a heatwave. Take a fan (tall plug in one if possible), lots of changes of light clothes as you'll sweat and also you'll maybe get hormonal night sweats a few days post-birth and you'll need to change clothes maybe more than once during the night. I bought a hand held fan that you can fill with water and sprays your face, it was a few quid from Tiger.

EggbertHeartsTina · 25/07/2018 17:34

I gave birth on my knees in the birthing centre when it was really warm in 2015. The main thing I remember, more than the pain and blood, was the fact my knees were so sweaty they kept slipping apart. It was really annoying. So something to kneel on?!

CoodleMoodle · 25/07/2018 17:57

@ifonly4
Good to hear about a sensible MW RE clothes! When DD was born (in March like I said) it was cold outside but boiling in the hospital, and DD was just in a vest. The MWs kept telling us to put a babygrow on her. I reluctantly did. Then one of them insisted we put a hat on her! I said absolutely not to that, she was hot enough as it was. (We did put clothes on her when we went outside to go home obviously...)

QueenCharming · 25/07/2018 17:58

Several people had desk fans on their bedside table that they had brought from home when I was in the hottest hospital ever recently for my baby

StraffeHendrik · 25/07/2018 20:30

WHY are post natal wards so hot, when we are told not to let small babies overheat at night at home, keep room at 18 degrees etc?

It's hellish and baffling.

BertieBotts · 25/07/2018 20:47

Because inside your womb it's 37 degrees!

I think it's the recommendation to keep houses at ice box temperature which is particularly baffling, TBH.

Smurfybubbles · 25/07/2018 20:53

I gave birth 12 weeks ago during the first heatwave of the year and had to be induced it was horrible! Definitely bring your own fan I had to ask for one 700 times before they actually got me one! I also showered about 50 times, every time I got hot and sweaty I jumped in a quick shower which was a nice distraction from the contractions!
Best of luck Smile

CaMePlaitPas · 26/07/2018 07:29

Gave birth a month ago - it was 32 degrees outside and the maternity ward was roasting. Pack water spray and a small fan!! Good luck :)

suzy2b · 26/07/2018 13:48

Allways hot in post natal all year round

spydie · 26/07/2018 14:05

Had CS on Tues, and luckily being discharged today. It's like an oven today.

Definitely have a fan!! Flannel with cold water to put over forehead, wrists etc etc. Baby in only a nappy. The worst thing I found however was I get really bad sweats from oramorph, so already feeling hot and then feeling a lot hotter and dripping with sweat post taking it. Not fun!

feltpens · 26/07/2018 14:16

Had a CS a few days ago and tbh it wasn't as bad as you would imagine.

Definitely take a fan and possibly one for your partner if they plan to be there for a long time. My DH was nicking my fan when he got a chance! Hair bands are useful if you have long hair. Definitely have a shower if you can. I felt like I was going to die going from the bed to the shower but it was worth it! I had some foot cream which soothes and cooled my feet, not sure if that's a CS or a heat thing though.

actualpuffins · 26/07/2018 16:55

You'll be fine. Had DD1 in 2005 in similar temperatures to now, though at least she arrived in the middle of the night when it was coolest. Baby only in a nappy/vest and nappy for ages. Ha ha ha at baby's room being 18C, we only ever managed that in winter.

DD2 arrived in the snow in 2009, though the worst of it had gone. I still had the window open though and think the MWs were freezing but they never said.

meow1989 · 26/07/2018 17:03

My little boy is 5 weeks today - had 24 hours of labour followed by emcs. I packed, but actually didn't end up using a spray bottle from Wilko (think it's meant to be for hair products technically) that is been intending to fill with water so I could spray my face.
The hospital had fans which helped. I had lucozade (non fizzy) drinks and found them bein in a sports bottle better as I could down them easier than cups of water.

To be honest I didn't notice the heat until after I'd delivered. Next week is meant to be low-mid 20s according to my app so you may get some relief from this heat!

MeadowHay · 26/07/2018 20:31

The hospital was quite cool compared to home or outside when I gave birth 5 weeks ago. I laboured all night though so it was cooler then - arrived around 10.30pm at MLU and eventually gave birth around 10am on delivery suite. I remember being very hot in the MLU room initially and the window was wide open with the blind up a bit to let more air in but then I was in such horrendous pain with no pain relief for hours so I don't really remember that time much and it was too much pain to notice heat. I was wearing a t-shirt and undies. I think it was cooler in the delivery suite room when I was moved there around 6am but I had diamorphine by then which just generally knocked me out a lot and made me feel more comfy. I was quite thirsty though so guess I was still hot, I changed into a PJ vest top and kept drinking sips of water.

In the ward DH and baby and I were in a side-room, it was very small and it was very hot but not unbearable, just kept the window open the whole time and I just wore a short nightie with tiny PJ shorts whilst I was there, drank lots of water and juice.

Aspergallus · 26/07/2018 22:18

There’s a moisturiser (available via Amazon) called dermacool. It’s basically a moisturiser with menthol. Just using it on your lower legs and feet will help cool you down. It’s also really useful for any rash that comes with heat/itchiness.

annlee3817 · 26/07/2018 23:04

@StraffeHendrik doesn't it take 24 hours or so for the babies temp to regulate, which is why they wrap them up initially? Am sure that's what I was told.

OP - I gave birth in the nude on all fours with a fan on me lol and it wasn't as hot as it is at the moment, I had a June baby :) I found the post natal ward very warm, just wore very light comfy clothing and drank lots of water

FanSpamTastic · 26/07/2018 23:20

I gave birth 15 years ago when the temperature hit 37 degrees.

It was actually ok in the hospital. No air con but they had big windows and a breeze running through.

When I got home it was hot in the house - I couldn't bear having clothes on and spent most of my time sitting round with virtually nothing on! I ended up using cabbage leaves on my boobs as they were sore. Kept the cabbage in the fridge!

I couldn't put clothes on DD - even a vest brought her out in a heat rash, just put her in a nappy and then a muslin for a cover as it did not feel right putting her to bed with nothing on.

Angeliki159 · 29/07/2018 01:59

I gave birth this morning.
The delivery room was air conditioned but I took those instant ice packs where you burst a bag inside and it's instant cold. And also a cold towel that retains the cold for 2 hours.
Good luck!