Giving birth during a heatwave

[MumJourney]

UK mum here. Due 19th July.
I've been offered a stretch and sweep already but declined as first baby was born on due date and would like to at least wait until 40weeks before attempting to hurry things along.

I am however getting a bit anxious about all the heatwave warnings, especially given that there is no air conditioning on the hospital delivery unit. Equally anxious about having a newborn to care for during the high temperatures.

Words of wisdom/experiences welcome please?

Ive got the same worries. I feel like delivery suite will be actually hotter than hell.

Would love some advice too but I plan on taking some cooling mists to spray on my face, and a neck fan I found on Amazon for during labour

I gave birth in a heatwave to a premmie some years ago. It was 30C for the month we spent in scbu and the first month home I don't think nightly temps dropped below 20C. Not pleasant but baby was fine. Hospital not at all worried, Many countries are much hotter than ours and the babies do fine. The only downside is mine only wore a nappy for several weeks and all those tiny outfits were untouched!

Unless there are medical concerns for you or baby there’s no reason to try and hurry them
out until 42 weeks, which is still normal
full term. There’s no evidence sweeps do anything either, as they can’t do them unless your body has started prepping for birth anyway (ie. stuff if already happening) So if there’s no rush I’d hang on as long as you can till it’s cooler!

But definitely get a good fan you can take with you, hospitals are too hot at the best of times I need a fan on the ward and my son was born in November 😂 make sure you’ve got a big bottle for water and take your own cool bag with cool packs.

I gave birth when it was 37 degrees outside and was then on post natal ward in subsequent heat for 8 days after. For the birth, fans helped and I had frozen a lot of water bottles to take in. Put me off a water birth even though I started in birthing suite as the water has to be 37degrees I think for baby, and was too hot for me. There were lots of fans in hospital and they bought round ice lollies every day but I'll be honest it was sweltering although probably would have been similar at home. As others said baby just stayed in nappy and breastfeeding was sticky but all manageable. Good luck!

I was allowed to take my own fan in during a heat wave a few years ago

Just been scouring Amazon for a hand held fan 🤣
First baby was born in November so this will be a different experience I think!

A flannel drenched in cold water placed on your forehead.

I gave birth in the heatwave of 2018- it was months of extremely hot weather- not just a week here and there- and I really struggled. My baby was always hot, wouldn't settle and wanted to be Velcro'd onto me- i developed paranoia about the heat and SIDS and I'm convinced it brought on my PND. Unless there are genuine medical reasons why you should be induced, I'd advise you to wait.

Oh and the hospital ward was sweltering and I still got told off for not swaddling the baby!

Not that it helps but the hospital was just as hot when I gave birth in December as it was when I gave birth in a heatwave. They just keep them soooooo warm!

Baby will be fine. They swaddle them and stick a hat on whatever the weather. It will be more uncomfortable for you but at least you can have cold drinks, wet flannels, etc.

You won't notice. The only thing is one of my friends said she wanted a waterbirth and then couldn't bear the heat of the pool as it has to be quite warm!

A fan during labour is a must.

For afterwards - baby lying skin to skin with you helps regulate their temperature, which might be why they want to do that if it's hot.

Been there done that. Bring wet wipes for you, water spray, bottles of water.

Good shout of pp, freeze bottles of water to grab

Gave birth during a heatwave. Took lots of water spray into hospital and flannels to wet and place on me.

The postnatal ward was challenging. It was hotter than hell, we kept getting told off for not having baby wrapped up with a hat on and every time we tried to put the fan on (attached to the bloody wall on the ward) it got turned off by a tutting midwife because 'the babies will get cold!'

Take plenty of drinks and a refillable bottle. I couldn't move after my crash section and there was never anyone to fill my water jug. The thirst was unbearable - especially when also trying to breastfeed!

Don’t forget to pack deodorant in your hospital bag like I did. My goodness the smell! 😳
Otherwise it was fine really. Had a fan on during labour which they insisted on switching off after delivery as ‘the baby mustn’t get cold’. No one could have got cold in that weather!! He slept in just a nappy and vest once we got home.

Don't take slippers for the ward. Take flip flops or sliders. Your feet will be boiling.

Cooling neck towel from Amazon
Take your own fan
Magicool spray
Cool gel pillow

Take your own fan, flip flops and loose baggy clothing for the ward after. I sent my OH out to buy vest tops and baggy boxer shorts fir me because I hadn't packed fir a heat wave and he came back with size 10. I was broken by his stupidity but luckily got home later that day. I would also recommend a water sack to drink from and ask the midwives to fill it with ice - doubles up as a cold hot water bottle. Good luck!

I took a rotating desk fan, not just a small handheld one

It was very hot when I had my son. I didn't notice the heat tbh but I do remember being on my knees and sticking my head out the window behind my bed whilst pushing 😂

Just seen it's been upgraded to a red extreme heat warning in my area 39 degrees on my due date. My anxiety is going through the roof 😞

I was due to be induced last Saturday but they are 27 inductions behind. Told them I don't mind waiting until after the heatwave haha. I don't mind the labour but I wouldn't want the newborn to have to cope in 40 degree heat! I would be stressing and wouldn't be able to sleep. Got face spray in my bag and taking a pushchair fan with me if it's in the next two days haha

I'm hanging in there, as prepped as I can be for delivery but really hoping I can hold on for a couple more days.

I agree that I think it will likely be more stressful worrying about having a newborn cope with the heat. It's hard enough running after and trying to get enough fluids into my toddler!

Best of luck to all in a similar situation x

@MumJourney hope you can hang in a few more days! I am due this Friday so also been panicking about the heat!!