Is it dangerous to be in a hot car?

[Whysoserious]

I know about hot tubs and hot baths etc, but is it as dangerous to be in a hot car? I drove the 40 mins back from work in my car and my word it was hot (as I'm sure the rest of you have also experienced today!)

Had windows down but was wearing thick black maternity tights (too scared to get the legs out just yet), a skirt and then high wasted maternity knickers and my top tucked into my skirt so a lot of layers around my tummy (could have insulated I suppose...)

Part way home I was able to shed the tights bit I was still so hot.

Is this dangerous or not actually that bad because your tummy is not sitting in hot water constantly?

I wondered the same earlier. Felt quite panicky at some slow changing traffic lights.

How did you manage to get the tights off in the car? I'm impressed!

I ran into the house and tore off my leggings and put on a nice cool dress, hairy legs and all !

I was sitting in traffic and just managed to whip them off. Hopefully no one saw although to be honest I couldn't have cared less at the time and was also considering taking my skirt off too haha!! God knows why I was wearing tights I need to just bite the bullet and get the milky whites out!

I was worrying about this on a very hot train yesterday and took my work top off . The travelling public had to put up with the tiny non-maternity vest top I had underneath, which revealed parts of the mother of all unglamorous maternity bras.

Impressed you got those tights off!

But as many people are pregnant in hotter climates I don't think it is a serious problem.

Haha wildwaterfalls there clearly is no stopping a pregnant lady from stripping off in public when she gets a bit hot.

You're absolutely right about people in hotter climates, I'm being a typical Brit! Although to be fair cars do get like ovens don't they, can't be good

I think you should be ok. I was pregnant in the summer of 2003 when the temperature hit 37 degrees. I used to loiter in the freezer section of our local Sainsburys and would have quite happily taken up residence there!

If it is any comfort then it is much more comfortable being pregnant in this weather than it is to have just given birth!

Am 32 weeks pg in Las Vegas, it is BLOODY HOT, here right now. Am stuck in the house today as the aircon in my car died yesterday and it is being fixed. it is 110f out there right now, in the car - it being like an oven it gets hotter than that, I almost passed out in the car when the aircon went and still had a 30 min journey to do. It was horrible.

However the hot tub business is different. Being in a hot tub the water conducts the heat into the core of your body much quicker and more easily and heats the amniotic fluid and consequently the baby.

Existing in a hot environment when pg you need to be careful, but you are more likely to get heat exhaustion than anything else. I just keep in the shade, when out, avoid the top of the day outside, and do outdoor stuff early in the morning and later in the evening when it is cooler.

Whysoserious at pregnant ladies stripping off! Today my feet appear to have expanded in the heat and my shoes don't fit... Wonder if I can go home barefoot!

I think the issue with hot tubs etc is that the heat is constant - the temp of the water is maintained and that is what makes it risky. I would have thought you should be ok in the car as long as you weren't in there for an extended period and you were well enough hydrated. I think you have to worry if you stop sweating as that means your body can't cool down.

Women in Saudi Arabia get pregnant in the 40 odd degree heat wearing all that black garb. I think a ride in your car in England in the summer is safe. Especially with the windows down. You have definitely not boiled your baby.

I drove from Surrey to Oxford in just my pants the other day :o (well obviously a top as well!)
It was SO hot and I find driving difficult enough at the moment, if I'm wearing tight clothes even more so - I just couldn't take it anymore, so I pulled over and took my jeans off! Thank God I didn't get pulled over :o

It's 45 degrees where I live and the locals are squeezing out sprogs left, right and centre. So I really wouldn't worry about it!

Well it might make you faint if you get too hot so please wear looser front clothes and carry water. I nearly passed out when 39 weeks pregnant as I got too hot in a shop. Completely took me by surprise!

It's England! How hot could it possibly be over there?

When you're on a crap train with no air con, or on the London underground, believe me, it gets hot. I stopped travelling by tube when I was 6 months pregnant in a heat wave as it was unbearable.

It is obviously not good for you to be too hot for too long as you may dehydrate or even pass out. In terms of baby they are quite well insulated in there and their temp will be regulated so even if you're too hot they shouldn't overheat. They're also surrounded by fluid which takes a huge temp raise to heat up. Obviously avoid anything which directly heats the bump so I wouldn't have bump directly in hot sun.
Make sure you're well hydrated and def consider changing before you get into car if you know it's going to be hot - no one will see your legs in the car!