tips for the heat please!

[Rosenwyn1985]

Hey,

So I'm 32+5 weeks pregnant and I normally love the heat, even if my pale skin and hair think otherwise. Not surprising I am finding today very very tough. I have a toddler who will be 3 in October so not like I can completely stop. Baby is in such a position that his little legs keep stretching into my lungs. Everyt time I try to move I get hot, bothered, out of breath and feel unwell. It doesn't help I have a cardiac issue (with pacemaker in situ) that gets worse in the third trimester. So, any tips for keeping your body less strained and cool?

[lagirafe]

Feet in washing up bowl of cold water here and plenty of ice water to drink too!
Luckily my house is cool inside so trying to just stay in!

[Hare5260]

31 weeks today and somehow have to try to sleep before work tonight. Unusually, I'm looking forward to getting there.... Air con.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

cunch I was begging DH to go out and buy an air conditioning unit at 4am this morning!

[YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet]

WorldsBiggestGrotbag I am at your icecube foot bowl.
SOMEONE DH forgot to put the icecube tray in the freezer this morning so I rather suspect I'll have to make do with cold-ish water. It's not the same.

fanjodisfunction I also have a bottom-dwelling freezer. I might just put a cushion down and sit in front of it.

Just checked the weather and it's going to be 25 degrees at MIDNIGHT.

[Zanzibaragain]

I did the 2003 summer and have a few tips

Run the bath with cold water last thing at night then when you get up for a wee( often with all those cold drinks) sit on side of bath with feet in water.

Cold wet flannels ALWAYS in the fridge in a big zip lock bag so you can grab them quickly.

flip flops - your feet will swell up like a Tom and Jerry cartoon.

Shorts, or even pj trousers ( tell everyone they are those floral ones everyone is wearing) as thigh chaff when 9 months is hell.

Just give up on getting anywhere fast, avoid the tube if at all possible.

By 9 months In August 2003 I even carried an umbrella with me, my own shade.

My heart goes out to all of you, it's hell

[PiercedMrsL]

After feeling like I was melting into a puddle (35+2), I've found the thing that's going to save my sanity!!

Do any of you order from MuscleFood? I got a delivery yesterday, and the chilled packs that they use to keep your food fresh are the perfect size to pop in the freezer for a few hours and use as a cold pack!! Currently got one under my feet and one on the back of my neck

Not in the least bit glam but I don't care at this point!

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Uurrrgghhh. I'm 21 weeks with a 1 and a 2 year old. The 1 year old can't walk (nothing wrong with her - just a lazy lump) and weight 2 stone.

I'm so, so hot I want to cry. I'm praying for rain tomorrow. Too worried about going out too much as its so hot - even with the paddling pool

DS is now watching a cartoon on an iPad which has never been allowed before but the sweat is lashing off him too so figuring it's better to let him lie down if he wants to

[SSmummy87]

It's sooooo hot! I'm getting massive and it's unbearable - my hubby says I am a moaner but he doesn't have a clue!! Looking for cooling down tips on here ladies :)

[cunchofbunts]

I started a thread about this last week and someone recommended the frozen strawberry lemonade from McDonald's. I concur that it's a great drink as it's like a Slush Puppy so keeps icy for ages.

[Scotinoz]

Another Aussie here, who spent the summer heavily pregnant. Supermarkets, shopping centres, museums and the cinema are good places to hang out!!

[OldBloodCallsToOldBlood]

I'm going to say this in capital letters because it's so good:

COOLING SPRAY.

You know you can get heat spray for injuries? You can get cooling spray as well, it should be next to the heat spray/creams.

Spray it on your pulse points and thank me later. You'll smell of menthol but it's worth it. DO NOT PUT IT ON YOUR FACE, it's too strong.

I got mine from Poundworld so it's not expensive either, although I did see some in Superdrug today for around £3.50. Poundworld also had a weaker version at the tills designed for facial use. I've stocked up.

[JassyRadlett]

Another Aussie here, who spent the summer heavily pregnant. Supermarkets, shopping centres, museums and the cinema are good places to hang out!!

I saw a lot of movies in the Australian summer. I remember Titanic was brilliant - it came out at Christmastime, and it was so wonderfully long.

[33goingon64]

I'm 37 weeks.

Keep curtains and blinds closed on the side of the house that the sun is currently on. Have other side windows and doors open. Then swap as the sun moves round.

We invested in mobile air con machine when DS was a baby and it's been totally invaluable for the few weeks of the year it's used. Make sure windows and doors are closed though otherwise it's wasted.

Avoid unnecessary clothing. I'm currently in pants and loose vest on my birthing ball hidden from view from the window.

[FeelTheNoise]

I've spent all day yearning to get into the sea or river. Had to close the windows at work because idiots were drilling things outside I came home and was going to put ice into a foot bath but stupid DP has put things in front of the chest freezer
I'm in a charming mood

[RandomMess]

I spent the heatwave of 2003 heavily pregnant and I don't do heat at the best of times.

I spent many hours with my feet in a bowl of iced water at every opportunity. I remember getting into cold baths and thinking they didn't feel cold

[AGnu]

You can freeze wheat bags, or make homemade ones from old pairs of tights & rice. I currently have several I'm using in rotation. I'm actually looking forward to going to bed tonight because that's when I'm allowing myself my next ice-bag!

[cdwales]

If only baby books pointed out that planning a pregnancy to avoid the third trimester coinciding with the hot summer months was really worth considering! Both for Mum and not putting the child at a disadvantage vis a vis the school year. Presumably the reason they never do is some sort of primal fear of distorting the random birth pattern? But a) there will always be a helluva random element for obvious reasons and b) why would it in fact be a problem if more birthdays fell in the spring/early summer than in the summer/early autumn? Mine are April and May so not I was not too big at Christmas and not too hot in 3rd Trim and then lovely summer for baby in pram etc. Oh and air Con in the car essential when they are little... My mother was a HV so I did get some handy second-hand advice! And I hate the heat anyway tbh.

[contractor6]

Ice cubes under tongue and on the inside of wrists. Apparently these are points were blood is close to surface, so theory is it cools core down. Working for me am 28weeks and coping better than non pregnant people.

[pinkie87]

I'm 31+6 and I froze a 2 litre bottle of water and then took it to bed with me (wrapped in a pillowcase). It helped a little! Also agree with the feet in a bowl of cold water.

[sootballs]

Mum of two summer babies, with both the last few weeks were at the hottest times of the year (34 degrees when 16 days overdue anyone?)

• open your loft hatch, cools the house down a degree or two
  
• keep windows covered but open as much as possible, dampen sheets and hang over the windows - and if you have dark curtains try to replace with white sheets as white reflects, black absorbs heat
  
• drink a LOT - also remember to eat salty items occasionally
  
• try to stay indoors between 12 - 2 as its the hottest then.
  
• use a deep bucket of cold water to put your feet in, the deeper the water the more it will ease swelling
  
• don't try to do too much - TV is fine for now
  
• get to bed when you can in an evening, heat is tiring
  
• freeze fruit such as bananas (the potassium will help with leg cramps) and grapes
  
• if you have a patio area outside - esp if you have french doors then hose it down, the water will evaporate and add some moisture
  
• run cold water on the inside of wrists/necks
  

Find a nice swimming pool like our old one which used to let the mums in the AN class wallow as long as they liked for no additional fee

And it goes without saying (learnt the v hard way) that any reduction in movements or major swelling of ankles then report to the MW, just because its summer doesn't mean you should accept these things as 'typical'

and buckets of sympathy served with ice

[ribbitTheFrog]

I like going swimming, the water cools you down and you feel weightless. Also spending a lot of time in Sainsbury to take advantage of their air con also perusing the ice cream aisle

[MissTwister]

A wet flannel frozen in the freezer helped me last night. I still melted in bed though and barely slept....

[dodgypinz]

Before you go to bed spend about 30 mins in cool bath to reduce your core temp. Only dry any areas which might chaff. Let the rest of your body stay damp. Wet hair cools your head which is where you lose a lot of heat naturally. Get dp to wrap frozen cold pack in a couple of tea towels and place in middle of your back against comfie pillows. Wear loose thin cotton t shirt/ nightie. Have fan blowing across legs and feet. If still hot after 30 mins damp towel place it on hottest area and let the fan blow across it. Keep drinking iced drinks even though it will mean getting up to pee more. When you are up dunk yourself in the bath of cool water left from earlier. Think cool thoughts.