Worried about being overheated

[GerganaM]

I am 9 weeks pregnant and today was really hot 35C and I went out at 2pm to the park, I only walked under the shades, then I went shopping and was in and out some shops, I felt really hot. Then in home I was cooking jacket potatoes in the oven at 200C for nearly 2 hours, whole kitchen and apartment were really hot, adding the temperature outside. I felt really dizzy and had to lay on the bed with cold water compress on my head. I did drink the whole day bottles of water and I was in the toilet every 15 minutes. I am really worried now as when I googled it, I read the heat can really harm the baby, if body temperature raises and that it can cause harm to the baby, brain damage, miscarriage and other awful things. I had miscarriage last year as the embryo wasn't developing and now I am really cautious, worried and careful with everything. Any input will be highly appreciated.

I would try not to worry if I were you, it's really unlikely that you've done any damage. The body is good at cooling itself so I think the main risks come from if you prevent the body cooling itself e.g. by going in a sauna/hot tub or using an electric blanket.

If you get very hot in the future maybe take a cold shower to cool your whole body down?

For what it's worth loads of women live in hot countries (including me) and have healthy pregnancies.

I had a very hot bath (had a bad back and what I now know to be implantation pain) when I was about 4 weeks pregnant (but didn't know it yet). I also went on holiday to a hot country and felt overheated occasionally when I was 7/8 weeks pregnant... My 10 month old DS is absolutely fine.

As Kinsters said, women have babies in hot countries all the time and their babies are unharmed. Aside from the obvious (saunas/hot tubs/baths etc. that easily raise your core temperature) it's not worth worrying, because you'll remove yourself from the heat and take measures to cool down before it becomes a real issue (as you've discovered, the pregnant body is rather heat sensitive!).

Btw newest research has shown that saunas and jacuzzis and hot baths do not raise the body temperature when you’re pregnant, so they’re fine as well. It’s very difficult to artificially raise your body temperature to over 39 degrees, which is when the danger begins.

At 7 weeks pregnant I spent two weeks abroad in 35+ heat and baby is fine. I spoke to a midwife before to arrange my booking appointment and she never raised concerns of the temperature. All I keep getting told throughout the recent heatwaves and that holiday was drink plenty of water! It’s all about staying hydrated. Your body will sweat to regulate your temperature so you may need to drink more than normal. I always get told 2 litres by my midwife

I live in a country where its been pretty much 30-35 degrees for the last three months and I'm 32 weeks pregnant and have had no issues (despite not enjoying the heat when heavily pregnant!)

Your body temperature doesn't become raised just because the outside temperature goes up. If that happened, everyone living in hot climates would be feverish. Your body is really good at maintaining a normal temperature - you'll be fine.

Thank you very much to everyone for the comforting words and for sharing personal experiences. I really appreciate it. I feel better after reading all that. Once again thank you ladies.