Any tips for the heat?

[ElmtreeMama]

I'm only 16+5 but have low blood pressure and am struggling with the heat (feeling hot, dizzy, uncomfortable)
I know it must be so much worse for people who are further along than me, so just wondering what you all do to keep cool?

I used to sit with my feet in cool water, just an ordinary washing up bowl type thing with cool water from the tap.
Also flannels or small towels soaked in cool water draped over my shoulders & neck.
Good luck, it's miserable being pregnant in this heat. It's also miserable breastfeeding in the heat too!!

I am 20 weeks, this weekend if I was unable to be in the shade, I just made sure I had long sleeves on (white linen shirt) and trousers (v thin cotton jumpsuit), a hat, and always lots of water with me. I am so pale and have a very freckly complexion and I find the less sun on my actual skin, the better!

Thanks @choosername1234

Cold flannel is underway now!

I’m 31 weeks and was struggling big time this weekend, same symptoms as you! Not ideal in Asda 🥴

DH bought me one of those plastic underbed storage tubs to fill with cool water for my feet. Also been eating copious amounts of ice lollies 😂 got a small portable fan too. Hope some of those help!

This heat is not enjoyable at 33 weeks I must admit! We slept with a fan on last night and I'm basically trying to avoid moving as much as poss on very hot days, which is unavoidable when there's so much to sort ready for baby! Just hoping it doesn't get any hotter eeek!

I feel your pain! Currently 28 weeks with #3 and living in the Middle East - it was 43 degrees this morning walking across an outside car park (with a mask on) to get to a doctor's appointment!

I love the Evian face spray mist - always keep a bottle in my bag. Also always carry water, have a freezer full of ice pops and wear as little as possible (big fan of hareem jumpsuits!)

I do appreciate though that whilst it's much hotter here, we do have AC everywhere inside, so sleeping at night etc is not an issue!

Some very helpful tips thank you :)

I'm pleased it should get cooler as I enter third trimester!
Those of you in third trimester now really have my sympathies!!

Not sure where you live OP but my husband came home yesterday afternoon with a little desk top air cooling unit from B&M - it's £20 and is just a fan with frozen ice pack and frozen filter (you put in the freezer over night and spot into the machine in the morning) and it'd been amazing.. I wasn't expecting much from ig I must admit but it'd made a massive difference to me today.. it just plugs into the mains.

I've also got lots of ice pops in the freezer :)

I'm also very early on (14.3 weeks) and nievely thought I wouldnt have an issue this early on.... how wrong I was.

Ice pops....my midwife recommended the ones from costco so my freezer is full of them. Cold flannel to rub over feet and melon to eat keeps you dehydrated. Bottle of ice on front of a fan is like sir con.

Currently 34 weeks and was also heavily pregnant during the heatwave of 2018 so got my tricks perfected.

@Taenia
@popcorndiva
@PrimeraVez
@MrsB2019x

Ice pops are a must!

Thanks everyone

These actually work:
Put them under cold water, rinse it out, ‘snap it’ and put it around your neck, over your head, whatever.
I used them in labour, and we take on holiday.

Icy drinks and ice lollies!

I'm 36 weeks. Mostly fine during the day, just don't spend too much time outside or being active. I feel warm at night and use a Dyson fan.

Find a Mac Donald's - they have the best air con! (I was pregnant with twins during last year's heatwave 😥.!!)

This will sound a bit mad but I have bought a XL cooling pet mat from b&m and it is really good. I put it on my bed and put the sheet over it and it really is cooling. Only other things I can think of are fans, cold drinks and minimal exertion!!

@popcorndiva - snap! You would think we would learn! 2018 was unbearable! Even worse for the first couple of weeks after I had given birth I think!

Slow down, do not be rushing anywhere, walk at a slower pace
Wear loose clothing
Take tepid rather than cold showers (so your body doesn’t over compensate for being suddenly cold)
Drink loads of water
Fruit and veg with high water content cold from the fridge eg melon, cucumber is v refreshing (as are ice pops )
Carry a fan (a small paper foldy one is fine) and a cloth/hanky/muslin to mop yourself

I’m a veteran of being heavily pregnant in summer heatwaves not once but twice, and have lived in hot countries and still bloody hate the heat. Am currently 24 weeks and looking forward to a long hot summer… I don’t think! Also have low blood pressure and have learned the hard way how important it is to stay hydrated!

Have you bought any muslins yet? One of those wet but wrung out and spread out over you is heaven. They dry so quickly as well which is awesome. It's obviously the same idea as the towels but more lightweight and less drippy.

I’m 15 weeks so also wasn’t expecting to be so floored by the heat. I’m a cold person naturally, I’ve taken a cardigan with me both times I went to Cuba because I knew I’d get cold in the evening. Now I just have to stand outside and I start to melt. I’ve got a permanent red, sweaty face. I feel so unlike myself. I’m not sure how I would have coped further along!

We have a cool mat for the dog, bought for dog1. Dog1 isn’t that bothered by the cool mat, she’s not too affected by the heat. So that means me, DH and dog2 are currently fighting over a medium sized cool mat as dog1 is only 15kg. Dog2 is trying to cuddle me or DH when we’re on the cool mat, which obviously has the opposite effect I’m also eating lots and lots of ice cream.

I have multiple site visits on Wednesday, most of the afternoon, when it’s forecast to be really hot. Then all day on Friday. I’m not sure how I’m going to get through the day without passing out.

@Italiandreams this time feels worse as I can't hide indoors as my DS wants to be playing in the garden.