Worried about having a newborn in this heat!

[Bethandfreddie]

Hi! So I'm being induced tomorrow and I'm really stressed about what it is going to be like when baby is here because I live in a second floor flat.

It feels like a sauna in here. I have a fan on all day and night, I close the curtains and windows in the daytime and open windows once it's cooler, but it's still boiling.

How can I keep LO cooler? How should she sleep?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated & tyia :)

If you can afford it get a portable air con unit. They aren't actually very portable as they weigh a tonne, but it was a game changer for us with babies.

Can you get a portable AC ...they are a game changer

DD was born in a heatwave. Mostly left her in a nappy on the crib by an open window. Got no wear out of our newborn stuff. Also in a flat so no garden.

First was born in a heatwave. Just used fans, kept in nappies or a light vest. It's hot and sweaty but this weather doesn't usually last long! Make sure you're drinking plenty if breastfeeding.

I just tried to remember that there are countries that have hot heat and no air con and it's just that we're not used to it here that it seems so frightening. If it's really hot then baby will just be in a nappy and no clothes or sheets. Just google 'what does baby wear at _ degrees' and there will be charts that show you what they need at different temperatures. Also make sure the fan doesn't go on her as babies/young children shouldn't have fans on them to cool them down overnight. You can always ask the midwives while you're in hospital if you're worried/need more advice.

Good luck with the induction!

Both my two had heatwaves shortly after being born. Essentially they just flopped on my lap lengthways down my thighs in just a nappy (and a muslin between me and them) and slept the whole time, just waking for feeds. I didn't appreciate the human hot water bottle but it was basically fine.

Just make sure to look after yourself as well - drink lots of water, especially if breastfeeding.

Keep the curtains shut to keep the sun out, and stick to the coolest room in the flat.

Mine was born in a heatwave and as PP said it will be fine - no heatwave in history has ever been as hot as a post partum ward!
Just a vest if it's very warm, but I believe the temperature is about to drop back anyway.
Best of luck for your induction x

My DM had me in a famously hot year.

She says it saved her a fortune in baby clothes as she just didn't bother. Nappy only, fan if you have one. Ice cubes under the fan.

I had both of mine in heatwaves somehow 5 years apart. They still keep the hospital boiling even in a heatwave so the babies don’t get cold. Mine wore little short sleeve rompers or just a vest, even just a nappy at the height of the heatwave.

You can place a muslin between you and baby when you are feeding to avoid peeling them off your sweaty skin when they have finished feeding.

Our house cooled down nicely at night and they had little cotton sleeping bags suitable from birth. You can get a room thermometer to reassure yourself. The fan can’t be pointing at the baby.

It sounds really backwards but shorn lamb sheepskin rugs are great for newborns to lie on (in just a nappy) if it's really hot. The wool allows air under them and helps regulate their temperature. Your baby will be fine 🙂 I have one June and one July babies and both had several 30°+ days in their first few weeks. Just be sensible and think that they just need one more layer than you're wearing!

The same way babies cope in countries like Spain, Middle East, African countries, they just cope

Had both of mine in heatwaves. It was absolutely fine. I recall they drank an awful lot of milk plus had a little cold boiled water in between BUT first check this with your midwife as my two were big babies. I am not sure this would be suggested for small or premmies as the water could be substitute for milk which can affect their weight gain etc..In terms of clothing, i dressed in little vests or just their nappies and they were both fine and still are!

You'll be fine. We hit 40°C last week. Shutters and curtains closed all day, baby slept in Nappy.