Overheating

[harryhound]

Hi

I'm hoping somebody might be able to reassure me about the dangers of overheating. I have been really worried since I went to see a fringe theatre production on saturday night in a small airless room which was like a sauna. Unfortunately I can remember little about the play - just how hot it was!!
We were in there for about an hour and a half, and although I was uncomfortably hot I was well hydrated. I was 14+3 on Saturday, and although I know that overheating is very serious in the first trimester until the neural tube is closed, I have read conflicting views in the second trimester.
Does anybody know if I should be worried, and mention this to my midwife?
Thank you!

Hi harry,

I wouldn't worry too much about this, although you could always mention it to your midwife to put your mind at rest. I think that serious over-heating would involve a proper sweating, raised heartrate etc. Although you felt hot, your body is good at regulating its core temperature (esp after the first trimester) and it wasn't for a very long time - plus it was a one-off. These sorts of things can play on your mind but I would try not to worry about it - plenty of pg women from cooler climates go on holiday to v hot places and do fine! Pity you didn't get to enjoy the play though

It would have to be pretty damn hot to be an issue. I'd try to avoid anything that is actually like a sauna, but even non-pregnant you can't sit in a sauna safely for 90 minutes.

But as the PP said, check the MW if its worrying you.

A friend from Finland tells me that pregnant women are allowed to use saunas there so I wouldn't worry too much.

Thanks so much for your responses. I had been slightly obsessively googling overheating and pregnancy and it really worried me, so this is reassuring.

xx

www.storknet.com/experts/fitness/exls28.htm

I also found this article which is very helpful for anyone interested in the same issue.