How to survive the heat for pregnant women?

Now an abnormal heat wave has been established in our region. This is a difficult test for many, especially for expectant mothers. In addition to heat and sunstroke, there is another serious danger — hypoxia (a decrease in oxygen in the air). It is fraught with weakening of strength, drowsiness. In pregnant women, these feelings can be especially strong.

Therefore, you need to protect yourself from the heat by all means. Ideally, it is better to do it outside the city, where it is easier to transfer it. If there is no opportunity to go to dachas and villages, expectant mothers (and not only them) should be especially careful. To survive the summer months with minimal discomfort, pregnant women should follow the following recommendations.

• Rule 1. Try not to leave the house during rush hours: from noon to 16-17 pm. At this time, it is especially easy to burn or overheat. Try not to leave the house at the specified time. But if there is no way to stay in the shade, avoid crowded public transport, if possible, travel by private transport or taxi, walk less.
• Rule 2. No sunburn without protection! Pregnant women can only sunbathe under an umbrella. In addition, high-quality protective products are needed: milk, lotions, creams. They should be applied 20 minutes before going outside. After bathing in the pool or pond, apply again.
• Rule 3. Wear sunglasses. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause damage to the eyes. A pregnant woman definitely needs sunglasses, the glasses of which block at least 50% of ultraviolet light (preferably 100%).
• Rule 4. Choose comfortable loose clothing in light colors. Give up things that put pressure on the stomach, restrict movement. Choose clothes made of natural fabrics (cotton, linen).
• Rule 5. Drink more water. In the heat, it is necessary to drink up to 2-2. 5 liters of clean water. If a pregnant woman suffers from edema, the amount of liquid consumed should be agreed with her doctor who is observing her. It is useful to drink water at room temperature, not ice. But it is better not to use coffee, tea and sweet soda at all. Such drinks do not quench thirst, but only increase it.
• Rule 6. Review the nutrition. The heat will be easier to tolerate if you temporarily remove (if you have not already removed on the recommendation of a doctor) all heavy and fatty foods, as well as salty, flour, sweet dishes. In summer, give preference to vegetables and fruits, kefir, cottage cheese, greens, lean fish and chicken. Eat more liquid dishes: okroshka, beetroot. Also, the expectant mother needs vitamins A, E and K, which strengthen capillaries and blood vessels. There are a lot of them in citrus fruits, carrots, black currants, apples, rosehip. It is preferable to have a fractional diet in the heat — there are often small portions. Also, do not eat too much before going to bed.

Head of the operating unit, obstetrician-gynecologist
GUZ "Lipetsk Regional Perinatal Center"
Knyazev Ruslan Alexandrovich.