How to survive the heat for pregnant women?
Now in our region there is an abnormal heat wave. 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 sensations 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 the cottages 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 shadows, 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. Apply them 20 minutes before going outside. After bathing in a 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, you should 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 the doctor who is observing her. Water is useful to drink at room temperature, not ice. But it is better not to use coffee, tea and sweet soda at all. Such drinks do not quench your thirst, but only increase it.
Rule 6.Review your nutrition. The heat will be easier to bear if you temporarily remove (if 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 the capillaries and blood vessels. They are found in citrus fruits, carrots, black currants, apples, and rosehips. It is preferable to eat fractional meals in the heat - often in small portions. Also, do not eat too much before going to bed.
Chief Freelance Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology,
health departments of the Lipetsk region,
Knyazev Ruslan Alexandrovich
