Cooling tips for pregnancy & beyond
The summer months and upon us and like every year for the past few years, ‘hot weather warnings’ are starting to be issued. While it’s lovely to welcome the warmer weather, heat is not really a pregnant woman’s best friend, especially when you already have your own heating system on board!
So I’ve collated my favourite simple but effective tips to help you stay cool and comfortable in hot weather, whether you are pregnant, or not!
💧Stay hydrated - aim for a good 2 litres a day! A few mint leaves and cucumber slices make it an even more refreshing drink.
🍉 Eat cooling foods - watermelon that's been kept in the fridge is brilliant (and also full of water to keep your hydration levels up!). Ice-cream and lollies, or frozen grapes are other options, and great as an energy boost during labour too!
❄ Use little cool packs (the mini ones, for lunch bags), wrapped in thin tea towels or muslin cloths (you'll need them for when baby arrives anyway!) between your feet/ankles/calves or at the back of the neck - in the day or at night. If you find your baby struggles to breastfeed and ‘pulls away’ because they’re getting too hot, you can also place that wrapped little cool pack between yours and baby’s body while feeding.
🚿 Take a lukewarm shower, several times a day if it’s really hot. Lukewarm water will help you cool better than a full-on cold shower (cold showers make the body react by re-heating!)
👣 Have a cold foot bath. Add some ice-cubes, and/or a couple drops of peppermint essential oil if you like. Or make it into a spray for your legs and arms, to keep in the fridge and spray when needed.
🌵Aloe vera gel kept in the fridge also feels pretty good smeared on legs that might have swollen in the heat.
💤 Avoid exerting yourself. Hot days are the perfect 'excuse' to lounge about and really lean into your need to rest (although you never need an excuse to rest!)
🧘🏻♀️ Supported 'legs up the wall' is a beautifully restorative pose, and will help reduce any swelling or heaviness in the legs and feet. Check out my Instagram post to visualise how to set yourself up (especially if you’re pregnant and in your last trimester) if you're not sure.
😰 And of course, if you feel faint, dizzy or not quite right, never hesitate to call your midwife or GP.
I truly hope you find these tips helpful. If you have any others, please do get in touch to share and we can make this list grow together!