Staying Comfortable While Pregnant on Hot Days in the Bay Area
As residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, we are lucky to have relatively temperate weather throughout each season. However, between May and October, we typically see a couple of heatwaves. Hot and sunny days can be a great treat if you get to spend the day relaxing at the beach in Santa Cruz or at a body of water, but normal day-to-day life during pregnancy can feel increasingly difficult on hot summer days. Today we are here to offer some expert tips for staying comfortable while pregnant on hot days in the Bay Area.
Hydrate
Hydration is essential for everyone, especially during a heatwave, but staying properly hydrated while pregnant is crucial. During heat waves, you will sweat more, so upping your water intake is important. Remembering to bring water with you everywhere you go will help to ensure you never get dehydrated!
Keep your wrists and feet cool
Keeping your feet and wrists cool is a great way to cool your entire body down. In moments where you begin to feel overheated, run cool water over both wrists. Coldwater foot soaks while resting in a comfortable chair can be a lifesaver! A cool shower can also help to bring your core body temperature down.
Wear thin & light-colored clothing
Wearing loose and thin clothing will help you to stay cool during a heatwave. Try to wear fabrics that are thin and breathable, such as cotton or linen. Also, if you are outside, light-colored clothing is suggested, as it doesn’t heat in the same way that darker-colored clothes will.
Rest if possible
If you can do so, use sweltering days as an excuse to take it easy. Rest if possible, and put your feet up. After all, you are working hard to grow your baby. If you can’t have a restful day, try and take a break every couple of hours to sit down and put your feet up for a couple of minutes.
Use a spray bottle to cool down
A spray bottle with cool water can help tremendously to cool down, especially if you are on the go! Misting your face, nape of your neck, wrists, and feet will help your body’s temperature to cool back down. Plus, a spray bottle can be easily ordered from Amazon and kept in your purse or bag.
Don’t forget a sun hat and sunscreen
During pregnancy, your skin becomes much more sensitive to sun exposure. If you are going outside in the sun, be sure to apply a higher SPF than you normally use and wear a sun hat. You may also try keeping your moisturizer and sunscreen in the fridge. It is recommended to avoid direct sun exposure during the hours of 10 a.m.–4 p.m. when possible, as this is when sun rays are the strongest.
Getting through the heat
The hot summer days can feel very long, especially while pregnant. We invite you to use hot days as an excuse to rest and relax as much as possible! We hope that the tips provided above will provide you with some relief from the heat.
Thank you for reading this weeks’ blog “Staying comfortable pregnant on hot days in the Bay Area.” For more helpful tips on all things pregnancy, birth, postpatum, and parenthood check out our weekly blog! We will see you all next week.
