Pregnancy and Staying Cool

Posted by Brenda Lane Aug 5, 2008

August in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. where I live can be gastly. It is not uncommon to see temperatures in the upper 90's to lower 100's. With fuel prices as they are, many people this year will be trying to conserve more. However being pregnant also can add as much as 1 degree to a mother's basal body temperature! So how can you stay cool and beat the heat of the summer?

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Install ceiling fans in every room. Circulating the cooler air will help keep the temperature down.

2. Keep yourself hydrated. And be sure to bring bottled water or other non-carbonated beverages with you to keep cool.

3. If you are out driving, find shady areas to park if possible.

4. Try keeping your air conditioning set at a higher temperature and leave it there. In some cases you may be able to remain cool enough with ceiling fans even at a higher a/c termperature of 75-78 degrees.

5. If the temperature is over 100, you may be better off staying indoors altogether.

Do you have other ways to stay cool during pregnancy? Let us know on the forum.

Brenda