THE EXPERT – Jonesboro Right Now – Arkansas summers bring heat that can affect anyone.
In general, we talk about the importance of hydration and of avoiding heat stress, especially among vulnerable populations such as young children and older adults.
Heat, however, poses unique challenges to another group: pregnant moms. These women experience additional stressors from high temperatures and humidity because their bodies work harder to support themselves and their babies. They and the people caring for them should add a necessary layer of caution during the summer.
It starts with staying properly hydrated. Dehydration drives so many issues, from urinary tract infections to uncomfortable Braxton Hicks contractions that can feel like labor. Staying hydrated sounds simple enough, but many pregnant women don’t drink enough water, often because they feel full.
I advise my patients to carry a clear water bottle with volume markers. Seeing how much they drink or don’t drink gives an honest visual of daily fluid intake.
Unfortunately, many women have trouble drinking water by itself, especially during the first trimester when nausea often hits hardest. Adding small amounts of unflavored coconut water or fruit can help increase water intake, and the bubbles in carbonated water may also ease nausea.
High-electrolyte sports drinks may be an option in a pinch, but pregnant moms should watch the sodium content and limit themselves to about one a day.
Dehydration alone doesn’t usually send women into labor, but it will make them overheat faster and raise their risk of heat stroke. Heart rates can climb, blood pressures can drop, and they may feel faint. It can also reduce blood flow to the baby, and they’ll need significant fluid intake to restore normal levels.
The warning signs of overheating while pregnant are similar to the usual symptoms, but they can hit faster. Nausea and vision changes are the biggest two, but a unique one for pregnant moms is decreased fetal movement.
If the pregnancy is further along, a woman should closely monitor her baby’s activity level. If her symptoms don’t resolve with rest and fluids, we may need to observe mom and baby in the hospital.
Still, despite the extra caution, pregnant women should be active and enjoy the summer as much as they can. I encourage early activity from 6 to 9 a.m., avoiding the peak heat window between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. If a woman can’t move until later in the day, she should wait until at least 5 or 6 p.m. She doesn’t need a gym to stay active, either. Simple tasks around the house count as a workout.
Finally, I field many questions about summer trips and even boating this time of year. A calm, easy boat ride close to shore while wearing a life jacket and sunscreen is generally fine, but rough water or trips several hours from land carry real risk. Jumping waves can jar a woman hard enough to feel like a rear-end collision, potentially triggering contractions or bleeding.
She should avoid anything that puts real distance between her and quick medical care. The same logic applies to travel in general. If she hasn’t reached term, she should stay within one to two hours of a hospital with a NICU.
I advise carrying hard copies of prenatal records and recent labs, because facilities regularly face delays requesting information from one another. Quick access speeds up the care process.
With most normal pregnancies lasting 37 to 40 weeks, we expect some overlap with summer. Proper preparation, however, helps a woman not only endure warmer weather. She may even enjoy it.
To request an appointment with our expert Obstetrics and Gynecology team at St. Bernards, visit https://womens.stbernards.info.