Summertime Hacks Cooler Pregnancy

The summertime is a welcome time for most people. For pregnant women, however, it is a time filled with overheating, chafing, swelling, and more. While it is nice to enjoy more temperate weather and not be bundled under layers of clothing, once the heat of the day kicks in, pregnant women become uncomfortable. And because of this, having some summertime pregnancy hacks for a cooler pregnancy is much appreciated.

Depending upon how pregnant women are during the summer, they may choose to spend more time indoors than out. This is no fun considering that friends and family are spending their time in the great outdoors. As such, to be able to do the same, those expecting need to come up with ideas to keep themselves cool so that they and their unborn babies stay safe with the sun high in the sky.

RELATED: 8 Pregnancy Hacks I Wish I Knew In The Beginning

Here are summertime hacks for a cooler pregnancy.

10 Run Cold Water Over Wrists

One of the most accessible pulse points in the body is in the wrists. When pregnant women are hot, cooling down these pulse points works like a charm for cooling down the rest of the body as well.

According to LifeHacker, pulse points are blood vessels that are close to the top of the skin. By putting the ones in the wrist under cold water, it cools down the blood running through the area. The cooler blood pumps through the body and acts to bring the overall temperature down as a result.

9 Infuse Water With Fruits Or Vegetables

By infusing drinking water with fruits or vegetables, there are electrolytes added to the water. And when this happens, pregnant women are better able to hydrate themselves when the weather gets hot. Something that is important during the heat of the day.

According to The Workout Digest, the major electrolytes that are added to the water when infused with fruits and vegetables include potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium. When the body’s electrolytes are leveled out, the body works more efficiently. Not to mention that the great taste makes pregnant women want to drink more water as a result.

8 Use A Misting Fan

A way to cool the body down in a hurry is to use a misting fan.

Be it the handheld or industrial versions, either will work to help keep expecting women cool. Something that will be much appreciated the further into summer the pregnancy goes.

7 Soak Feet In Epsom Salt

As soon as the temperature rises, pregnant women’s feet begin to swell. But there is a quick pregnancy hack to bring down the swelling, and it is Epsom salt!

According to Healthline, Epsom salt reduces swelling and inflammation. This is done by pulling toxins out of the body and releasing relaxin, per publication.

While it may seem counterintuitive during the summer but the Epsom salt soak works best with warm water. And after a good soak, women will be amazed. Their feet will be back to normal without any traces of swelling.

6 Put Frozen Vegetables On The Neck

Another place to cool down a pulse point is in the neck. As such, by simply placing a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and placing it on the back of the neck, the body will cool down in no time flat.

5 Freeze Snacks

Nothing cools the body down faster than eating cold foods. But with treats like ice cream and popsicles adding sugar to the diet, they are not the best options all the time. As such, freeze fruits and enjoy a sweet treat on a hot day.

According to Thrive Cuisinethe best fruits to eat frozen include:

• Bananas

• Peaches

• Grapes

• Mangos

• Kiwi

• Blueberries

• Raspberries

By snacking on these during hot days, not only will mothers-to-be stay cool, but they will be getting in their daily allowance of fruits, which is healthy for the body as well.

4 Break Out The Baby Powder

When the hot weather strikes, pregnant women break out the shorts and skirts. And unfortunately, for some women, this means chaffing.

In order to keep chaffing under control, a bit of baby powder in the affected areas will help to keep it at bay. It may need to be applied several times per day depending on how hot it is, but by staying on top of the powder, pregnant women will not become more uncomfortable during the summer than they already are.

3 Keep The House Dark During The Day

It may not be all that inviting but drawing the curtains during the heat of the day and making the house dark will bring down the temperature drastically. And by doing this, pregnant women will have a place to go to stay cool when the sun is high and maybe even take a nap as well.

2 Have An Afternoon Date

When the weather is hot outside, pregnant women can grant their partners and head to the movie theater for an afternoon date. Not only is it a great time to spend together before the baby is born but with the air conditioning that is pumped into the theaters, it is a nice and cool place for pregnant women to relax.

1 Change The Sheets

If using sheets made of synthetic fibers, there is not much air that can pass through them. As such, pregnant women will find themselves waking up in the middle of the night sweating and uncomfortable during the summer.

According to The Strategist, fabrics like cotton and linen are the best choices to keep people cool while they sleep. As such, if expecting women find themselves waking up hot consistently during the summer, a change of flat and fitted sheets may be in order.

Source: LifeHacker, The Workout Digest, Healthline, Thrive Cuisine, The Strategist