Summer time is here and no matter how far along you are in your pregnancy, the heat can be miserable to live with. With the added weight and doubled up blood volume in your body, even a fair 60 degree day of weather can really take its toll on you and your expanding body. More importantly, the heat and sun can also be dangerous for a pregnant woman. During the summer time it is so important to take some extra precautions to be sure that you and baby are safe when the temperatures begin to sky rocket.

Just last summer I was moving into my 3^rd trimester with my second child. Needless to say, my belly was huge and being comfortable was never a possibility. When you are pregnant, it is very common to get swollen feet and when the weather gets into those higher temperatures, you really need to keep an eye on them. My feet and legs ended up getting so swollen; I could barely put my flip flops on. If you are experiencing that, it’s a definite sign that you need to sit or lay down, get your feet up and start drinking water (and cut down on your salt intake) to get the swelling down. Also be sure to check your hands and your face for swelling because that could be a sign of something more serious and you need to see your provider right away.

For the most part, I never burn in the sun. However, while you are pregnant your skin is much more sensitive. Always wear a high SPF sun block to protect your skin. As for me, I admit to forgetting the sunscreen a time or two and just hopped in the pool to cool down. Having a sun burn and being pregnant is not a good combination for anyone. Only having limited positions to sleep in as your belly grows, you don’t want to be stuck sleeping on a sunburn because you have no other choice. The shade is your best friend.

If you haven’t experienced Braxton Hicks, you will with the heat. When it is hot out, our pregnant bodies need to be drinking even more water than what we would in cooler conditions. Not getting enough water can get those practice contractions going. It’s your body’s way of telling you that it needs something, and it’s your job to make sure that your body gets it.