Surviving The Heat While Pregnant: 10 tips

First off, yesterday was National Ice Cream Day. I hope you knew that. I didn't until today and you can absolutely bet that our family will be celebrating a day late!

​It makes sense that this is a holiday in July.

It's stinkin' hot!!! Who doesn't want a big scoop on a hot summer day?! Especially if you're growing another human! If that's you, hang in there and get a double scoop. One for the baby and one for you right?!

Summer pregnancies It can make for a pretty miserable season depending on where you’re located. 
​
In Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale, Mount Vernon and Burlington, we tend to get a few weeks of fairly intense heat.
​

Here are some ways to beat the heat while pregnant.
​

1. This may be obvious but yet few actually do it. STAY HYDRATED. This is impossible to do if you’re not actively drinking. During pregnancy your body needs more water anyway. Add high temperatures to that and it’s a recipe for dehydration. Purchase some new fun water bottles and keep them full and everywhere. Stock each room in your house with one, keep one ready to go in your purse and in the stroller. Make drinking water or an electrolyte drink such as a sports drink, coconut water or juice mindless and it will be much easier to keep up with. ​
2. If you have access to a pool, take advantage of it! Not only will that help you cool down, but swimming has huge benefits in other ways during pregnancy. Swimming can ease back pain, offer a gentle form of exercise and give your body a break from the extra weight you are carrying. 
3. If you don’t have access to a large pool, try purchasing a kiddie pool like this one and place it outside in the shade. Even a small amount of water can offer huge relief. Grab one of those water bottles you have ready to go, a good book or a podcast and relax! 
4. Keep a mister close by. This could be as simple as filling a squirt bottle with water and spraying your body throughout the day. If you are able to get in front of a fan right after, bonus! You’ll be surprised how well this simple measure helps you cool down.
5. Grab some ice cream! As if we really need an excuse to eat this deliciousness, let me give you one! It fills the need for a sweet and cool treat! Try one of the local Edaleen Dairy stores located in Bellingham, Lynden, Blaine, Ferndale or Sumas. Their ice cream is worth it's weight in gold!
6. Limit outdoor exercise to the early mornings or evening hours. Exercise during the peak heat hours of the day will make it harder to recover from the heat. 
7. Get out of your house if you don’t have air conditioning. Even if your car doesn’t have A/C, driving with the windows down, feeling the breeze can offer relief. Then once you make it to the coffee shop, mall, grocery store or that pedicure you’ve been neglecting you can relax in their cool space. Just don’t forget the sunscreen! The last thing you need is a sunburn on top of the heat! 
8. Put a bowl of ice or ice pack in front of a large fan to mimic air conditioning in your home. This will send the warm air onto the ice and cool it, sending cool air into your home.  
9. Try placing a chilled washcloth on the back of your neck or forehead. You can prep these by dipping washcloths in water and laying them out in the fridge or freezer depending on how cold you’re wanting them to be. 
10. Open up your house during the late evening hours with fans blowing out and then turn the fans to blow in during the early morning hours. Keeping air circulating in the house will help tremendously! Turning on the vent fans in your bathroom and kitchen will also help pull the hot air out and the cool air in.

Good luck! If all else fails, those portable A/C units or window units can make a world of difference!