Are you pregnant, it's hot, hot and starting to think about a trip beyond the Arctic Circle? Are you suffering from vaginal mycosis, leg swelling, are you afraid of discoloration, and your makeup is running off? Our experts advise you on how to deal with the heat when you're pregnant.
The heat of pregnancyis not only flowing makeup, hair stuck with sweat, a T-shirt sticking to the body. It is also aggravating swelling and fatigue.The heatteases anyone who cannot afford to lie on a deckchair with their legs up all summer. Even if you have to work while pregnant, rest as often as possible, as it is the best remedy for most summer ailments. You can also relieve yourself in other ways. As? It depends on how hot the temperature is. Breaks from work - preferably every hour - are worth taking always, even if you are not too hot. This will help you avoid the fatigue and swelling that are most often complained about by pregnant women in the summer. What else is worth remembering?
In summer, try an easily digestible diet, drink as much as possible
Magdalena Makarewicz-Wujec, dietitian, Medical University of Warsaw
At this time of the year, the expectant mother should take special care to provide the body with the right amount of fluid, especially if it is very warm outside. It is recommended to drink about three liters of water and other drinks during the day. because when we sweat intensely, we lose a lot of sodium, which weakens the body and in extreme cases causes fainting. It is worth remembering that the best way to hydrate yourself is by drinking often small amounts of fluids at a moderate temperature. What to drink and what drinks should you avoid? Still mineral water is the he althiest for a mother-to-be. It is always worth carrying its bottle with you and sipping it in small sips. Fruit and vegetable juices are also valuable, especially those prepared at home from fresh products. This is a good way not only to quench your thirst - by drinking vegetable and fruit juices, you can provide your body with a lot of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. I strongly advise against drinks containing caffeine - they have a diuretic effect and dehydrate the body. On hot days, it is better not to overload the gastrointestinal tract. Instead of fatty dishes fried in summer, you should eat foods that are easy to digest:cold soups, lean meat, grilled fish. It is also worth taking advantage of the fact that at this time of the year there is a large selection of vegetables and fruits. Note: Always wash apples, strawberries or other summer delicacies carefully before eating - this way you will most effectively prevent food poisoning, which often happens at this time of the year.
Is it possible to sunbathe when pregnant?
ProblemWhen you feel that you are about to pass out
If you suddenly feel faint on the street, sit in the shade and lower your head as low as you can. When the blood oxygenates the brain, you will feel better.
During pregnancy, protect yourself from infections, treat yourself wisely
Witold Rogiewicz, obstetrician gynecologist
During the summer, pregnant women eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Such a diet is fine as long as it is not just fruit and vegetables. You should also remember to provide your body with a good amount of protein every day. Because when it is missing, swelling of the legs begins to appear. Therefore, lean meat, milk and its products must be included in the diet. It is also important how much the expectant mother drinks. Three liters of water is recommended, and that's enough. More fluids, rather than preventing swelling, will make them a constant problem. Many women ask if it is possible to get vaccinated before summer trips. Well, you can ( although not all vaccines are allowed), but I personally advise against them, unless there is a definite necessity. When a woman is expecting a baby, her immunity drops because the immune system is interested in a foreign protein that has found its way into the uterus. Therefore, it is difficult to predict how the body will react to the vaccine. In summer, women may also be more likely to suffer from fungal infections. It is influenced not only by reduced immunity, but also by frequent swimming in the pool. Water flushes the normal bacterial flora out of the vagina, hence these problems. I advise my patients to put a tampon when entering the water. Another method is to use antibacterial vaginal globules after leaving the pool or lake, prescribed by a doctor on a prescription. The issue of food poisoning is also important. Theoretically, they are treated the same whether the woman is pregnant or not. It is worth knowing, however, that future mothers who take some medications, e.g. to sustain a pregnancy, should not eat coal, which is often used in diarrhea. Charcoal absorbs not only the bacteria that caused this poisoning, but also drug molecules, making their absorption difficult. In summer, women may also catch a cold more. Infections must be treated wisely, especially since most antibiotics are allowed during pregnancy. Instead of ingesting vitamin C or drugshomeopathic remedies, it is better to go to the doctor for an appropriate prescription. Because neglected infections can turn into much more difficult to treat pneumonia.
Wear light and airy in summer
Anna Durka, midwife, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Warsaw
The biggest summer problem of pregnant women is leg swelling. There are several ways to try to avoid them. It is worth to rest with your legs up as often as possible, wear light and comfortable shoes, and lubricate your feet and calves with cooling gel. A good way to reduce swelling is to drink 2.5-3 liters of fluid a day. The swellings should disappear overnight. If this is not the case or other parts of the body (e.g. face) are also swollen, see a doctor as soon as possible. Expectant mothers should look for shade in the summer. A longer stay in full sun can cause fainting and cause uterine contractions. My advice is to go outside as little as possible between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and if that is impossible, walk along the shaded side of the street. You can also cool yourself with a battery fan or thermal water spray. Air conditioning itself is not contraindicated, but I would advise you to use it carefully. Future mothers often have swollen nasal mucosa - air conditioning additionally dries them, so breathing problems may appear. There is a lot to gain by dressing properly. There should be a hat or a handkerchief on the head to protect against stroke. Clothes must be airy, preferably made of linen or cotton. They are cooler in them because they let the air through and do not stick to the body. Dresses are better than pants - thanks to them it is easier to avoid an intimate infection, e.g. vaginal mycosis. Pregnant women are more exposed to it because excess hormones change the pH of the vagina, and fungi thrive in a warm, humid environment. It is also worth taking a summer shower as often as possible, in water at body temperature. Ladies who have a garden or a large balcony can arrange an inflatable pool in it. You can also swim in the sea or a clean lake - but only where the beach is guarded.
Pregnant summer makeup
Ewa Iwanicka, beautician, Celebrity Beauty & Spa in Warsaw
My future mothers who have no problems with their skin should remember to moisturize it carefully. The basis is, of course, the right creams, and the complement - masks that should be applied once a week. It is important that they do not contain essential oils, as aromatherapy is not recommended during pregnancy. You also need to do an enzyme peeling once or twice a week to dissolve dead skin cells. In summer, it is worth stocking upalso in good quality make-up cosmetics that will not run off the skin under the influence of sweat. I advise you not to paint yourself heavily, instead of a foundation, you can use a toning cream, which will give a better effect in hot weather. If your makeup gets stale during the day, you can refresh it with thermal water. Just spray it on your face from a distance of 30 cm or spray the mist in the air and enter it so that it gently settles on the skin. Another thing is sun protection. One of the daytime cosmetics - cream or foundation - must contain sunscreen. For a walk in the park, it can be a foundation, but if the expectant mother plans to lie on a deckchair somewhere above the water (of course in the shade), it is better to protect her skin with sunscreen with a high protective factor. It is also a good idea to use beauty salon treatments in summer. It is worth choosing, first of all, treatments aimed at future mothers, because only then is there a 100% guarantee that they will be safe for a pregnant woman. I recommend both face and body treatments. Among the latter, massages that reduce the tendency to edema are especially beneficial in summer. It is also worth going for a few spray tanning sessions - this is a solution for those expectant mothers who would like to darken their skin tone and cannot sunbathe due to pregnancy.
Pregnant hair care in summer
Piotr Domosławski, stylist Gosh, Domosławski Friseur salon
It is a pity that none of the hairdressing companies introduced cosmetics for pregnant women. Due to hormonal changes, they usually have hair problems - so specific that it is difficult to remedy them with products available on the market. But I will give you some tips that will help expectant mothers to feel attractive. The scalp of pregnant women is usually dry, so the basis of care should be moisturizing - a good moisturizing shampoo, and after washing, a conditioner and a deeply moisturizing mask. If your hair is very dry, I recommend salon treatments. I offer my clients a moisturizing and nourishing treatment in an ampoule or a moisturizing treatment called a sauna. Future mothers must also remember to protect their hair from the sun, which additionally dries it. Sprays with UV filters for spraying hair are the most effective. It is worth putting on a hat or fancifully tying a handkerchief. How often do I wash my hair? Not necessarily every day, because the bigger the tummy, the more difficult it is to wash your head. So if your hair is not greasy, you can do it every few days. It is also worth thinking about the right hairstyle. Pinups, hooks, as well as ponytails, buns and braids will do the job.
You must do itYou must see a doctor if:
- you have a pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher
- there are black spots flying in front of your eyes
- you have breathing problems
- you felt faint, you passed out
- you have severe headaches that you haven't had before
- not only the hands and feet swell
- the swelling does not go away after rest
When pregnant, protect your skin from the sun
Dr. Carmen Vincent, Pharmaceris expert, Dr. Irena Eris Science and Research Center
Pregnant women should stay outdoors as much as possible, but at the same time avoid sunlight. Sunbathing is contraindicated in any stage of pregnancy. The sun not only causes unsightly discoloration, intense heating of the body may have a negative effect on the well-being of a woman and even have an adverse effect on the course of pregnancy. Therefore, in the garden, on the beach or at the swimming pool, future mothers should sit in the shade under an umbrella, in light, airy clothes. Of course, even then, sunscreen should be used on all parts of the body. The degree of UV protection should be as high as possible, which means that you should use creams with an SPF 50+ filter. During this period of life, a woman's skin is also more sensitive. Therefore, it is advisable to use a photoprotective emulsion intended for sensitive and allergic skin. Such products mostly contain mineral filters that do not absorb UV radiation, but reflect it like mirrors. They are safe for both the mother and the fetus.
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