Pregnancy is not a disease. However, in order to bear and give birth to a child, the body makes many changes. They are usually temporary and are designed only for the period of waiting for the baby.
In most cases, changes in the body are felt clearly in the first trimester, and later the condition becomes relatively normal. Many people have heard about the sensations of hot flashes in menopausal women. Therefore, when you feel feverish during pregnancy, they draw exactly this analogy, and it is not without common sense.
Causes of discomfort
So, why do you get hot during pregnancy? As during menopause, hot flashes during pregnancy are associated with hormonal changes in a woman’s body.
Not surprising, because the work of the ovaries, the main producers of female sex hormones, is switched off. But the difference from menopause is the temporary nature of such changes.
The production of estrogen and progesterone is rebuilt in a new way. Not only are more of them now needed, they are needed in different proportions for each period. Such “swings” also cause sensations of hot waves.
Another reason why you feel hot during pregnancy is changes in heat production processes. A woman may experience a physiological increase in body temperature up to 37.5 °C, and this phenomenon is not a pathology. Unlike a cold, there is no sore throat, body aches, runny nose, or general severity of the condition.
Features of the tides
Some people report a fairly high fever during pregnancy. early stages.
Moreover, it can throw itself “from the frying pan into the cold” - this is how the beginning of hormonal changes manifests itself.
The work of the sweat glands is being restructured - now they work more actively, which also contributes to the feeling of warmth.
The heat is on later also occurs, more often a week after the 30th and rarely when it persists after childbirth. However, there are such cases - they are explained by hormonal changes and changes during lactation.
But a year after the birth of the child, hot flashes no longer recur.
Some people report a feeling of heat in their legs. They are often explained concomitant pregnancy varicose veins veins On the shins you can find small spider veins and thin blue stripes of crowded surface wreaths.
This is explained by the fact that the uterus, enlarging, begins to put pressure on the pelvic vessels, squeezing them. The result is a violation of the outflow of venous blood, overflowing the lower extremities with it.
Heat during pregnancy in the abdomen is also physiological. It is explained by the phenomenon of blood flow to the uterus against the background of its gradual growth.
Treatment – is it necessary?
Fever during pregnancy does not require any treatment. But it is necessary to exclude all its possible pathological causes:
- inflammatory,
- infectious processes.
To do this, you should visit your doctor in antenatal clinic. As a rule, hot flashes as a symptom of inflammatory and infectious processes are accompanied by other pathological manifestations.
Having found two lines on the test and calculated the PDR, you found out that you will have to complete your pregnancy in the summer. “Well,” you think, “I’ll have to be patient: it’s hot, and I’m in late pregnancy, with a heavy belly, swelling and constant fear of harming the baby. And no pleasure from the sun and warm weather.” Is everything really so sad and complicated?
There are indeed many risks and dangers that a pregnant woman is exposed to in hot weather. But it is not at all necessary to tune in to severe restrictions and strict confinement indoors for the entire summer until the birth. Forewarned is forearmed! If you are not too lazy to take care of yourself in advance, you may not meet many of them at all.
The cold winter and cloudy autumn in our area can be so long that it would be strange to love them. But genetically we are predisposed to just such temperatures, but when the thermometer creeps over 30, the body experiences stress, the heartbeat quickens and blood pressure rises. Of course, physical stress in the form of an extra ten or more kilograms that expectant mothers carry with them is felt more strongly in the summer. The most common types of complications include increased uterine tone, exacerbation of varicose veins, the appearance age spots, swelling. To prevent extreme situations caused by heat, you should not force the body to work to the limit of its capabilities. Provide yourself with complete comfort and convenience and enjoy the summer!
Escaping the heat
Try to stay out of the sun from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This does not mean that you have to rise before dawn to bask a little in the summer rays or are obliged to enjoy only warm evening. Stay in the shade and at the slightest discomfort, look for a safe place where you can rest and catch your breath.
Ventilate the room more often. Inflow fresh air will help you constantly maintain a feeling of freshness and coolness. Even if you live in the city center and the degree of air pollution from the street calls into question the benefits of such ventilation. The atmosphere of a locked room is many times more harmful. Of course, if we are not talking about situations where smog hangs over your city from peatlands burning in the area.
The air conditioner should also be used wisely. Do not be in close proximity to it, keep the temperature within 10 degrees below that outside and generally not lower than 20 degrees Celsius. Best choice For the summer, you will still have a humidifier, especially since you will need it many times after the baby is born.
Feel free to shower as often as you like. It is unlikely that you will douse yourself with ice water, and if after visiting the bathroom you do not sit in a draft or under the already mentioned air conditioner, this procedure will be absolutely harmless for you! More simple way There is simply no way to restore temperature balance than swimming.
Thermal water and wet wipes will also fit. Rubbing with herbal decoctions: chamomile, linden, sage or mint will help mothers with sensitive skin.
Breathe deeply!
Lack of oxygen on latest dates– it’s a common thing. How to cope with this if pregnancy occurs in the sweltering summer months?
The supply of oxygen to the body, as is known, occurs not only through breathing. A tight bandage is sometimes just a severe necessity, but you can imagine how hard it is in the summer! Be more picky when choosing fabric. Cotton, cambric and linen allow the skin to breathe and do not cause irritation. Panties, bra, nightgowns and everything that you put on when going outside should be made from natural fabrics, have a minimum of hard seams that cut into the skin, and be loose in fit. Much of this can be bought at the pharmacy; others can be checked for comfort when trying them on. Colored and bright materials are not prohibited, but bright hues preferable. They are more reflective and will not cause overheating and heat stroke. Don't forget your hat!
Strong and rich aromas of perfumes and other cosmetics will create additional difficulties. Under favorable conditions, nothing bad will happen, but in a stuffy room this can cause dizziness with all that it entails.
Those who attend courses for pregnant women in the heat experience fewer breathing difficulties. Here are a few techniques that will help you in hot weather, and then come in handy during childbirth:
Dog breathing: Open your mouth slightly, press your tongue to the roof of your mouth and take several sharp and shallow breaths through your nose, exhaling through your mouth. Repeat the exercise, inhaling through your mouth. In this case, you should only work with the chest. For a more accurate reproduction, remember how a large dog breathes in the heat, placing its tongue on its lower jaw. In a few minutes you will be able to relax and again feel light and energized.
"Plump lips": inhale through your nose with a loud sniffle, and exhale through your mouth, while pouting your lips and making a “tu” sound. Repeat several times.
Calming Breathing: Take a deep breath through your nose. As you exhale, gently squeeze your throat muscles to make a sound similar to snoring. Inhale and exhale with your mouth closed. In the future, try to accompany the exhalation with snoring.
Food and water
What to eat and how much to drink? These questions are for expectant mother in the summer they become as complex as “what to do?” and “who is to blame?” I don’t feel like eating at all, and I don’t feel like drinking at all. However, it is necessary to do both, but according to strict rules.
— When switching to salads and fruits, do not forget about meat, cereals and dairy dishes. Lightness can be ensured by giving up offal products such as sausage and canned food, heavy flour and very sweet foods.
— Strawberries and tomatoes do not cease to be allergens in the summer, but their abundance on the shelves makes us “forget” about it for a while. But cherries, currants and gooseberries have been and remain storehouses of vitamins and excellent sources of liquid that not only quenches thirst, but is also useful.
— Salt retains water in the body. And there is already plenty of it in him now. The norm for expectant mothers is up to 5 g per day, including the amount that comes with fast food and all “packaged” goods from supermarkets.
The amount of fluid in a pregnant woman’s body is determined genetically. This is how he prepares for blood loss during childbirth. So don’t worry about swelling: insufficient volume is more dangerous in the future than excess volume. But it is possible and necessary to control the quality of drinking.
- Avoid carbonated drinks. From this point of view, even kvass is not welcome. Herbal and berry teas, compotes of fresh and dried fruits, juicy vegetables are quite acceptable and healthy.
- Be careful with diuretics. Watermelons and melons - in small quantities and towards the end of summer, so as not to get poisoned. Decoctions of lingonberries, strawberries and parsley help with swelling, but their use should be discussed in advance with the doctor leading the pregnancy.
- Pathological edema - those that indicate problems with the kidneys - you can observe in the morning. They also do not disappear after rest. The excretory system now works for two and may experience difficulties. Don't panic, it's worth doing necessary tests to find out the cause and eliminate it.
Small thing, but convenient
In the many years of experience of mothers who successfully carried and easily endured pregnancy in the heat, one can find a lot practical advice, using which you can guarantee yourself a truly hot and comfortable summer.
- Rest more often, especially during the hottest afternoon hours. When resting, place a bolster or pillow under your feet. Wake up like new!
- take off your tight sandals and hide platform sandals and heels on the mezzanine. Wear something that doesn't fall off your feet, but also doesn't interfere with blood circulation. Take off your shoes at the first opportunity - while sitting on a bench, in transport and in nature
- also put tight rings, rings and bracelets in the jewelry box. It's not just the legs that swell. Using soap to remove jewelry from your fingers every time is not the most pleasant experience.
- Do you want to swim in a clean pond or lake? Please! Just don’t forget to take a second swimsuit so you don’t dry a wet one on yourself, risking catching a cold
- Always carry a life-saving bottle of drinking water with you
— tired and swollen legs benefit from massage, cool baths (not lower than 20 degrees and no more than 10 minutes) and cooling gels
By the way, being born in hot weather is not bad at all for a baby. The difference between the temperature in the womb and the environment in such conditions is small, and this is one of the stress factors at birth. Enjoy a wonderful summer while waiting for a miracle!
Yulia Piliguzova
The birth of a new life determines the restructuring of the body to a new rhythm. All internal organs receive signals warning that they will have to operate with double the load. Any changes are a consequence of the fact that during the period of bearing the baby, his mother experiences different sensations, and she often gets a fever.
Why are pregnant women hot?
An increase in temperature in pregnant women or a hot flash is not a deviation, but the norm, caused by sharp fluctuations in hormone levels, so there is no need to panic and see a doctor if the mark on the thermometer exceeds the usual value. Why are pregnant women hot? A decrease in the level of a hormone such as estrogen causes great stress, promotes the production of adrenaline, as a result, blood flow increases, blood pressure and body temperature rise.
Hot flashes in pregnant women are accompanied not only by a sharp, sudden feeling of warmth rapidly spreading throughout the body, but also by palpitations and profuse sweating. There is a feeling that the neck area, chest, the face and entire upper body are burning, there is not enough air, the expectant mother begins to sweat profusely. The duration of hot flashes is up to 5 minutes, and their frequency may vary. During hot flashes, body temperature in pregnant women rises to thirty-seven and eight degrees.
A distinction must be made between hot flashes and fever, which can be caused by any viral infection. In what situations is it appropriate to seek advice from a specialist:
- if the temperature is increased significantly (exceeds thirty-seven and eight degrees);
- If heat does not fall or get knocked down for a long time;
- if a pregnant woman experiences a headache, severe weakness, sore throat, dizziness, or other physiological disorders.
Hot flashes during pregnancy - normal phenomenon, both in the early stages and shortly before birth. They last no more than 5 minutes, after which the condition of the expectant mother is completely normalized. Hot flashes during pregnancy in the early stages and before childbirth have different frequencies, this is explained by the fact that the hormonal background. In the first days and weeks the body is more sensitive to physiological changes, therefore reacts to them brighter and more actively.
Gives you a fever in early pregnancy
Not only hot flashes can cause a deterioration in the condition and the appearance of various negative sensations. There are other reasons that cause fever during early pregnancy:
- increase in the size of the uterus;
- acceleration of metabolic processes;
- increased blood circulation;
- stimulation of the functioning of the sweat glands;
- increased activity of heat transfer from the body.
No need to worry if early stages During pregnancy, the expectant mother's temperature rises slightly. Along with other symptoms, a constantly elevated (low-grade) temperature is a sign that conception has occurred in this cycle. Expectant mothers feel feverish during pregnancy because hormonal changes begin, the sweat glands work more actively, the breasts begin to grow, the uterus enlarges, and the mammary glands become engorged. Fever when it throws you into a fever, it is most often observed before the 12th week of pregnancy.
Gives you a fever in late pregnancy
When it starts to feel hot, it becomes stuffy, breathing becomes difficult, there is not enough air, you feel dizzy, nausea occurs at the 30th week of pregnancy, do not panic ahead of time. Hot flashes are a completely normal phenomenon not only in the early stages, but also in the second and third trimester. If you experience a fever in late pregnancy, there is no need to take any special medications; you should limit yourself to drinking still water during the day to avoid dehydration due to increased sweating.
Feeling hot during pregnancy at night
Very often, expectant mothers experience a sharp, sudden feeling of warmth at night. To bring your general condition back to normal, it is recommended to wash your face with cold water and ventilate the room. The main reason why you feel hot during pregnancy at night is fluctuations in hormones, their excessive production. Recommendations to help improve your condition during hot flashes:
- it is necessary to choose clothes made from natural materials;
- instead of one thick sweater, wear several thin ones, so that if you feel hot or excessively warm, you can take off something extra;
- the bedroom should be well ventilated before going to bed;
- in summer it is advisable to spend less time in the sun and wear a hat;
- when the face is burning during early pregnancy or just before childbirth, it is recommended to apply a compress of cold water to the forehead and cervical area.
Often develops a fever due to dehydration. To avoid another attack of poor health, you must always (at any stage of pregnancy) drink up to two liters of still water. If you constantly maintain normal water balance, tides will occur less frequently.
Of course, it is best for the expectant mother to always be healthy and protect herself from the slightest possible viruses, infections and even fever, even before pregnancy. But no matter how strong everything is, no matter how strong her immunity is, unfortunately, not everyone and not always manages to “escape” from a real illness, especially during the so-called cold season. And, of course, the eternal companion of such colds is fever, in other words, sharply.
However, we immediately note that the temperature is different. So, for example, if your fever has started unusually sharply, you are shivering, and even your hands and feet are frozen, then simply drink some hot tea, cover yourself slightly, and apply heating pads to your palms and even your feet. Often such procedures contribute to a sharp expansion of blood vessels, and of course causes a rush of blood, which actually increases heat transfer.
In addition, a temperature of 37.2°C should not frighten a pregnant woman at all - especially in the early stages of pregnancy. Often the body itself reacts to pregnancy in this way. But the point is that from the moment of normal intrauterine development fetus, the active production of the hormone progesterone already begins in the pregnant woman’s body, which in a certain way affects the extremely high level temperature during pregnancy.
But such a mark on the thermometer as 37.8 C should definitely alert you. Perhaps your body is already giving you real signals about some inflammatory processes within it.
If, for example, your temperature goes beyond 38 degrees, and at the same time you feel extremely weak, broken, and God forbid, you, for example, vomit just as much - then be sure to go to an experienced doctor. It would be best to even invite him to your home - and preferably in the morning: after all, then the painful symptoms are more pronounced, and therefore the doctor himself can easily make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment. Don’t wait a minute to visit a doctor: the 38-degree mark in particular can be dangerous for your baby’s development. It can even cause microcephaly and real abnormalities in the baby’s central nervous system, and in fact provoke hypotension of the baby’s muscles.
And yet, do not panic. Be as calm as possible, but at the same time extremely attentive and very careful.
It is best to reduce fever directly during pregnancy using long-standing and time-tested remedies. So, for example, rub with regular vodka or even half diluted in ordinary water three percent vinegar. Immediately after the procedure, just don’t rush to wrap yourself warmly.
Also, be sure to drink plenty of fluids. And best of all - even herbal tea, made from raspberries or viburnum. Or you can simply pour one teaspoon of finely chopped white willow bark into a simple glass of boiling water, then cool and take exactly 4 times a day directly, one tablespoon inside.
Be sure to also drink tea with lemon, with honey, however, with the latter - be extremely careful: after all, this is a powerful allergen. In addition, take warm milk with melted butter inside.
One could turn to special medical literature - it is there that usually describes all the areas of real risks to the fetus, and from certain antipyretic drugs. Sometimes you can take paracetamol, or Tylanol, as well as Khilevsky Engystol, and you can also put a candle - “Kipferon”.
In addition, directly during the heat during pregnancy - as, in fact, in general, throughout the entire period of pregnancy - just forget about taking some kind of “chemistry”. No famous Coldrex, Pharmatox, etc. And if suddenly you decide to drink any of this, then do it only with the permission of your doctor. Also, do not take medications that contain a lot of alcohol - because even in the smallest quantities it is very harmful to the baby. Do not indulge in echinacea, as well as lemongrass or ginseng. They sharply increase blood pressure, sometimes increase the pulse rate, and, accordingly, sharply increase the load on the small heart.
Be sure to be extremely careful with vasoconstrictor drugs - after all, their effect can easily spread to all arteries of the placenta, sharply disrupting the blood supply to the fetus.
Most mothers love to remember the times of their pregnancy and the unusual changes in their well-being and life in general that happened to them during this period. Most likely, many of them often remember the hot flashes that accompanied the time they were waiting for the baby.
Why does pregnancy give you a fever?
Hot flashes are normal and quite common during pregnancy. A woman feels hot, then cold, and may experience dizziness, weakness, or chills. If this condition is not associated with colds, viral diseases or an inflammatory process in the body, then there is no need to worry about the health of the expectant mother and baby. This is one of the physiological conditions of the body that occurs for a number of reasons.
- in the early stages
One of the reasons for such hot flashes is a pause in the functioning of the ovaries, a process similar to menopause. The symptoms of these processes are also similar, with the only difference being that hot flashes that occur during pregnancy go away after childbirth.
REFERENCE! An increase in body temperature may be the first symptom that will indicate to a woman her new position.
Throughout the entire period, the amount of hormone production fluctuates: estrogen and progesterone. Depending on the trimester, the production of one or another hormone increases. It may also cause a feeling of heat.
The cause of such unusual sensations may also be a temporary increase in normal temperature body, which until the 14th week of pregnancy is 36.9-37.5°C. If such hot flashes occur, you need to make sure that there are no symptoms colds so as not to confuse physiological hyperemia and the onset of a cold.
REFERENCE! If the body temperature rises to 38°C or higher, if symptoms such as headache, cough, runny nose, pain in the lower back or lower abdomen - you should immediately seek medical help.
- in later stages
During the third trimester of pregnancy, such hot flashes also cause a lot of trouble: weakness, dizziness, chills, increased sweating. Such attacks last from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, do not pose any danger and go away on their own.
The reason for their occurrence is regular hormonal changes (the body is gradually preparing for the upcoming process of giving birth to a child) and a huge load on the body of the expectant mother. Typically, such phenomena stop three months after the birth of the baby.
A woman may feel heat in her legs caused by varicose veins. This is a fairly common occurrence during pregnancy. Varicose veins occur due to the fact that the uterus, which significantly increases in volume, puts pressure on the pelvic veins and slows down the blood flow, which causes an increase in the load on the veins of the legs. The result is pain and a feeling of heat in the legs, swelling and the appearance of spider veins.
REFERENCE! An increase in body temperature can also be caused by dehydration. At the same time, physiological hyperemia and increased sweating may cause excessive fluid loss. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to monitor compliance with the drinking regime.
What to do if you have a fever during pregnancy?
Usually, a woman’s condition can be alleviated during physiological hot flashes using non-drug methods.
- Ventilate the apartment, let in fresh cool air. Of course, avoid drafts.
- Change clothes to lighter ones, unfasten a few buttons, loosen the belt.
- Wash with cold water.
- Take a shower with the water temperature slightly lower than usual.
- Drink a glass of clean, cool water.
- Place a cold compress on your forehead and neck.
- Spray your face and hands with thermal water.
- Use a fan.
To remove discomfort caused by varicose veins, it is necessary to dose the load on the legs, rest after walking and other physical activity. You can improve blood circulation by lying on the sofa, placing a pillow or bolster under your feet.
To prescribe medications, you should consult a doctor managing your pregnancy. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate. This also applies to herbal preparations, which also have a lot of contraindications.
REFERENCE! It is easier to endure hot flashes, as well as other unpleasant moments of pregnancy, moderate physical activity. Of course, you can’t run a marathon in this position, but if you visit the pool or fitness classes for pregnant women a couple of times a week, your muscles and the cardiovascular system will remain in good shape, and it will be easier for the woman to cope with many difficulties, including the upcoming birth.
Hot flashes during pregnancy are quite an unpleasant experience. But if you perceive this phenomenon as a consequence of the magical process of the birth of a new life, then you can endure it without much difficulty. The main thing is to know ways to alleviate your condition and not focus on this temporary trouble.
Especially for- Elena Kichak
