Tell me about pregnancy in the heat

[karinothing]

I was pregnant all last summer. I road the bus and waited at an unshaded bus stop when the heat index reached 122. I was hot and after I got home spent the rest of the day eating Popsicles in my underwear BUT it never would have occurred to me to not go to work. I am pretty sure that as long as you drink water everything is fine. NO one ever told me that it was dangerous for the baby (as long as I drank water). Even if it is 100 outside it is still generally 98.6 inside your belly. . .

[ijack]

It sucks to be pg in the heat, but as long as you take care of yourself I think you'll be okay.

[Brie]

Yeah, I haven't heard anything about getting signed out of work due to heat unless you're, like, a construction worker or landscaper or something.

The NP at my OB said to basically just plan on staying indoors as much as possible, wear lots of sunscreen, and drink lots of water. She said to plan on gaining more weight than is considered "normal" towards the end due to swelling from the heat, as well. I am also going to quit my outdoor workouts if it gets too hot.

[mishap]

I had a two-hour public transportation commute each way and was due with my first DS in the middle of August, so I understand your concerns. There's nothing quite like the smell of the subway in the summer ...

That said, I wouldn't bank of getting out of work early, but I would just give yourself extra time in the morning so you can walk a little slower if you need to. Don't bank on being able to run for the train. Always carry water and keep your feet up at your desk.

[Jem]

I was very pregnant during a very hot summer and it was brutal, but of course I went to my air conditioned work and I was fine. I also took the subway followed by a long crosstown walk - I just slowed down. I also switched from the express train to the local because it was much easier to get a seat and I got to be in the a/c longer. When it was really really hot, I used to stop at the grocery store on my way home. I swear this one store by me must be kept around 50 degrees in the summer. Sometimes I really felt like it was the only way to get my body temp down.

[zeewifeandmama]

I delivered my DD on 8/27 anyway, for the most part everything pp are saying is true. I mean, stay hydrated and try to stay hydrated....the swelling is what is going to get you. Ugh it can be really bad. But, take it easy and you should be fine. I was on bedrest with my daughter but it had more to do with my BP and swelling than anything else. GL to you!

[h]

I had my first in late August in Central Texas, where July and August temps basically top 100 degrees every day. I worked up until the bitter end, and no one ever suggested I do otherwise. I didn't think it was that bad--but I have a 10-15 minute commute by car and then sit in an office all day, so I don't have to be in the heat much unless I want to be.

Your commute does sound pretty brutal for someone who is 9 months pregnant in the summer. Could you ask to work from home a few days a week to make it easier on you? I am assuming that just driving into work for the last month of your pregnancy isn't a realistic option.

[h]

Ugh. It is ridiculous that your firm won't let people work from home when there is a medical reason! That seems really unreasonable.

I think I would just play it by ear, but if the last few weeks get to be too brutal, I would be tempted to pony up the tolls. By the time you hit August, it might feel well worth the $350 plus gas.

If you did get your MW to sign you out of work early, would you get paid short term disability? If you could get paid leave that would not eat in to your maternity leave, I would be tempted to tell your firm that you either have to work from home or go on leave for the last 4-6 weeks of your pregnancy and see what they say.

[mollybrown]

I didn't find being pregnant in the summer to be that bad. I didn't do anything differently, and didn't have any issues. I didn't feel any more uncomfortable than I normally do in the heat.

[sewpinkgal]

I worked until 36 weeks last summer and I was fine except for the one day when they decided to work on the A/C during business hours and it was easily 90 in the bldg. The other pregnant lady and I wound up working in tank tops, took a very long lunch and had a vat of frozen yogurt.

My STD policy cleared me to go out at 36 weeks and that time wouldn't cut into maternity leave, but was also 4 weeks that couldn't be tacked on to maternity leave if I didn't take it. Frankly, it was nice to have that time at home since by the very end, sleeping was difficult and being in a car for more than 30min or so didn't feel great. Might be something to consider if you get too uncomfortable. GL!

[6fsn]

I worked in all summer in a papermill. The heat would literally take your breath away. It sucked but even up to the end the doctor wouldn't write me off of work or even taking overnight calls. Again it SUCKED, but the only time I called off was when I was so sore I knew I wouldn't be able to walk a flight of steps just to pee.

[Deleted]

I have an 8/8 baby and 2 8/20 babies. I didn't mind being pregnant in the summer at all and never had the heat get to me that much. Granted, I do also work in an office w/ a/c, have a/c at home and drive back and forth in an a/c car.

[downtoearth]

Jun 20, 2012 10:03:24 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

Oh, good. I am glad to hear that people are just being alarmist rather than me being in denial about the heat + pregnancy. I don't think my job would take too kindly to my getting signed out early, and I like getting my full paycheck - more money for babylegs, LOL.

I had two kids born in early September and worked up until the day each was born. It wasn't that bad in an AC-filled office and was better than waiting at home and using up my leave before. Good luck.

[oukapu]

Make sure you drink a lot of water. I felt sick a few times last summer because I got dehydrated. Confused and out of it. It was easy to do when you are pregnant. I didn't mind the heat too much last summer despite record number of 100+ days. However, this year I feel miserable with temps in the 80s.

My doctor wanted to write me off work at 8 months because of concerns about pre e. I didnt have the leave, but you might consider working from home if you can.

[hannamarin]

For me, it was my feet swelling. Maybe it would have happened in winter too, but I think the heat made it worse.
And for all the people that say "oh, you poor thing, pregnant in the summer" they have no idea what they are talking about. Trying to keep my baby covered in the sun but cool enough in the heat is way worse than pregnant in the summer.

[whitepicketfence]

DD2 was born in early August. I'll be honest, I barely left the house last July. I was miserable and just wanted to sit in the A/C.

As long as you keep yourself hydrated and don't let yourself become overheated, you should be fine. Maybe not comfortable, but fine nonetheless.

[darnkatz]

I was pregnant through June until the beginning of July. The heat was sweltering. I walked to and from work (about 1.5 miles each way) with no issues up until I was 38 weeks and went on maternity leave. I was still out walking every day until I gave birth at 41w/1d. I just made sure to take breaks and drink a lot of water. Keep a big water bottle with you at all times.

[egishere]

I was pg last summer which was one of the hottest summer on record in Dallas. Over 100 consecutive days with temps over 100. I worked until the beginning of Sept....but I didnt go outside much if I could help it. I would go from my car in the garage to the parking garage at work. If anything it just made my swelling much worse. I wouldn't have been able to deal with commuting on public transportation.

[Deleted]

My EDD was Aug 11 but DD took her sweet time and arrived on 8/22. I was dying! But other than being hot and uncomfortable, the heat was never an issue - and it was HOT 2 summers ago. I don't even remember my doc saying anything particular about the heat. Maybe a mention to make sure to drink plenty of fluids, but that's it.

The best thing about being pregnant in the summer is that by the time I was ready to take DD out and about for walks the weather was really nice. Being on maternity leave in the fall was awesome.

[sawyerthedestroyer]

My car didn't have A/C and I had an hour one-way commute. I had to drive with no A/C all summer, which starts in April and ends in October in Florida. It was hot and uncomfortable. My doctor said to stay hydrated and to let her know if I got dizzy and that's it. I didn't have any problems and DS is fine now.

[Willis Jackson]

It fucking sucked. It made my BH contractions worse and made me dizzy.

Never again.

[vegas]

I didn't mind it much. And I live in Vegas where it gets up to 120 each summer. I had my first on August 13th (EDD August 27th) and this time I'm due August 30th. Must not have been that bad if I'm willing to do it again.

Just drink lots of water.

[hellzkitten]

I delivered on 8/24 at 39 weeks & worked right up until a couple days before (we have A/C in the office). I took public transportation to work & we live up a hill - so down in the a.m. & up at night. It was tedious & uncomfortable... I had really bad swelling in my ankles & feet starting around 27 weeks, but the midwife never told me not to do anthing. If you don't push yourself too hard & drink plenty of fluids, you should be OK. I did, however, cut my hours to about ~5/day during week 38 simply because I was so uncomfortable.