Heatwaves are dangerous during pregnancy, causing dehydration, exhaustion, and in rare cases, heatstroke. Almost every pregnant woman has heard about the dangers posed by high temperatures during their pregnancy. Some have likely already experienced the negative effects heat can have on their unborn child.
While high temperatures can be dangerous during the warmer months, they can become especially dangerous during the early stages of pregnancy, when the baby’s organs are developing. In extreme cases, heat waves can lead to preterm births or even miscarriages.
As pregnant women tend to sweat more, this leads to dehydration. Dehydration can cause dizziness, headaches, rapid heartbeat, and fainting. And, because the circulatory system gets affected, pregnant women are at an increased risk of heatstroke, which is even more dangerous than dehydration.
There are a few things you can do to prevent dehydration: Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and avoid exercising in extreme heat.
Nonetheless, experts do not often talk about this risk. Doctors may be reluctant to bring up the risk of overheating because many pregnant women don’t experience symptoms. People must be diligent about monitoring their own body temperature and seeking medical care if they experience symptoms.
A heat index is a number that indicates how hot it feels outside. The higher the number, the hotter it feels. If you live in an area where the mercury is climbing, it’s important to understand how the heat index affects pregnant women.
The human body works differently with heat than it does with cold. The more intense the heat, the more heat strain a person feels. In extreme situations, heat stroke — a life-threatening condition — can occur.
People can die from heatstroke or heat exhaustion, which can lead to cardiac arrest. Heat exhaustion happens because the body can’t cool itself off properly. The heat causes blood vessels in the brain to dilate, causing a reduction in blood flow to the brain and other organs.
Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. Symptoms of heatstroke include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, headache, seizures, profuse sweating, and a rapid pulse.
