Summer Heat and Pregnancy

It's hot out there and you probably feel hotter because you are pregnant. Obstetrician/Gynecologist Dr. Barbie Sullivan offers some tips for beating the heat. Question: What special precautions should I take while pregnant during extremely hot weather? Answers: During hot summer months, pregnant women should take care to avoid over exposure to both sun and heat. We always recommend the use us of adequate sunscreen protection with UV-B blocker. Under normal conditions pregnant women are easily dehydrated. Our hot southern summer months only increase your risk of dehydration. We recommend increasing your fluid intake to a full 8 to 10 glasses of water daily.  In the event of dehydration while pregnant, the likelihood of uterine contractions increases. These contractions can lead to premature labor and delivery. Uterine contractions resulting from dehydration can initially be treated with oral fluid boluses. Your physician should be contacted immediately should more than 6 contraction occur in an hour. Your physician will most likely take the more aggressive approach of treating the dehydration with IV fluids.