Thursday, January 29, 2009

Oh the heat

I have never been quite so obsessed with opening the windows and curtains. I've never been so miserable at work. I've never been more tempted to run around my home in less than is appropriate. I am well and truly in my third trimester. I am well and truly in my third trimester, during the dead of summer.

Get me out! Oceana has a little pool that we managed to get back from Gramma's house today. I think I'm gonna lay in it like the beached whale I resemble. That or completely give up on clothing.

So tell me, how did you survive the oppressive summer heat during your pregnancies? Did you swim? Strip? Suck on ice cubes? Drink more water so you had to spend more time in the bathroom? Take cold baths? Moan and complain like a 3 year old?

There's no wrong answer here! Just curious.

42 comments:

  1. I feel your pain...actualyl I felt it. My daugher was due at the end of Septemeber. I wore nothing but short shorts and tank tops all summer and layed around the house...I wish!! We moved when I was 8 months pregnant, so I was packing and cleaning and sorting. Thankfully I was off from teaching for the summer, so my schedule was my own. I also had vericose veins and had to wear support hose...in July and August! I am most definitly praying for you!!

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  2. Hi Susie!

    Our second son was born in October, so I went through a big part of my pregnancy during the summer and I was miserable. In Maryland, it starts to get cooler in October, so I did get a tiny bit of relief at the end.

    I was sweating so badly all of the time that I took 2 or 3 showers a day just to cool off. I tried to drink lots of water, but ended up getting dehydrated anyway in my 6th month.

    I tried to swim when I could and I definitely wore less clothes when I was at home.

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  3. I'm in the US and had my son in October and yes, I moaned and complained like a three year old. Our daughter was 2 at the time and wanted so badly to go outside but my body could only take a few minutes at a time. The rest of the time I stayed in the (air-conditioned) house and hoped time would pass quickly. :) I hope you get a break from the heat soon!

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  4. Lots of showers. Froze everyone out of the house with the AC. Had a fan I sat in front of. Wore as little as possible. Normally shorts and no sleeve shirts. I was gestational diabetic and at the end of my 7th month found out I had toximia so I was a "FLOATING" beached whale.

    Ice chips work (but I had plenty of those while in labor) Cold drinks and playing in the sprinkler with my nieces. :) that was the best part.

    Hang in there girl........ You don't have much farther to go. Your doing great. Think of it as a test. Think COLD...... Mind over matter. If you can do that.... You get an "A+" lololollo

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  5. I am from the states and expecting my second in August. I cant imagine what your going through with the heat. My first baby was born in the dead of winter and I still had my window open every night as I slept. So I figure with this one by June or July I am going to be miserable. I hope you find some relief and I hope you let us all know if you do.

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  6. All of the above! :) I was 3rd trimester in one of the hottest summers on record, I spent most of that time in cool showers and wandering round in the thinnest cotton nightie I could find. I have learnt since then to keep a spray bottle of water close and squirt yourself as often as you wish. It only lasts a little smidge of time but worth it and double the coolness if you have a fan on you. Good luck!

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  7. Oh can I ever relate - my 3 year old was born in August, and I was retaining more water than an Olympic sized pool.

    Fortunately we had a/c at our house, so I spent as much time indoors as possible. If I recall, though, you don't have that luxury.

    Drinking lots of water helped, and wearing fabrics that breathe is a MUST! Not doing any unneccesary baking (or even cooking) indoors helps, too (keeps the temp from getting even higher in the house). In the summer here, I try to cook on the grill as often as I can. Added bonus - food cooked on a grill just tastes better! LOL

    Hope you get several helpful ideas for keeping cool.

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  8. I filled my birth pool up everyday & floated in the thing indoors away from the sun.;)

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  9. you poor thing.. I know a girl who kept a spray bottle in the fridge and would pull it out and mist herself throughout the day

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  10. Both of my girls were born in OCt. however I was living in Nashville for the first which is still in the 90's in Sept. and South Florida for the second and boy is it still really really really hot in S. Fl in Oct. I tried to avoid going out during the day. We did have a pool at our apartments. The hottest most miserable day I remeber was my first daughters second birthday jst ten days before my due date with number two and I was ready to go. We had DD's Nemo party at the beach and I had made her a Nemo cake and the whole thing melted. We did not get a pavillion cause they were so expensive to rent and I thought it wouldn't be 90degrees (plus humidity) in Oct. Even though it was a beach party non of our native Fl. friends had brought their suits to swim in the 80 degree water go figure? SO I had to sweat it out until the party was over and then finally we went in the ocean ah relief. here are some pics from her HOT DAY! http://thelendas.blogspot.com/2006/10/roses-second-birthday-party-today-we.html
    Stay cool and it won't be long. This time I am living in PA and due in June so I should have nice bearable weather until delivery.
    Hugs and Prayers
    Rachel

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  11. I have never commented before on your blog. I have enjoyed reading about your wonderful family and your faith. This subject is near and dear to me! I spent my last pregnancy in Southern California in the dead of summer! To make matters worse, we were living with my in-laws and they didn't like to use the air conditioning. Running around with no clothes was just not an option! I used the pool a lot and sat in front of the fan with a large glass of water most of the day, the rest of it was spent in the bathroom getting rid of the water. I swore to my husband that we would NEVER have a summer baby again! Hang in there, and enjoy the cold water, and the bathroom!

    Melissa

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  12. I moaned like a three year old, but I also broke two window unit air conditioners. I was in Hong Kong and it was so hot. But, it's almost over - just stay inside where there's air con!

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  13. I mostly moaned & complained like a 3 year old! My 1st was born in August in Mississippi! August in MS is MISERABLE! So, my next baby was born in February! About as opposite as possible. I hope you can get cool. I would go for the little pool if I were you! Good luck!
    Emily in Mississippi

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  14. UGH! I have had three babies in the summer. I basically stayed in air conditioning or swam. I found swimming to be good for the backache and the heat. This baby will be born RIGHT before summer hits here in Pennsylvania. I am not sure what will be worse being pregnant or having to hold and nurse a newborn in the heat. I guess I am just not a fan of heat...good thing I live in PA...it doesn't last long!

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  15. Im so far behind you in my pregnacy, but i will be doing the same thing in my third trimester here in the states.......

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  16. Sorry, Susie, but both of mine were spring babies. No way was I going to go through a summer being pregnant! (my mom did w/ all 5 of us though. She did tell me that popsicles are actually lifesavers!)

    I hope that the breezes are cooling & that you find some relief!

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  17. Ive never been pregnant...or at least huge pregnant in the summers so Im NO help. Sorry :) Although if it makes more bearable its still cold and snowy here! Actually I lied. Its quite warm for the time of year. but temporary Im sure. Id say eat lots of popsicles. Much tastier than icecubes and all the sugar will help get housework done.lol.

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  18. I stayed inside- in the air conditioning! ;-) Worked for me. I also drank alot of water and ate alot of ice cubes/chips. I've been pregnant three times in the Summer- this pregnancy is my first to not be pregnant in the Summer at all. It's kind of nice. Hope you find a solution!

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  19. I have never been WAY pregnant in the dead of summer... THANKFULLY. I can only imagine, because I have been pregnant, just how miserable it must be.

    I would sent up camp in the shower. That way I could be cool and naked, and it would be totally appropriate. And afterward I could walk around in just a towel for a little while and STILL be appropriate :)

    And if my people needed food, clean clothes, water... I'd be yelling (from the eternal shower): Fend for yourself!

    Seriously, they ask for so much.

    -Andrea

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  20. We had air conditioning. My husband thought it was freezing in the house, I thought it could have been cooler :)

    We'll see, we have another one due this August. I hear if you put cold things on your forehead or bottoms of your feet that is helpful.

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  21. I had one baby in July and another baby in September...July and August are about the hottest months here so I was miserable! I did spend a lot of time in the kiddie pool (I was just too tired to trek to the beach) and I hate to say it because it is so not "green" but I spent a lot of time opening and standing in front of the freezer! Laying on the bed under the ceiling fans helped some too :) Good luck and God Bless you girl!

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  22. Summer in Texas, 2 years ago... The heat was breaking all sorts of records, I was HUGE & pregnant & MISERABLE! I swam. I swam every day. I also carried a squirt bottle around filled with water & my favorite essential oil. When I would not be able to take it anymore I would give myself a 'mist down'. Drank tons of water with lemon.
    Good luck sweetie. Oh yeah, I also made up excuses to go to the grocery so I could hang out in the freezer section...

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  23. My son was born in the first week of Sept., so the worst part of the pregnancy was June, July, and August... YUCK! Do anything you can to cool off! If that means complaining like a 3 year old, DO IT! Whatever gets your through the moment! I know I am NO help, I just wanted to tell you, I totally remember feeling like that. She will be here so sooooon!

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  24. I was pregnant with both my kids in the summer. My son was born in July, my daughter in October. With my son I spent lots of time indoors :) I also took a swimming class. With my daughter I just complained as I had a 3 year old so I could just sit inside. We did swim quite a bit too.

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  25. I did the third trimester in Florida. My solution? Showers. Many, many showers.

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  26. I had my son in the middle of August 2 years ago, and was hot, sweaty and miserable when I wasn't in the pool! I lived in the water, and when the pool got too warm, I sat on the steps with the cold water from the filler hose running on me. I wore alot of light-weight summer dresses and used baby powder to combat the sweaty sticky skin on skin that happens when you're pregnant. The less constrictive clothing touching me the better! All the time in the pool may have had an effect on my son, who is the ultimate water boy! Cool baths and standing in front of a fan to dry off helps too.

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  27. Both my boys were born at the end of August! It's miserable, I feel ya. I stayed in ac, or in front of the fan all the time, I slept with a fan, cooked with a fan on my etc. Ate lots of popcycles and when we moved here to NC I went to the pool every night. I hope you get some releaf soon.

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  28. Well...before we were blessed with central air, I took cool baths, went swimming at my mama's house, and ran around the house in a strappy little silk nighty. But, mostly I moaned and complained like a three-year-old. Good times....really...I kind of miss it!

    Stay Cool,
    Kelly G

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  29. I'm there right with you. I'm 37 weeks and there is a heatwave here in Melbourne right now with max of 44 and min of 29 - so what I needed right now.

    We do not have a/c. I have a fan on full blast. I closed all windows and blinds during the day and open them wide open as soon as the sun goes down. It keeps my flat a little bit cooler then outside. I'm home alone so I do not wear much clothing. I also have a small towel which I wet in cold water and alter between putting on my neck and on my belly. That towel actually really helps.

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  30. I had both my boys in August (live in the states, in Indiana) and I have to say I moaned like a 3 year old. It really sucked. I couldnt even imagine living any closer to the Equator line and being pregnant... I feel for you!

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  31. My first daughter was due the end of June and we had a massive heatwave that May. It reached into the 90's (Fahrenheit). You would not believe the amount of people who would in all seriousness stand in front of me (as I tried not to splash my sweat on them) and tell me how lucky I was to not have to be pregnant when it was REALLY hot.

    After he noted a deadly gleam in my eye some time around the first of June, my husband bought a used window air conditioner and installed it in our bedroom.

    Also my neighbor with whole house air conditioning took pity on me and told me I was welcome to sit in her empty air conditioned house while she and her husband were at work.

    I am not ashamed to say I went over there daily and watched TV and napped.

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  32. I spent a lot of time on my bed under the ceiling fan--naked or close to it! I wore tank tops & shorts every minute that I could. Of course I had to wear my uniform to work, but the minute I got home, off it went!

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  33. I know excatly how you feel! I had 2...count em 2, babies born in July in the midwest. Can you say oppressive heat?! Ugh...just the thought of it makes me hot. I spent both summers either in the pool or sitting in my A/C'd home. It was the only way to survive!

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  34. I had two August babies, one in the hottest summer on record:) I would literally take a children's plastic pool and fill it with ice cold water, everyday. Then I would sit in it all afternoon. I bough a cheap blow up flotation ring and would put my stomach in that so I could float face down too:) My family still makes fun of me for that but I WAS HOT!!!

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  35. We're in Texas - I was pregnant in the summer (due in June) and I ate lots of popcicles, drank a lot of water & sat in our pool everyday. It helped alot!

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  36. I got pregnant both times in the summer, so thankfully I ended the pregnancy (the one that survived) in spring and could manage with shorts and short sleeves. I did want to recommend wearing a loose dress while inside your house. I wear a sleeveless cotton dress around my house during the summer anyway. Even shorts make too much contact with skin when one is hot!!! Also, very cold water is helpful. You don't have to drink as much to cool down (as you would tap water). Hang in there!

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  37. Hi Susie! I feel your pain. My 2 and 3 children were both born in July. I live in the states so July in Eastern WA is HOT! I went overdue with both of them. Ugh. What saved me was a little a/c unit for our window. I literally camped out in front of that. Playing with my older kids in the sprinklers in the yard. Kiddie pool in our yard even if I just kept my feet in it. I would set the pool up right next to the shade. That way I cold sit in my lawn chair in the shade and drink lemon water, keep my feet in the water and occassionally the kids would splash me!!!! We went to the beach alot and swam. Oh and wear the bare minimum of clothing helps. What is wrong with wearing a bikini in your living room? Your important parts are covered! LOL! Oce would think that was very fun! if you put her in her suit then if someone comes over, you can say you were having a "beach party" with her! LOL!

    Good luck Susie! Stay cool. Oh and I hear eating water melon helps.....

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  38. I would soak a tank top in cold water and put it on. It works really well.

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  39. I have been preggo 3 times in the summer. My favorites were putting a damp towel on my belly and then laying in front of the fan (slept like that many nights). Also, putting ice water in a foot bath and soaking my swollen feet/ankles. Swimming in the river was nice too.

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  40. After reading some of the comments I didn't realize how blessed I was. Jericho was born at the end of August, so I was big all summer, but I didn't have many problems. I didn't swell and I wasn't hot all the time - except at night, then I'd wear very little and sleep in front of a fan and we had an a/c unit in the window. Seth would be freezing!

    Sorry I'm not much help but I hope you find some ways to cool down.

    I know it doesn't compare to what you are feeling but I can't wait to hear of news (and see pictures) about your little ones arrive!

    Tarah

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  41. Girl, I can so feel your pain! I had my first baby on July 23rd...in Michigan, July is a horribly hot month. One thing that I found that helped a little bit was to take a cool shower and then drape a cold rice sock across my neck/shoulders. (fill a long old sock with rice/beans, etc.) keep it in a plastic bag (to keep out the smell of other foods) in the freezer until you need it...in fact, it's best to keep two or three of them and rotate them. You can also make them with flannel, cotton, etc...just stitch a long tube on 3 sides and fill it with the rice or beans and then stitch the open end...doesn't have to be perfect, but they work like a charm! You can also heat them in the microwave (do you have one?) for a couple of minutes and use them as a heating pad for your back/belly, etc. while in labor (in case you're still planning the home birth). LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my rice socks!!! :)

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  42. One easy way to solve the heat issue - GO TO INVERCARGILL...........
    Oh that's right - you have!!!!
    Hope you guys are having a fantastic time. Can't wait to see photos.

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