DHHS → MeCDC → Environmental and Community Health → EOHP → Heat-related Illness → Who Should Worry about Healt Illness? → Pregnant Women and Heat Illness
Environmental & Occupational Health Programs
- Air Quality
- Carbon Monoxide
- Childhood Lead Poisoning
- Environmental Public Health Tracking
- Healthy Homes
- Heat-related Illness
- Fish & Game Guidelines
- Occupational Disease Reporting
- Well Water
- About Us
Pregnant Women and Heat Illness
Why worry about them when it is hot?
- More Body Heat: Pregnant women's bodies make more body heat.
- Cooling for Two: Pregnant women work harder to stay cool because they must also cool the body of the fetus.
- Too Much Heat is Bad for Baby: An increase in body temperature of a pregnant woman may harm the fetus, especially during the first trimester.
What to Do
- Follow the general tips to keep cool, drink fluids, lie low
- Use air conditioning to keep cool.
- Wear lightweight, loose fitting clothing.
- Take a cool bath.
- Drink lots of fluids like water, or drinks that have electrolytes and other nutrients, like sports drinks.
- Avoid caffeine, salt, and alcohol.
- Stay inside in an air conditioned place in the middle of the day when it is hottest out.
- Call your doctor or go to the emergency room if you feel dizzy, short of breath, or lightheaded.
- Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is hotter than the mid-90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
Who else is likely to have serious problems in the heat?
