Sydney summers are a time for the outdoors, spending time with the family and doing some physical activity. When you’re pregnant, however, it can be a little difficult to deal with the forty degree days and heavy humidity. This can also come with the added stress and health hazards of bushfire season, which can pose a risk to both the mother and her child. Take a look below for some simple pregnancy care tips for staying healthy and cool in a Sydney summer.
Make sure you plan for the heat
Most mothers will attest to the fact that being pregnant will also often come with generally feeling hotter throughout the day than they normally would. Combine this with the already overwhelming heat of peak summer days and you could begin to feel very uncomfortable. A good way to stay on top of this is to be aware of heat alerts and plan accordingly. If you know it is going to be a hot day, plan to do something cool or indoors such as shopping, going to the pool or watching a movie.
Continue to exercise
While it might be the last thing you want to do, it is important to continue some kind of exercise regime even in summer. The highest priority however is to stay safe so make sure that you exercise either outside of peak heat hours, such as taking a walk in the morning or evening when it is cooler, or finding a cool place to stay fit such as a gym or Pilates studio. This will help keep you healthy and active, however, make sure you avoid any kind of overheating or exhaustion, with low impact exercises a good choice.
Follow heat safety guidelines
Diligently following heat guidelines should be a top priority. These include sun safety recommendations such as putting on sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, wearing a hat and seeking shade where you can. It also means that you should hydrate regularly, which helps keep the body cool and decreases water retention, which can make Sydney summer days more bearable.
Take precautions against bushfire smoke
Bushfires are a real health risk in summer and can cause serious issues such as difficulty breathing and asthma attacks, as well as milder symptoms such as burning eyes or throat irritation. Some of the best ways to protect yourself are:
- Stay indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned building where the air is building filtered of smoke and particles.
- Consider buying a portable air filter for your home to remove hazardous particulates from the air.
- Avoid exposing yourself to smoke by doing physical activity outside.
- Buy a P1 or P2 mask from the hardware store if you have to go outside. These masks, when worn properly, can minimise the effect of smoke, however do not provide perfect protection, so should be used alongside other precautions.
- Leave the smoke affected area if you have a chance, such as staying with a friend outside of the bushfire affected areas or taking that relaxing holiday you’ve been planning but haven’t quite had the chance to go on yet.