The nine months of pregnancy are nothing less than a roller coaster ride. You pass through different stages with different levels of difficulties during your pregnancy. But one issue that you will witness from the very beginning is a constant feeling of heat. Air conditioning is one remedy.
Many biochemical and environmental factors contribute to this feeling of extreme heat during pregnancy, leading you to feel the urge to stay all day in an air-conditioned room. Why do pregnant women need air conditioning? If you are wondering, then here is a detailed explanation.
Why Pregnant Women Need Air Conditioning?
Pregnant women need air conditioning to keep their bodies cool. Air conditioners help you regulate your body temperature to a suitable level. If you live in a summer-prone country, then you will need AC to avoid overheating, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, etc. Moreover, it helps you to breathe pollutant-free air, sleep comfortably, and stay energetic during this time.
Why Am I Feeling Hot During Pregnancy?
There can be many reasons for feeling excess heat during pregnancy. Both physical and environmental factors can make you feel hot during this time.
The factors that increase body temperature during pregnancy are:
- Hormonal imbalance: The sudden hormonal changes in the first trimester can directly cause an increase in the body temperature (1).
- Widening of blood vessels: You can witness up to a 50% increase in blood volume during pregnancy (2). Therefore, your blood vessels dilate slightly to supply this extra blood to the fetus. These dilated blood vessels pass blood closer to your skin, making you feel hot.
- High metabolism: Your heart pumps 20% more blood during pregnancy. Your heart will beat 10 to 20 beats extra per minute to pump the extra blood (3). This increase in heart rate increases your metabolism, increasing your body temperature.
- Carrying the baby towards the end of pregnancy: The baby inside you also gives off some amount of heat that you absorb. The extra weight during the last trimester also makes you breathe faster. All your bodily mechanisms working overtime make you feel hotter and exhausted at the same time.
- The external factors: If you are having a summer pregnancy, then naturally, it is going to be hotter for you. Additionally, if you take a hot bath or put on a heating pad for muscle relief, then also you may feel excessively hotter.
Why Overheating During Pregnancy Is Dangerous?
Overheating during pregnancy for a prolonged period is directly associated with birth defects. Studies show that body temperature over 102.2°F or 39°C for a significant period in the first trimester increases the risk of birth defects and miscarriages (4). Whereas, in later pregnancy, overheating leads to dehydration, exhaustion, fatigue, and even heat stroke.
Signs Of Overheating During Pregnancy
The obvious sign of overheating is that you will feel hot from the inside. Other signs of overheating are:
- Heavy sweating
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Warm, clammy skin
- Muscle cramps
- Body temperature getting over normal
If you find any of the above symptoms of overheating, immediately move to a cooler place. Try to relax your body after drinking water and loosening tight clothes.
What Is The Best Temperature For Pregnant Women?
The temperature suitable for pregnant women is a temperate one; neither too hot nor too cold. Therefore, keeping your air conditioner’s temperature between 18 and 24°C will be good for your overall health (5).
Always switch off the AC to get accustomed to the normal outward temperature before actually venturing out. Repeated temperature shifts can be challenging for your immune and musculoskeletal systems (6). This may lead you to catch an easy cold, fever, and flu. Therefore, make your body habituated to the outward temperature before going out.
5 Benefits Of Air Conditioning For Pregnant Women
Air conditioning can be life-saving during pregnancy. Keeping up a fixed moderate temperature in your air conditioner will keep you fresh, energetic, and healthy during pregnancy. The benefits that you will get are;
Good Quality air
During pregnancy, you need to breathe free, you need to breathe fresh. Air conditioners filter and circulate cool air around you. This is especially beneficial for keeping up with allergies and asthma during pregnancy (7).
Easy to Sleep
You need good sound sleep during pregnancy. Excessive heat can hamper this peaceful sleep. Installing an air conditioner in your bedroom can make your body temperature normal and help you sleep comfortably.
Cooler Temperament
Feeling hot and exhausted during pregnancy can immediately raise your tempers. But this extreme temperament, stress, or anger is not at all good for you and your baby. This increases the levels of stress hormone cortisol in your blood, which can directly hamper your baby’s growth (8). Staying under AC will help you cool your brain.
Less Exposure to Insects and Parasites
Insect bites or parasitic infections can cause extra problems during your pregnancy. An air-conditioned room can reduce the chances of such infections to a great extent.
Reduces Exhaustion
Fatigue and exhaustion become eminent during the last stage of pregnancy. The atmospheric temperature can add up to this exhaustion, making you feel unbearable. AC can provide you great relief from this.
5 Tips For Safely Using Air Conditioners During Pregnancy
Though air conditioners are beneficial during pregnancy, their thoughtful use is compulsory too. Below are the 5 essential tips for safely using air conditioners:
- Adjust the temperature to 26-27°C for prolonged use
- Switch off your AC every 3 hours to breathe natural air, as well as rest the machine
- Clean your air conditioner every 3 to 6 months to maintain its cooling efficiency, safe performance, and energy savings (9).
- Change the air filter from time to time.
- Ensure a safe power supply in your house to avoid electrical short-circuit-related hazards.
Also, note that staying all day under air conditioning is also not advisable for you. This artificially cooled air will make your skin dry, flaky, and dehydrated. Therefore, use them moderately and drink plenty of water to keep up your body’s moisture and luster during pregnancy.
To sum up, air conditioners can extremely relieve your feeling of extreme heat during pregnancy. It is beneficial for your peaceful relaxation and overall good health during pregnancy. However, you must note the safest ways to use air conditioners, as their unthoughtful use may have a reverse effect on your health.
FAQ’s
1. Does Hot Weather Affect Normal Progression Of Pregnancy?
Yes, exposure to prolonged hot weather can negatively affect your pregnancy, especially if you are in your first trimester. It can cause you to be severely exhausted and directly affect your baby’s health.
2. Why Managing Body Temperature In Pregnancy So Important?
As the prolonged high temperature of the mother is directly associated with birth defects, managing it becomes very important. Managing a normal body temperature is essential for having a safe pregnancy.
3. Are Air Conditioners Beneficial For Those Who Have Asthma?
Yes, air conditioners are extremely good for asthma patients as they supply purified air. Good air conditioners provide fresh, pollutant-free air to help ease breathing for asthma patients.
4. Does Air Conditioning Help With Pregnancy Nausea?
Feeling overheated can worsen your nausea and make you feel even more unwell. Air conditioners can significantly help alleviate your nausea.
References
- NHS, Common health problems in pregnancy – https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/common-health-problems/
- Hytten F. Blood volume changes in normal pregnancy. Clin Haematol. 1985 Oct;14(3):601-12 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4075604/
- Kathleen Kennedy, MD, How Pregnancy Affects the Heart: Normal Symptoms & When to Call Your Doctor – https://unmhealth.org/stories/2023/05/how-pregnancy-affects-heart-symptoms-when-to-call-doctor.html
- Mother to Baby. Brentwood (TN): Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS); 1994-. Fever / Hyperthermia. 2023 Feb – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582757/
- WHO Housing and Health Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. 5, High indoor temperatures – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535285/
- Piedmont, Can a sudden change in the weather affect your health? – https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/can-a-sudden-change-in-the-weather-affect-your-health
- Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Assessment of Asthma and Indoor Air. Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000. 10, IMPACT OF VENTILATION AND AIR CLEANING ON ASTHMA – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224478/
- Coussons-Read ME. Effects of prenatal stress on pregnancy and human development: mechanisms and pathways. Obstet Med. 2013 Jun;6(2):52-57 – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5052760/
- Energy. Gov, Maintaining Your Air Conditioner – https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/maintaining-your-air-conditioner#
