Anyone struggling in the heat?

[Positive2022]

Hi ladies, i'm just wondering if anyone is struggling in the summer heat? I'm currently 27 weeks pregnant and whilst it is lovely to see the sun, I cannot seem to cool myself down and the swelling in my hands, feet and legs have been horrendous. I'm working long hours on my feet all day in a physical job, in 30 degree temperatures which doesn't help. Feel like I need to sit in a freezer all day! I'm using cold packs, freezing bottles of water, showering multiple times a day and elevating legs when able (this is very hard at work!) Any tips gratefully received xxx

[AllWeNeedIsluv]

Oh blimey no wonder your struggling. I'm struggling so much and I don't, have a job well a paid one anyway. Stay at home mum. This heat is killing me. Wish I hadv some tips your doing everything I would have suggested. It's a nightmare isn't it. I'm struggling around the house I'm 24 weeks on Monday.

Sending you a cool hug hun 😘💞💦

[Positive2022 in reply to AllWeNeedIsluv]

So sorry to hear you're feeling the heat too. It really is lovely having a hot summer for a change but I feel like my body temp has risen way above the norm. I'm off to buy a paddling pool today so I can sit with my feet in cold water. Really hope your pregnancy is going well and fingers crossed it cools down just a tad. Sending love and BIG hugs xxx

[AllWeNeedIsluv in reply to Positive2022]

Good idea with the paddling pool hun. Hope it helps. It's frustrating trying to sleep in this . I absolutely love summer and any other time I'd ne jumping for joy its draining the life out of me 😂 guess you can't please us all.

Pregnancy is going a lot better than expected thanks hun.

😘💖💞

[Positive2022 in reply to AllWeNeedIsluv]

So pleased you're doing ok. Our due dates must be fairly close, i'm sure oct 5th, when are you due? Take care and stay cool 😃

[AllWeNeedIsluv in reply to Positive2022]

Yes lovely, my due date is 29th Oct. Times flying hope you manage to get cool and enjoy it hun 😉💖😘

[Positive2022 in reply to AllWeNeedIsluv]

Time is flying by very quickly now. Eeeek exciting times ahead. Likewise lovely, good luck with everything and stay cool also xxx

[AllWeNeedIsluv in reply to Positive2022]

OMG I'm in bed naked and I'm dripping it's getting me very moody this heat is 😠 I can't stand to be touched or anything. If it was to rain now I would literally go and dance in it. 😫😘💗

[Positive2022 in reply to AllWeNeedIsluv]

This made me chuckle 😂 I'm exactly the same, literally feel like I need to live in my fridge. Take care and stay cool. Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy xxx

[EleJen]

I've no tips for at work unfortunately but I do find filling a foot spa or washing up bowl with cold water, adding a load of ice and sitting with my feet in it for as long as I can when I'm home from work helps bring my body temperature down a bit.. It's about all that helps.. Oh, and eat as many ice lollys as you want!! I'm 35 weeks tomorrow so luckily only 2 weeks left til some annual leave and maternity leave 👍 it's so lovely having the sun out but can't believe after all the years trying I'm now pregnant during a heat wave and can't handle being outside in it!! 😂 xx

[Positive2022 in reply to EleJen]

Thanks so much for your reply and.great advice. Really hope you are coping ok in the hot weather. I'm off to buy a paddling pool so I can dip my feet in cold water. I hear you, it's taken us what feels like a very long journey to get to this point and couldn't be happier but typically in the one year we have a heatwave which i'm struggling to be outside in lol! Take care and sending you love and BIG hugs xxx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Poppy149. I hear your cries! I’m in the Midlands where it’s very hot too. Then I speak to ladies in the North East and it’s 17 deg! No doubt it will break up soon and we’ll be moaning again! A couple of tips that may sound strange, but as a child I lived in Australia. We never had cold drinks, we always drank warm tea and fruit squashes. I still do this, then your body doesn’t have to heat up the shock of a cold drink, even though it may be nice at the time. The other thing we did as nurses, was to hold our wrists, pulse side up under the cold water tap, so the circulating blood was cooled - it worked! I’m probably talking rubbish now, but maybe took your mind off the heat for a couple of minutes. Oh it’s not an easy time for you pregnant ladies, just hope you can find some shadow to sit in! Thinking of you all. Diane

[Positive2022]

Hi Diane, thanks so much for your reply. Funnily enough i've been running my wrists under cold water especially at work which has helped. I'm off to buy a paddling pool to soak my swollen feet. I have been quite concerned about the level of swelling in my legs but my blood pressure is fine so I think it is the heat. One thing that has worried me is the fact that whether working in a very hot environment is a potential risk to the health of our baby? It is unfortunate... we have a strict uniform policy which means closed toe shoes only which at the moment I am struggling to wear as the swelling is quite extent. Also, there is a fault with the heating system which means heaters are not switching off and to top this, broken windows that do not open so limited ventilation. Thankfully, I only work in this department once a week but it is for 9.5 hours with only a 30 minute break. The other department I work in is equally warm, but more bearable as the windows open. It has taken hubby and me a long time to fall pregnant after fertility treatment and I really don't want any risk to our baby. Do you know if it's justifiable and possible to be supported with time off to rest in these situations? I do work in a supportive team and have brought these issues up and I will chat things through again this week but as I am front line staff in a physical job which involves regular moving and handling and long hours (9.5-10 hrs) on feet all day, light duties really isn't an option unfortunately. Thanks again for your advice xxx

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Positive2022]

I’d have a look at your legal rights whilst pregnant. What I have understood is they have to do a risk assessment (if they’ve done one ask for a heat specific one with the weather being abnormal), from what you’re saying that hot department sounds totally unsuitable at the moment with only a 30min break, and if adjustments can’t be made (like more breaks, relaxing uniform policy etc) they have to give you a lighter job to do on the same pay (so move you out of frontline) or send you home on full pay if even light work isn’t an option. I’d do some reading today and then go in Monday for a discussion to see what they can do but armed with knowledge. I hope things improve for you. At times like these I’m glad I work for a company that if anything was a struggle and I went to see the OccHealth nurse they’d be doing something ASAP 😊 xx

[Positive2022 in reply to Lovefood1984]

Thanks so much for your response and advice. It is unfortunate as the environment is not great and despite risk assessment and me filling out incident reports etc it's very tricky. But I wondered if I was within my rights to ask for change in working environment so your advice has helped reinforce what I was thinking. My line manager has been on lrave for the past couple of weeks, due back this week so I will chat things through again. Hope you're doing and take care. Sending love and BIG hugs xxx

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Positive2022]

Wishing you all the best and hope your meeting goes well. I’m only 22 weeks so I don’t have swelling but anything other than sitting down and I’m sweating (icky!) and I’m in the north east so no where near the hottest in the UK. I’m so glad the air con in the office works although I do have manual lab work to do in a lab coat where it’s not quite so cool but there is also a contractor who works with us to help and she’s been doing all the heavy lifting and shifting for me and helping with my tests. I can also take a break when I want which also helps........roll on some cooler weather and rain! 😂 (like others I’d of been so happy with this weather if I wasn’t pregnant)

[Positive2022 in reply to Lovefood1984]

Those lab coats can be hot to wear but good that you have support from others with lifting and regular breaks. Working in air con must be heaven, it was requested where I work but turned down due to costing too much. I requested more fans but that is as far as I got. There is a shortage of these too and sadly bringing in my own isn't an option either as it has to be specially tested before use (who knows how long that will take!) We work very independently in my job role and whilst my team is lovely and incredibly supportive, it's nhs frontline, very busy (non stop on feet all day, 30 minute unpaid break only in 10 hours) and everyone is equally busy with their own caseload so help with lifting, moving equipment etc is not always accessible when

needed. You sort of have to just get on with things and get through the day. I will definitely chat things through again this week as for me the temp feels unbearable. I will also speak to Midwife I think at next check at 28 weeks. Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy and keep cool. Thanks for really helpful advice xxx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Positive2022]

Hi. Lovefood1984 has raised a good point. Worth looking into. Your baby will be quite happy tucked up in his/her placenta. Besides food and oxygen supply, it regulates temperature too. I’m sure once the heat settles and you have had your baby, all the swelling will disappear. Your B/P is ok so that’s all that matters. Sending you cold hugs and cool thoughts. Diane xx

[Positive2022 in reply to DianeArnold]

That's really reasurring, thanks so much Diane for your response.

[Tezzabell86]

Yes I’m struggling and I’m due the 2nd of August xx

[Positive2022 in reply to Tezzabell86]

Bless you, you must be really feeling the heat at the moment. I hear you! As much as I love the warm sunny weather, I feel like I want to live in a fridge at the mo! Hope you're able to keep cool and comfortable. Seending love and BIG hugs xxx

[Hidden]

Definitely not just you. I’m only 13 weeks and struggling. I can’t imagine having to work in the conditions you have described whilst pregnant. I agree with lovefood1984 and would request an occupational health assessment. If you have a good relationship with your GP, they might be able to help with some time off work as well. Xxx

[Positive2022 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for your advice and taking the time to respond. Will definitely look into things a bit more. Sending love and BIG hugs and wishing you a very happy and healthy pregnancy. Stay cool ❤

[Hidden]

I'm 26 weeks and struggling too! All the above is good advice! My yoga teacher said to put a wet, cold cloth on the back of the neck, that really helps. I also have a fine water spray that I spray up in the air and it settles on me in a fine mist - it's been my best friend! xx

[Positive2022 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for your advice and taking the time to reply. Great advice and will definitely give these a try. Hope you're not overheating too much and wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy. Sending love and BIG hugs xxx

[Hidden in reply to Positive2022]

Ah, you're welcome! Love and hugs back! xxx

[cls37]

I’m 20 weeks and struggling with the heat too!! A baking hot classroom full of 4/5 year olds doesn’t help 🙉

Treated myself to a paddling pool was heaven at the weekend sitting with my feet in it! X