Among the advice of our "survival guide" of the pregnant woman in summer, we could not fail to take advantage of the sea, the beach and the pool as our allies to be cooler. And it is that nothing fancy more, with the heat, than to submerge in some refreshing waters. But you have to take into account certain precautions for pregnant women at the beach and pool.
In general, it is about maintaining some basic rules, most common to both environments, but there are some more specific recommendations that we should not pass up so as not to get scared. These are our tips to enjoy the beach and the pool to the fullest and without risks.
Protect yourself from the heat. When it is not soaking and the sun falls hard, high temperatures can adversely affect health. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid the central hours of the day to go to the beach or the pool and always do it in a place that has the possibility of shade (trees, umbrellas ...).
Make sure you bring water or that you can get more water where you go. Good hydration prevents problems such as heat stroke, so that this combination combined with the previous one will keep us at an adequate temperature.
Good sun protection is essential, since during pregnancy you should sunbathe with caution. And do not forget that, inside the water, the sun also affects the skin.
Bathe in shallow areas, so that you can stand up when you want it, in case you get tired when swimming, it gives you a wave ... and prevent the risk of drowning.
We can snorkel or dive on the surface, but the practice of diving with deep dives is discouraged, as they can carry serious risks to the baby's health.
Do not bathe in the sea if there is danger of jellyfish, if there is a red flag or if the state of the sea is bad, if there is a lot of waves ...
Water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, water skiing ... are not recommended due to the risk of falling, trauma ...
When you get into the water, be careful when walking with irregularities at the bottom, holes ... The same if you walk along the shore.
During the trips, we have to make sure that the bath in waters of beaches (lakes ...) that we do not know are not contaminated, or that the swimming pools are sufficiently clean and maintained. We are going to focus on the tips for swimming pools.
Pool tips
The pool is a great ally during pregnancy, it is the ideal means to cool off, to practice exercise such as swimming ... But it also entails some risks that we must take into account to prevent them.
Be careful when walking near or near the pool, the ground may be slippery due to the presence of water and if you are in the final stretch of pregnancy, with the center of gravity changed (and you may not easily see what your feet are on) the risk of falls increases.
Try to shower after the bath to remove the remains of chlorine from skin and hair and apply a moisturizer after showering.
Use flip flops to walk around the pool and for the shower.
Avoid using the trampoline and, in general, do "stunts."
Diving into the water with force can cause water to enter the vagina and although the baby is well protected by the mucous plug that closes the cervix and membranes, if the loss of the mucous plug has occurred at the end of pregnancy, better avoid it to prevent infections
Following these simple guidelines for enjoy the beach and the pool without risks during pregnancy the warmth of this time of year will become more bearable and we will have a better memory of the summer we spent pregnant.
Photos | iStock
In Babies and more | How to survive these hot flashes in pregnancy: seven cool tips, Exercise in the pool during pregnancy: tips
