Holidays mean relaxation when spent in proper conditions. Particularly during pregnancy the existence of these conditions is considered necessary so that the pregnant woman is safe and enjoys her holidays.
During summer, high temperatures cause sweetsing and loss of liquids. Τhis may lead to fainting episodes. Therefore, consumption of great quantities of non-alcoholic and non-sugared liquids, dressing with comfortable and light-coloured cloths and staying in cool areas are recommended. Swimming is a beneficial exercise; however, diving, plunging and staying in the water during high sun radiation is not allowed.
Pregnancy favours the development of mucoses, which combined with sea water and humidity make the problem worse. For this reason, we recommend to pregnant women to change their swimming suit after swimming, use their own individual towels and dry their body to avoid humidity. Swimming pools should also be avoided.
Sun exposure
During pregnancy the skin suffers important alterations due to metabolic, endrocrine and immunological changes. Some of these normal changes are hyperpigmentation, rhagades, hair, nail and mucous alterations, hypervascularisation and hyperactivity of the glands.
All the above combined with the fact that the pregnant woman’s skin is more sensitive increase the risk of skin diseases . So, staying in the shade, minimizing the time of sun exposure, avoiding sunbathing between 11:00 – 15:00, wearing a hat and sunglasses, all these contribute to a healthy skin.
Travelling
Certainly, pregnant women should take into consideration the fact that long-distance trips by car aggravate the state of the venous system, which is already charged because of the pregnancy. Therefore, if you travel by car, it is necessary to make frequent stops (every one hour) in order to ease the congestion of the lower extremities venous network. You should anyway avoid unnecessary travelling under high temperatures. You should also prefer travelling by aeroplane, ship and car in order of priority. When on summer holiday, try to carefully follow the above recommendations in order to enjoy the water and the sun without any risks for you and your child.
Source: www.mitera.gr