Be safe: Pregnancy and the Beach
By Shira Scott, GalTime.com
Just because you're expecting doesn't mean you don't want hit the beach this summer, baby! But when you combine sand, surf and pregnancy, there are some important precautions you need to take. First and foremost, ask your doctor if it's okay for you to go to the beach.
If the answer is yes, then here are some tips from obstetrician Kim Hoover, M.D, the University of Alabama Birmingham.
• Go to the beach earlier in the summer when it is less hot
• Avoid direct sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Drink about 8 ounces of water for every hour you are in the sun
• Use at least 30 SPF sunscreen to prevent burning and pregnancy-induced melasma... those blotchy, brown patches on the forehead, upper lip, and cheeks that affect 50 to 75 percent of expectant mothers.
Related: Travel Safety Tips for Expectant Moms
Pregnant women are more at risk for dehydrataion because more of the fluid in their body goes to the baby. Hormones and extra blood flow may also make moms-to-be feel hotter. If you feel dizzy, nauseaous or extremely fatigued, those may be signs of dehydration or overheating.
A little careful planning and you can flaunt that baby belly on the beach this summer!
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