Whether you're trying to conceive or are already pregnant, you know life is about to change in a big way. If you find yourself pregnant during the winter months, there are a few more obstacles you might encounter, not only for your health, but also in getting to the hospital when you go into labor.
Dr. John Paul Roberts is a skilled obstetrician who helps you steer clear of any winter pregnancy issues. He shares what you can expect with a winter pregnancy to help you sail through until your due date.
When you're pregnant, you know your body is about to go through some serious changes. Between your growing baby bump and morning sickness, there’s plenty for you to deal with on a daily basis as your pregnancy progresses.
If you’re expecting during the winter months, there are a few things you’ll need to do to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
One of the first tips for navigating through a winter pregnancy is to make sure you stay hydrated. When it’s cold out, you may be inclined to steer clear of cold liquids like water -- because they’re cold, and so are you. However, drinking water is essential to your health, along with the baby’s. You can also sip on seasonal drinks like warm tea or hot cocoa.
Another tip for winter is to stay warm, even when indoors. If you need to go somewhere and are going to be outside, it’s important for you to dress in layers, to keep your body warm. When you’re pregnant, your body becomes much more sensitive to the cold.
Other tips for surviving your winter pregnancy include:
While the Plano area gets very little snow, if it does snow, have someone else do the shoveling when you’re pregnant.
You also want to make sure that you wash your hands on a regular basis, as wintertime is cold and flu season. During your second and third trimester, your immunity decreases due to all of the changes in your body. Making sure you keep your hands and surfaces in your home as clean as possible can prevent you from getting sick during the winter.
It’s also very important to make sure you get vaccinated against the flu during pregnancy. Because you’re carrying another tiny human inside of you, your have less ability to fight off flu viruses. Dr. Roberts can advise you of when is the appropriate time in your pregnancy to get the vaccine.
No matter what time of the year you become pregnant, there are things that come up, and Dr. Roberts should be notified as soon as possible for any of the following:
Another reason you would want to call would be if you have swelling that doesn’t get better after a day or two. Some swelling is normal during pregnancy, however severe swelling that doesn’t seem to go down should be reported.
You should also call us if you have a severe headache that comes on suddenly.
If you’re ever in doubt about a symptom that you’re experiencing at any point in your pregnancy, it’s best to give our office a call. Dr. Roberts can determine if he needs to see you or if you need to go to the hospital. Taking care of yourself and keeping a close eye on any unusual symptoms can help you have a smooth, healthy pregnancy.
When you find out that you’re pregnant, especially in the winter months, call our office in Plano, Texas, to make an appointment. Or you can request an appointment using our online booking tool.
