The Summer Heat is ON where we live in the Ottawa area and I am sure where you are this month will be filled with longer days, brighter sun and lots of warmth.
You may LOVE the warmth when you are not pregnant but sometimes those 30 degree days can become overwhelming and it can be challenging to keep your body temperature to something a little more comfortable for you and your growing babe.
Here are some of our favourite ways to stay cool while pregnant:
Create your own COOLING MIST
Grab a spray bottle (I love these ones- http://bit.ly/coolingmist), add approximately 20 drops of doTERRA spearmint oil and top the bottle with water. Mist yourself as you get warm to help cool you down.
*Note- you can also use peppermint essential oil but this oil should be used with caution if you are preparing to breastfeed or breastfeeding as there is a small chance it may decrease milk supply.
Jump in the pool!
Aquafitness is a fantastic way to nourish your mind and body for cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance but it is also a great way to stay cool. Meet new friends and jump in to a prenatal aqua class at your local pool. Bonus? The turbulance of the water as you move acts as a massage to your body and the buoyancy helps counteract gravity and relieves aches and pains. Both of these help in your venous return (bringing blood flow back to your heart) which means your body doesn’t have to work as hard in the water as it does in land from a circulatory point of view.
Or…..
Find your local pool and just jump in! Whether it’s swimming laps or sitting in the local wading pool reading your favourite book (us mamas don’t judge! Whether you have kids with you or not….get in!)
Cool Down Your Feet
Just like wearing a hat in the cooler months can help keep our entire body warmer dunk your feet into a bowl of chilly water and as your feet cool feel your whole body cooling down as well! Throw a cool wet towel over your neck and you will feel like heaven!
Make some Red Raspberry Loose Leaf Iced Tea!
Raspberry Tea has been shown to strengthen the uterus and possibly shorten labour when labour is ready to start. If you are in your third trimester steep some red raspberry loose leaf tea over night in the fridge and enjoy it all day long. This is a refreshing cool drink but also helps for labour and delivery!
Change up your yoga practice!
Now is the perfect time for a long and slow yin practice to help keep your body moving but welcome this time to nourish and nurture with longer and slower movements.
Drink lots of water!
Tip? Fill up multiple water bottles for the day and encourage yourself to get through them all by the days end. Tired of plain water? Add in some slices of cucumber, lemon or your favourite fruit. We also love adding some of our citrus doTERRA oils like lime, wild orange and lemon. As the heat increases and our bodies are working extra hard to keep us cool it’s important to stay well hydrated. It’s harder to “catch up” with hydration once we are already dehydrated and pregnant.
What do YOU love to do to stay cool during these hotter days?
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