Sunbathing/overheating

[Managua]

Hi ladies, I hope you are all having lovely pregnancies and babies.
I am looking for some advice or reassurance.
I just entered my second trimester and so far so good. My problem is that I am very anxious about a holiday that I had during my first trimester 8-10 weeks. I spent 2 weeks in the Caribbean sun... My midwife and gp new that I was going and when I asked for advice they both told me to just have a good time. So I did this unfortunately means that I have sunbathed. Not as much as I would so normally but still I spent most of my days in the sun in very hot weather. I keep thinking that I might have overheated and hurt my baby in a way, I am particularly worrying about brain damage as heard that fetal brain heats up very quickly! I'm so scared and can't believe I haven't been warned by my mw about this. Since coming back I've read only negative things about sunbathing pregnant especially in the first trimester. I know that there is plenty of women who have babies in hot climates but I supposed they don't worship the sun like tourists do...
I'm looking for personal stories if you have sunbathed, been on a holiday or overheated in any way during your first trimester and went on to have a healthy or unhealthy baby. Really want to figure out where I'm standing here as I read one thing online but midwife is very dismissive of my worries and to he honest doesn't seam to know much about the overheating issues in general, didn't mention hot tubs or saunas either and when I asked about them she said that the danger is only to mum fainting. This doesn't sound right to me

 

[Soph_UK]

Hi

I spent two weeks in South Africa and two weeks in Malaysia in my first trimester. My midwife said it's fine, and everything looked good in my 20 week and my 16 week scans.

Don't worry

 

[Soph_UK]

Hi

I spent two weeks in South Africa and two weeks in Malaysia in my first trimester. My midwife said it's fine, and everything looked good in my 20 week and my 16 week scans.

Don't worry

 

[Managua]

Thanks Soph
Did you sunbathe at all?

 

[mikid]

I was on honeymoon when found out we were expecting DD1 and spent three weeks on the beach in the South Pacific... My daughter is perfect!

Never had any issues with overheating, couldn't sunbathe quite as much as normal, i felt more sensitive to the heat so would pop into the shade for a while if I felt I was getting light headed or too hot but still sunbathed... How can you not in such a beautiful place!

I really wouldn't worry Hun xx

 

[ScarlettMG]

I wouldn't worry, especially if your doctor and mw knew that you were going. Less so in the first trimester (only because that was October-December) but have sunbathed all through my pregnancy including today at 37 weeks because I live abroad... And it was 30 Celsius today. Worrying and fretting is more harmful for both of you. If there were some effect (which I'm certain there's not) stressing about it isn't going to make it better will just cause stress for your baby. Try to relax and stop reading stories online it's the worst thing to do... If you're lookin you'll be able to find stories of people dying from being exposed to a breeze... The internet is a terrifying place which is enough to make you never want to leave the house!! Xxx

 

[keeptrying14]

I'm 30 weeks and in Mallorca for two weeks doc and mw said asking as I have suncream to have a good time and enjoy it!! I really wouldn't worry a baby 8-10 weeks is tiny and Is very well protected try not to stress xx

 

[Managua]

Thanks girls, not worrying and not reading is easier said than done. I keep going over my holiday in my head and thinking of days when I did potentially overheat (there was at least a couple real concerns). My midwife didn't even mention hot tubs, and this doesn't make me trust her as much as I would like to.

Mikid, that's very reassuring thank you! Do you remember exactly how far along you where?

 

[AnnaW]

I went on holiday at 21 weeks. I sunbathed although wore a tankini. I also made sure I went and sat in the shade between 12 and 2. My midwife said I was fine to go though and didn't give me any advice on things to do differently. I also made sure I didn't burn x

 

[CARNAT22]

I'm going away next weekend and didn't even think to ask mw if its ok.

Granted I won't be sunbathing but that's more down to the toddler we'll be looking after ha ha

X

 

[Managua]

I didn't burn, used good SPF but my pregnant temperature is 37-37.5, so just hope it didn't raise much higher and become dangerous.

 

[StaceyRainbow]

I went on holiday when I was 20 weeks and I sunbathed and just got in the pool to cool down, my baby is fine.. I think you would know if you had overheated to a point of concern as you probs wouldn't have felt well yourself and not just feeling a little too warm, I wouldn't worry.

 

[Soph_UK]

I did sunbathe yes. I was told that the sac protecting the baby is good at regulating temperature. Think it needs to get really hot to harm baby, too hot for you to be sitting in the sun

 

[Managua]

Thanks Soph, that's great to know congrats on your baby joy btw, I'm also expecting a boy

I know that at no point did I feel unwell, dizzy it faint. Slightly nauseous but then I did often in my first trimester and even now. However on a couple of occasions my skin felt extremely hot in the evening and one day my urine felt very hot and not sure if that would be because I wasn't drinking enough water that day? Or because my core temperature increased so much.

Your posts help a lot, thanks girls.

 

[mikid]

Well I found out two days into a three week honeymoon so would have been around 4-5 weeks when I tested then 7-8 weeks pregnant by the time we flew home...

I understand your concern, I was worried about having flown halfway around he world (hen having to fly back again), only having fish and seafood to eat when most of that you're meant to avoid, being in such a hot climate... You name it, I worried about it! But like someone else said, worrying can do more harm than anything else. It's done now, you've had a scan and all seems well and I'm sure at your next scan everyone will turn out to be just fine. I know it's easier said than done but please try not to worry x

 

[Managua]

Thanks mikid for sharing your story, it really means a lot to me
I suffer from anxiety as it is and pregnancy just made a nutter out of me and I can't stop thinking I guess it's good that I don't obsess about every little thing, most of the time I am able to rationally explain things to myself. I also ate a lot of seafood on my holiday, initially worried then decided that as it was mostly prawns and they were well cooked I don't need to worry about them as prawns are small and don't carry many toxins. So I know I can reason with my anxiety.

The thing is that with the core body temperature issues I am pretty sure I got too hot on at least a couple of occasions, and the incident with hot urine is one of them. Urine can only be of core body temperature apparently, so it's worrying me greatly. I wish someone would be able to explain me otherwise, in seeing my midwife next Thursday so hopefully she'll have some advice.
But it's great to hear from all mums who sunbathed and got hot and went on to have healthy bouncy babies. I can't begin to explain how much better it makes me feel

 

[afield1]

Hi I'm in abroad at the moment. I'm normally in the sun the whole time but this time getting a bit more shade and using a higher factor as your skin can be more sensitive. I have got a holo too!! A lilo with a hole for the bump this is really good for the pool and also can use out the pool and lie on your front x

 

[Niknak]

I was in Antigua from 6-8 weeks pregnant and I sunbathed the whole time but with my face in the shade as it made me feel sick if my face got too hot - I had a couple of dizzy spells when I stood up so when that happened I stayed in the shade a bit more. I was also going into the gym and working out - there was only a little air conditioning so got very hot. My son is 2.5yrs and a little monster! Nothing wrong with him whatsoever apart from being a very opinionated 2 year old! He talks, counts, knows his alphabet! I then went away again for three weeks to South of France in the August when i was 20wks and spent loads of time sunbathing and just generally being outside in the sun. Pretty sure the risk is of fainting rather than anything else - I really wouldn't worry, your body is an amazing thing and very good at keeping your core body temp constant, otherwise everyone who lives in hot countries would be dead from organ failure as this is what happens when you lose the ability to control temp! I am 19 weeks pregnant now and I am sure we will be going somewhere hot in the summer and I will find it impossible not to lie in the sun whenever I can! I'm sure you will be fine xx

 

[Managua]

Niknak thanks so much for your input! I'm having a really bad anxious day and reading your story really lifted my spirits
I'm also expecting a boy and would love for him to be an opinionated 2 year old one day
Thanks again for putting a smile on my face

 

[FrecklesMcGee]

I spent 2 weeks in Mexico when I was 6-8 weeks pregnant with my first....I just made sure to drink lots of water!!! My daughter is 8 now and perfectly fine....as long as your temp doesn't rise, baby is fine...