Pregnancy Week by Week

Hot flashes during pregnancy can occur due to the hormonal changes a woman’s body goes through. Hot flashes are heavy sweating and a rise in the temperature of the body. The sensations of heat are accompanied by a heart rate that increases, sweating and flushing in the area of the chest, neck, and face. Most of the times, these symptoms are associated with a much older woman. Someone who is going through menopause is who we associate hot flashes with. However, they are just as common in women who are expecting a baby.

Hot flashes during pregnancy can last from 30 seconds to five minutes. Some women experience them all the time and some rarely and not at all. Studies of the phenomenon have been done and some of the results are very interesting. About 50% of the warmth is in the neck, head, the ears and the scalp. More than half of the women experiencing these symptoms reported warmth in the neck and breasts. Less than half stated the warmth was below the breast. The other 50% of the women felt the intense heat over the entire surface of the body and the intensity was not specific to one area. Of all those reporting symptoms 39% were of moderate intensity. The other 13% had severe symptoms and had to stop and cool down before they could finish their task at hand.

There are several reasons hot flashes during pregnancy occur. One is the change in hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones that are most affected when a woman gets pregnant. Estrogen will increase in the body until delivery. The hormone is responsible for the growth and development of the child. Progesterone is produced to cause the ligaments and the joints in the woman’s body to become loose. Not only do these hormones cause the intense heat, but they also cause the woman to have a large range of moodiness. Another reason for the intense heat to flare up is because the core temperature of women changes along with the basal metabolic rate. The area of the brain that regulates temperature is affected. If a woman eats hot and spicy food or the outside temperature is warm this will also exacerbate the symptoms.

We know that hot flashes during pregnancy occur and now we will look at how to help the sufferer endure them. If the intensity of the heat is mild then avoiding hot spicy foods, hot beverages, and a hot environment will help. If the intensity is moderate then the woman should avoid the above and also not take any over the counter or herbal remedies. When the symptoms are severe there is not a treatment that has been approved. Hormones are used to treat the older woman who is going through menopause, but these same hormones are what are responsible for the warmth of the woman who is expecting the birth of her child. Exercise of thirty minutes per day is thought to help; wearing loose fitting clothing; and relaxation techniques are all ways to help alleviate the symptoms. The woman should avoid hot beverages, hot baths, and stress. Deep breathing techniques, cool beverages and using a fan will all help cool the body down. There is no need to fret over hot flashes during pregnancy when you become aware that they are common and that you can reduce or eliminate the symptoms by simple lifestyle changes.