Winter Pregnancy Tips
Alecia Stanton
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Every season has it’s pregnancy pitfalls, but the two major seasons, summer and winter, can be especially difficult. Women that are pregnant during the summer battle heat and risk of dehydration, but winter pregnancies are subject to cold, wet weather and illnesses. Because winter pregnancy risks are especially high, it’s important to be extra mindful of your health and safety during the season. However, this isn’t meant to scare you. If you follow the tips below, you can have a happy and healthy winter pregnancy.
Stay Healthy
- Get a flu shot
- In the case of illness, take pregnancy safe medicine:
- Robitussin and Robitussin DM
- Vicks plain cough syrup
- Menthol rubs (such as Vicks)
- Nasal strips
- Halls cough drops
- Cepacol lozenges
- Tylenol
- Avoid these:
- Ibuprofen
- Codeine
- Bactrim (an antibiotic)
- Naproxen (Aleve)
- Aspirin
- Combination medicines
- Multi-symptom cold & flu
- Cold & allergy medicine
- Cough & cold medicine
- Echinacea
- Zinc
- Use your sick days when you’re sick
- During pregnancy, your immune system is suppressed so proper rest is even more important
- Eat more fruit to fortify your immune system
- Wash your hands often to avoid germs and lower risk of illness
- Find ways to stay active
- Prenatal fitness classes
- Gym treadmills
- Stay moisturized to prevent itchiness
- Use quality moisturizers such as products by Aveeno or Eucerin
- Drink lots of water to moisturize from within
Stay Safe
- Get quality rubber-soled shoes or boots with good traction
- Because your center of gravity is off, it is extra important to wear the right shoes
- Avoid shovelling snow
- It involves too much back use, which can cause pain
- Avoid winter sports
- Snowboarding
- Downhill skiing
- Sledding
- If the weather gets too bad, stay inside
- Shop online and have groceries delivered, if possible
You can still have a great winter, as long as you’re careful. Use winter favorites like hot cocoa, cozy fires, and comfy blankets to help you relax. Take advantage of all the stress-relieving aspects of the season and have a happy winter!
