Dealing with hot flashes during pregnancy

It is normal to have hot flashes during pregnancy. During pregnancy the amount of blood in the body increases about 50%. Blood vessels dilate slightly so that it can better handle the extra blood. This allows blood to come to the surface and makes you feel hot.

Regular fluctuation in hormone levels especially drops in estrogen as well as increase in metabolism during pregnancy can also result in this condition.

Hot flashes during pregnancy usually affect the head, neck and chest and can last from seconds to minutes.

It is   common in the second and third trimester. They may even continue to persist for a while after the baby is born.

You should however know when it is hot flashes and when you have a fever because fevers can be a sign  of an infection and high fever during pregnancy can be dangerous.  The main difference between fever and hot flashes is that a fever raises  your body’s  temperature but hot flashes do not.

How to deal with hot flashes during pregnancy

You can manage this condition by doing the following :

• drink ice water
• open a window
• use a fan
• dress in light layers so that it is easier to remove or add layers as needed

You have to know that like many other pregnancy symptoms, hot flashes  will also pass.