Heat in the postpartum period
In the Netherlands, too, we are increasingly dealing with heat, unusual heat, which we must take into account.
On this page, I want to provide you with tips for mother and child, but the other family members can certainly use these tips as well.
The desired body temperature is between 36.5 °C and 37.5 °C
If you have doubts or concerns, always contact the midwife via her emergency number. She is there for all your questions and concerns.
-Continue drinking plenty of fluids and ensure the newborn drinks enough.
- Limit physical exertion during the hottest hours of the day, so avoid unnecessary activities in the afternoon and early evening.
- Keep the house cool by keeping windows, doors, and curtains closed and using fans or air conditioning. However, make sure it does not get too cold and that the newborn is not lying in a draft.
Do what you normally do now too!
- Make a nice spot in the coolest place in your house
-Ensure that you, as a mother, get enough fluids. This can be either cold or hot drinks, with hot drinks being very pleasant for your body. Hot drinks are easily accepted and processed by your body. Cold drinks, on the other hand, require your body to warm them up first before they can be processed.
- Take good care of your own rest. Sleeping through the night might not come naturally, but many short naps between feedings and activities can also provide sufficient rest.
Your little one is just starting out on this earth and may not yet be able to clearly indicate what he or she needs.
- Check the baby's body temperature with every diaper change.
Keep the diapers so that the midwife and maternity nurse can take a look with you. The urine is not always easy to detect.
- Keep the ambient temperature as cool as possible (normally we are talking about a room temperature between 18°C-20°C. At night, you can think of 16°C-18°C).
- The room temperature is combined with a blanket or sheet. Even in hot weather, a newborn often still has the need to be swaddled. This provides a feeling of security. So pay extra attention and seek advice if you are unsure.
- Seek out the shade
- Breastfeed more often if breastfeeding
- Consult with the midwife whether it is necessary to offer extra feeding.
The advice is to provide extra food instead of offering water.
- Allow as much air circulation as possible, within the possibilities, in the crib, playpen, stroller, cradle, etc. Caution! No drafts.
Create a cool space
Warning! The trip is strongly discouraged.
- Stay cool by keeping the curtains, doors, and windows closed. This way, no heat enters.
- Place a fan or air conditioner in the room to cool the space. When using the air conditioner while the baby is sleeping, set it a few degrees cooler than the outside temperature to prevent too much temperature difference.
- Make sure that the baby's sleeping area, as well as your own, is not in a draft.
- Attics and upstairs rooms are warmer than downstairs, provided you have air conditioning there.
Clothing for you and your newborn
What works for you often works for your newborn too.
- Put on light clothing.
- Offer your newborn light clothing when body heat becomes too high.
- If the newborn's temperature is on the high side, you can put on a onesie with a diaper. Optionally, wrap a sheet around the baby to create the feeling of being born.
Random snippets/snap messages
What else do you need to consider?
- Carrying your baby is not recommended from 30°C.
- When temperatures rise above code orange, it is not recommended to take your newborn outside. It is often too hot for that. If it is cooler outside than inside, seek shade. Pay close attention to ensure your newborn does not receive any direct sunlight. The skin cannot absorb this.
If you are suffering a lot from the heat, place a bowl of cool water next to you with towels, and place these towels on your neck, wrists, and ankles. This will provide some cooling.
