Monsoon Care for Moms-to-be: A Complete Guide to a Safe Pregnancy during the Rainy Season
After a long duration of sultry weather, it is always fascinating to have a lazy, cloudy day, with hot beverages, a good sleep, and of course, the savoring of yummy crunchies while it is pouring outside!
While the weather feels pleasant after such a long expanse of scorching heat and endless sweating, it comes with lots of challenges like increased humidity and various other food and water-borne infections.
This makes healthy pregnancy a challenge in monsoons. However, this monsoon pregnancy guide can help you thrive and relish the rainy season!
Importance of Hygiene During Monsoons
During pregnancy, women cope with decreased immunity due to the alteration in their immune system.
Monsoon period adds on to this decreased immunity with hosts of bacteria, fungi and virus contamination in the air. This is also known as bioaerosols as they germinate from the environment that is plants, animals, soil and water.
Good hygiene practices are extremely essential during monsoons to keep the little one growing inside the womb safe because humid air is a breeding ground for loads of infections.
This leads to the spread of various food and water- borne diseases like dengue, malaria, cholera, tetanus, jaundice, flu, diarrhea, vomiting, edema etc.
Here are a few monsoon pregnancy tips for maintaining good hygiene:
1. Bathing: Ensure taking bath at least twice a day with boiled neem water, turmeric or tea tree oil for extra moisturized and rash-free skin.
2. Oil massage: Moisturize the skin with coconut or olive oil. This provides hydrating skin and also alleviates common pregnancy issues like stretch marks and itching.
3. Hand sanitization: Wash your hands regularly to avoid any kind of contamination into your body.
4. Embrace dry clothing: Stay in dry, airy and comfortable clothing, especially dry panties, to prevent the risk of varied skin infections and UTIs.
Healthy Nutrition and Diet Guide
The onset of the monsoon triggers the mood for the consumption of something crunchy and yummy! This tendency increases multifold during pregnancy.
However, as an expectant mother it is your duty to keep the never ending desire to eat anything you wish and stick to the proper intake of essential nutrients, required by your body.
Here is a list of essential diet tips for monsoon pregnancy care:
1. Spices: Due to their antibacterial, antifungal ,antiviral and antibiotic properties, spices like turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, etc. can be incorporated in the diet to promote healthy pregnancy. They are very good for boosting immunity.
2. Hot beverages: There is a risk of flu during monsoons due to the presence of microbes in the environment.
Consumption of herbal teas like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, rosemary etc. helps to ease the nervous system and the breathing by clearing the nasal cavity.
Homemade soups can also be consumed to provide respiratory relief during monsoons.
3. Avoid storing chopped fruits and vegetables: The exposed chopped fruits and veggies lead to oxidation, thus impacting their flavor and color with time. It also leads to bacterial growth due to the exposed moist surface. So, it is favorable to consume it within 20 minutes of chopping them.
4. Meat consumption: It is essential to purchase meat from an authentic source. Also, wash and cook the meat properly to avoid any contamination. Try to avoid seafood at all costs due to risk of water contamination.
5. Protein intake: It is essential to at least intake a small amount of protein in your daily diet for a healthy fetal growth and development. Soya chunks, Milk and milk products, Paneer, Nuts, etc. are some important sources of proteins.
6. Exclude leafy vegetables from your diet: Vegetables like cabbage, Spinach, Fenugreek etc. must be avoided during monsoons or washed properly before cooking. This is because they are more likely to be contaminated compared to other vegetables.
7. Hydration: Monsoon air is moist which might not make you thirsty. But, Humid conditions demand consumption of more than normal intake of water due to excessive sweating and thus, loss of more electrolytes from the body.
Intake of coconut water, electrolyte powder, ORS, or even fruits and fruit juices can help with the dehydration during monsoons.
However, make sure to boil the water before drinking because of the risk of water-borne infections and drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water daily to ensure that you stay hydrated.
Staying hydrated is also essential for the prevention of UTIs and to promote efficient urination.
Also, make sure to carry a water bottle and umbrella when stepping outdoors and avoid highly oily and spicy food as that might disrupt your digestive system.
Importance of Active Physical Body
Staying active during pregnancy supports sound sleep, boosts energy levels and blood circulation and also helps to alleviate the back and pelvic pain.
It also triggers the release of happy hormones,pheromones and oxytocin, making the moms-to-be stress-free.
Active body during pregnancy also helps in healthy labor and delivery.
However, it is better to cut out the outdoor activities and focus on an indoor exercise routine for healthy mother and baby development.
One of the important keys to a healthy monsoon pregnancy care include:
Active Exercise: Practicing yoga, Zumba, Pilates, and short walks indoors can help you develop the required fitness during monsoons.
Passive exercise: Practicing breathing exercises can also keep you prepared for other monsoon-related airborne illnesses due to the strengthening of your lung capacity.
Although, be mindful not to overexert yourself but be very consistent so as to achieve maximum results.
Also, be careful while stepping out for a stroll during monsoons and make sure to carry an umbrella or a raincoat, a water bottle, and mobile for any emergency.
Common Health Issues During Monsoons
The presence of humidity in the atmosphere will not feel dehydrated during monsoons. However, your internal body demands water, so it is very essential to stay hydrated during this time.
Monsoon also breeds fungal growth and various other skin related problems associated with it due to the presence of dampness in the air.
This dampness might lead to various skin related issues in pregnant women like UTIs, itching, rashes, redness etc. Hence, bathing in rain must be avoided. However, if you want to, immediately dry the entire body and wear clean and dry clothes.
Avoid the pooling of stagnant water in the surroundings and also use mosquito nets and repellents to prevent the spread of diseases like dengue, malaria, cholera, etc.
The formation of molds during monsoons might also lead to many respiratory problems. Therefore, it is recommended to stay in a well- ventilated and dry environment.
Burning incense sticks or neem leaves also helps in purifying the air, thus also providing protection from various respiratory issues.
Breathable Clothing and Footwear
Always wear cotton clothes because of the easy breathability of the material. Wearing synthetic fabrics should be avoided due to its insulating properties.
Pathogens like viruses and bacteria present in the humid air makes pregnant women an easy target due to their already decreased immunity.
Also, opt for breathable and non-skidding footwear for extra comfort and support during monsoons.
Pregnant women, particularly in their 3rd trimester, also experience swelling in their body due to fluid retention. This is known as edema. Sometimes, standing or sitting for longer duration also leads to edema. Regular movement and precautions can help prevent it.
Ensuring a Healthy Mind
Monsoon is accompanied with a dark and gloomy weather which might be detrimental for the expectant moms due to their recurring mood swings.
It is therefore essential to indulge in various mindful practices like meditation, gardening, DIY home decor, and knitting, listening to music, playing instruments, painting, journaling, reading, or cooking.
Social interactions are also very important during pregnancy, as they help in stabilizing the mood and preventing loneliness in expectant mothers due to missing out on a lot of other important things during these crucial nine months.
Also, sometimes pampering yourself by enjoying a warm, soothing bath with Epsom salts and essential oils can help in relieving the mind and muscle tension.
Regular Check-ups for Precautions
Safe pregnancy during the rainy season can be ensured by regular prenatal check –ups so as to detect anemia, viral conjunctivitis, stages of fetal growth and various other factors responsible for deteriorating pregnant women’s health during monsoons.
Also, flu symptoms keep changing every year, and therefore, it is mindful to visit your doctor for the vaccine to prepare your mom-body to fight against the infections.
There is a lingering risk of flu, tetanus, cholera, diarrhea, jaundice, dengue, malaria etc. during monsoons and regular prenatal care can lead to its early detection and cure.
In cases of unmanageable health conditions, consult your doctor immediately.
Emergency Preparation Kit
Advance preparation for D-day is always beneficial to not miss out on important essentials like documents, clothing, accessories, snacks, and lots of fluids.
Also, remember to have the emergency contacts on speed dial in case of an emergency.
Conclusion
Adhering to these monsoon pregnancy tips could save expectant mothers from lots of anxieties and fear during monsoons.
Also, prevention is better than cure, so it is important to remain mindful of your clothing, consumption, and activities to help you have a safe and healthy pregnancy.
Besides, if you are really seeking a guided tour of healthy pregnancy care, do follow the whatsapp community page of R for Rabbit and get enlightened with lots of informative content. Also, get a chance for one-on-one interaction with the experts at every stage, from pregnancy to your mom's journey, exclusively.