Is feeling cold in early pregnancy a healthy concern to worry about?
Pregnant women typically experience increased body temperature. The increased blood flow to the skin and variations in hormone levels are to blame for this.
With the hormone surges and all the significant changes happening inside your body during pregnancy, it can feel like you can’t even control your body’s reactions.
Some of these changes include varying body temperatures.
Most women feel hot when they are pregnant, which is entirely normal.
How about feeling cold? What could be causing it, and is this a cause for concern? Here’s what to do when feeling cold in early pregnancy.
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What to do when feeling cold in early pregnancy
While it can be very scary to feel cold in early pregnancy, it is not necessarily a bad thing.
Some of the reasons why this can be happening include:
Anxiety
Pregnancy is a very anxious time for any mother.
Your mind might be running wild thinking about your baby’s safety during the pregnancy period and birth.
You can also find yourself worrying about every little ache you have and getting stressed out over the million and one things you still need to do.
Your body’s natural response to anxiety is diverting the blood from your skin to your heart so you can flee or fight.
That is why you can end up feeling cold, but it doesn’t last.
Just take a deep breath to calm down and get your heart rate back to normal.
It would be best if you also talked over some of your concerns with friends, family, and your doctor so that you have a concrete plan of action.
Infection
When you have a viral or bacterial infection, your body will induce chills as a way to fight off the nasty germs.
Infections usually come with a fever and achiness all over your body.
If you suspect that you have one, be sure to see your doctor so you can be diagnosed and given the appropriate treatment.
You should also make sure that you keep hydrated and get some extra rest at home to heal faster.
Anemia
Anemia results from your body not producing enough red blood cells, which help to carry oxygen throughout your body.
These are made using iron in the body, and you can suffer from anemia if there’s not enough of it.
Pregnant women usually suffer from iron-deficiency anemia because they need twice as much iron to make enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells.
Apart from feeling cold in your hands and feet, some of the other anemia symptoms include weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat.
You should see your doctor if you suspect that you have anemia during pregnancy.
They can prescribe an iron supplement or even administer iron intravenously in more severe cases.
In the meantime, you can make sure that your diet contains a lot of iron-rich foods, including poultry, lean red meat, and beans.
Lack of sleep
A good night’s sleep is essential for maintaining the optimal body temperature.
When you’re pregnant, getting to sleep well every night can be something of a tall order.
You’ll probably have lots of bathroom breaks and finding a comfortable position for your growing belly.
Try to take few liquids at night, so you take less frequent trips to the loo.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition that affects a small percentage of pregnant women.
It is caused by having an underactive thyroid, which doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones.
It can also be a result of a damaged thyroid or an iodine deficiency.
The thyroid hormone is essential for the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system.
The condition is treatable, using thyroid hormone replacement drugs.
One should not take these replacement drugs with prenatal vitamins.
It makes it harder for your body to absorb the hormone.
Knowing what to do when feeling cold in early pregnancy can be the difference between having a lousy time and having a great time while pregnant.
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Nazeli Gevorgyan studied at Yerevan State Medical University and is an Obstetrics/Gynecology resident
