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Does Long Sun Exposure In Pregnancy Cause Any Harm To The Fetus?
Question: Good morning
We went to Cuba for 2 weeks with my wife while she was 8 weeks pregant.
We took the sun quite a lot and it was obvioulsy very hot. My wife took folic acid daily and wear sun protection. She got sun burn the first week. One day, her pee was really hot. Her belly was very very hot most of the time. We are now worry about overheating and the effect and the foetus as her body temperature might have been higher due to the long exposure to the sun. Many thanks for your help.
We went to Cuba for 2 weeks with my wife while she was 8 weeks pregant.
We took the sun quite a lot and it was obvioulsy very hot. My wife took folic acid daily and wear sun protection. She got sun burn the first week. One day, her pee was really hot. Her belly was very very hot most of the time. We are now worry about overheating and the effect and the foetus as her body temperature might have been higher due to the long exposure to the sun. Many thanks for your help.
Brief Answer:
Dont worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I read your query and I understand your concerns.
Following is my reply:
1) Long exposure under sun is not a matter of concern.
2) Infact exposure to sun helps in release of Vitamin D in the mother which has beneficial effects on mother and baby.
3) Let her continue with her folic acid tablets and get an ultrasound scan around 12 weeks pregnancy to check nuchal thickness.
Let me know if you have anymore questions.
Regards,
Dr. Mahesh Koregol
Dont worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I read your query and I understand your concerns.
Following is my reply:
1) Long exposure under sun is not a matter of concern.
2) Infact exposure to sun helps in release of Vitamin D in the mother which has beneficial effects on mother and baby.
3) Let her continue with her folic acid tablets and get an ultrasound scan around 12 weeks pregnancy to check nuchal thickness.
Let me know if you have anymore questions.
Regards,
Dr. Mahesh Koregol
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your reply.
We have read conflicting information and heard that many doctors advise against sunbathing, especially in the first trimester due to the sun increasing core temperature and in turn iverheating the fetus.
She is particularly worried about the time when her urine felt very hot as this apparently indicates high core body temperature. She knows she wasnt drinking enough water that day and as soon as she realised she started drinking more and it got better.
Could there any other reason why her pee felt so hot?
Are we safe to assume that there has been no harm done to the baby?
We have read conflicting information and heard that many doctors advise against sunbathing, especially in the first trimester due to the sun increasing core temperature and in turn iverheating the fetus.
She is particularly worried about the time when her urine felt very hot as this apparently indicates high core body temperature. She knows she wasnt drinking enough water that day and as soon as she realised she started drinking more and it got better.
Could there any other reason why her pee felt so hot?
Are we safe to assume that there has been no harm done to the baby?
Brief Answer:
Burning micturition
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Burning micturition is due to drinking less water or urinary tract infection. If it has got better now it could have been due to dehydration only. It has nothing to do with harming baby.
There is nothing like increased core temperature. Body balances the temperature with water in body. There will be no harm to baby due to sun exposure.
Dont worry.
Regards
Dr. Mahesh Koregol
Burning micturition
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Burning micturition is due to drinking less water or urinary tract infection. If it has got better now it could have been due to dehydration only. It has nothing to do with harming baby.
There is nothing like increased core temperature. Body balances the temperature with water in body. There will be no harm to baby due to sun exposure.
Dont worry.
Regards
Dr. Mahesh Koregol
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you doctor for your reassurance.
We find it hard to believe that the sun doesnt increase body temperature, as there wouldnt be things like heat stroke or sun stroke if that was the case. Luckily my wife was not ill from the sun at any point. Just hot and the incident with hot urine is playing on her mind. Isnt it true then, that dehydration goes in pair with overheating? Wouldn't the hot urine in the bladder increase in turn the temperature of the amniotic fluid? Thank you for your replies, we find them very reassuring.
We find it hard to believe that the sun doesnt increase body temperature, as there wouldnt be things like heat stroke or sun stroke if that was the case. Luckily my wife was not ill from the sun at any point. Just hot and the incident with hot urine is playing on her mind. Isnt it true then, that dehydration goes in pair with overheating? Wouldn't the hot urine in the bladder increase in turn the temperature of the amniotic fluid? Thank you for your replies, we find them very reassuring.
Brief Answer:
No
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Sunstroke and other types of complications occur when person is not well hydrated and is exposed to prolonged extremes of temperatures. I believe it is rather lack of sufficient water that causes sun stroke and complications.
Amniotic fluid is covered in a safe uterine environment and hence doesn't get heated up as uterus regulates temperature.
Regards
No
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Sunstroke and other types of complications occur when person is not well hydrated and is exposed to prolonged extremes of temperatures. I believe it is rather lack of sufficient water that causes sun stroke and complications.
Amniotic fluid is covered in a safe uterine environment and hence doesn't get heated up as uterus regulates temperature.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you very much doctor.
Just to put this worry behind us, despite spending hours in the sun in over 30 degree heat and one mild dehydration incident, you wouldnt think there has been any harm done to the baby through overheating?
It's great to know that the uterus regulates temperature, we only heard the opposite-that the baby cannot regulate it's temperature, therefore overheats easier than mum.
Just to put this worry behind us, despite spending hours in the sun in over 30 degree heat and one mild dehydration incident, you wouldnt think there has been any harm done to the baby through overheating?
It's great to know that the uterus regulates temperature, we only heard the opposite-that the baby cannot regulate it's temperature, therefore overheats easier than mum.
Brief Answer:
No
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Uterus is like an incubator which controls the variations of temperatures, pressures and other atmospheric atmosphere evenly.
Hence it is not possible for amniotic fluid to have boiled to cause bad effect.
The temperature wouldn't have reached beby.
If by imagination also such a heat inside womb would have lead to abortion by now.
Hence dont worry.
Regards
No
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Uterus is like an incubator which controls the variations of temperatures, pressures and other atmospheric atmosphere evenly.
Hence it is not possible for amniotic fluid to have boiled to cause bad effect.
The temperature wouldn't have reached beby.
If by imagination also such a heat inside womb would have lead to abortion by now.
Hence dont worry.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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