Being pregnant is one of the greatest miracles in the world. Discovering you will become a mother is a unique feeling. But after the initial joy comes the serious part – to ensure you have a well-built and healthy child. Most pregnancies go off normally, provided you take good care of yourself and consult your doctor regularly. But some cases are worrisome and deserve special attention. Among these questions you have about your pregnancy, you might have the questions "is it normal to feel cold during pregnancy?" and "is it caused by something serious?" In this article, you will get the answer.
Why Do You Feel Cold or Chilly During Pregnancy?
Most pregnant women tend to feel hot. This is because high levels of feminine hormones accelerate metabolism, and hence produce more heat. The body tries to cool off by speeding up the breathing rate, increased perspiration and pumping more blood toward the limbs. However, in some cases the body is overzealous and causes just the opposite effect – overcooling. Then is it normal to feel cold during pregnancy? This is mostly normal during pregnancy, but if you feel cold all the time, though, it means that there is something wrong, so you’d better consult your doctor.
Constant cold feeling could be a sign of hypothyroidism. This is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. If this happens during pregnancy, it may result in developmental delays in the child. Studies have found that children born to mothers with hypothyroidism have lower IQ and impaired psychomotor functions. This condition however can be treated by special hormonal therapy. Other typical symptoms of thyroid hormone deficiency are sluggishness, lack of vitality, fatigue and unexplained gaining of weight.
Another cause for constant cold may be related to sheer infection such as kidney infection. These conditions, however, are accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, etc.
Other Possible Causes of Feeling Cold During Pregnancy
Besides mere overcooling or the more serious hypothyroidism, there could be some other reasons for feeling cold during pregnancy. They are all curable if attended to in time. Identifying the exact cause of feeling cold is very important for the health of both the mother and the baby. So if you notice this problem exists, do not delay visiting your obstetrician.
1. Nutritional Issues
Some women simply refuse to eat, especially if they feel nauseous or have morning sickness. This may result in energy deficiency and hence the body cannot get warm enough. The other reason for feeling cold may be that you don’t keep a healthy diet. A pregnant woman’s diet should contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and proteins. Still, beware that there are a number of energizing foods you have to avoid or be careful of, because they may contain bacteria or toxic substances, which may be harmful for you or your unborn baby. Among those are raw or uncooked fish, unpasteurized milk, raw eggs, etc.
2. Weight Loss
Weight loss can happen especially during the first trimester when the woman is having morning sickness. As a result the fat storage in the body is reduced and with it the source of energy is diminished. In this condition it is normal for the woman to feel cold. There is a required amount of weight that a woman should keep so that she and her unborn baby are healthy. A pregnant woman normally puts on one kilogram of weight during the first trimester and up to five kilograms during the second and the third trimester. Following this rule ensures normal temperature regulation of the body. If you notice that you are losing or not gaining enough weight during pregnancy, you’d better consult your obstetrician. They can direct you to a nutritionist.
3. Anemia
Sometimes there can be iron deficiency in a pregnant woman’s body. Lack of iron means that there is insufficient production of red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. Oxygen is very important for the normal development of the fetus, so it is crucial that it is kept within normal levels. Furthermore, low levels of oxygen cause slowing rate of metabolism which in turn can result in feeling cold.
Another Mom’s Experience
“I am usually a warm person and if it isn’t arctic cold outside, I feel OK at any temperatures. Yet, at some point, even before I realized I was pregnant, I started to feel freezing even in the middle of the summer. I played basketball with students at summer camp in a sweatshirt and jeans and didn’t even sweat! That is when I realized that something was wrong and decided to see my doctor. "Is it normal to feel cold during pregnancy? " I asked the doctor. She said that during pregnancy many processes are going through my body right now and feeling cold could be one of them. Now when I am later in my pregnancy the cold feeling disappeared. So there’s nothing to worry. Every woman experiences different conditions during her pregnancy. And that’s the magic of it, isn’t it?”
How to Avoid Feeling Cold During Pregnancy
There are some simple tips to avoid feeling cold when you are pregnant.
Keep a healthy diet rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, especially calcium and folic acid. Eat various foods; do not stick to one type only. Lack of basic nutritional ingredients can impair the normal development of the fetus and may lead to some inborn diseases to the child later.
Still, be careful with the calories. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can be bad for the health, as much as underweight. Studies have proved that nature has created woman’s body in such a way that it is capable of sustaining two organisms.So the popular saying: “Now that you are feeding two people, you must eat for two” is not quite true. If everything is balanced and kept on moderate levels, there is nothing to worry about.
Know when to call the doctor. And yet, if you notice that in spite of healthy food and way of life you keep feeling cold, do not hesitate to visit your doctor. They will most probably prescribe further medical tests. If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, there is medical treatment available. Keep control and take good care of yourself, so that you give birth to a strong and healthy child.
