With temperatures soaring across different parts of the country, Dr. Anubhuti Rana, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi, said that heatwaves pose a serious risk to pregnant women. She urged expectant mothers to take special precautions during the prevailing weather conditions.
Speaking to IANS, Dr. Rana said, “Pregnancy is already a special condition for women, as there is an increased demand on both the mother and the baby.”
“Heatwaves can cause exhaustion and dehydration, which may affect both the mother and the foetus,” she added.
Advising pregnant women to take extra care during the heatwave, she said, “They should drink plenty of water, coconut water, and shikanji. They should also take frequent rests and consume fresh and nutritious food.”
She further advised adding salt and lemon to water during such weather conditions.
Moreover, Dr. Rana said pregnant women should avoid stepping outdoors during peak heat hours, especially between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“At home, pregnant women should wear soft and loose-fitting clothes during the ongoing heatwave,” she added.
The doctor said these precautions are simple and manageable.
Earlier, Dr. Piyush Ranjan, Additional Professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, said cases of dehydration and heatstroke tend to rise sharply whenever temperatures increase.
He warned that dehydration can progress to heatstroke, commonly known as ‘loo lagna’, and in severe cases, patients may even lose consciousness.
Dr. Neeraj Nishchal, Professor in the Department of Medicine, said plain water alone may not be sufficient during extreme heat conditions because the body loses salts through sweating.
“It is important to understand that drinking only plain water is not enough, because during extreme heat, the body loses not just water but also salts through sweating. Therefore, ORS solutions or electrolytes are considered more beneficial,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gujarat has also been witnessing intense heat, with temperatures reaching 43.3 degrees Celsius in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Surendranagar recorded a maximum temperature of 43.8 degrees Celsius.
The weather department said temperatures are likely to remain steady over the next week, although light to moderate rainfall may occur in some isolated districts.
“There is a forecast of rain in isolated places across Gujarat and Saurashtra,” a weather department official said.
–IANS
