The answer lives in this podcast
What extra precautions should pregnant or breastfeeding women take during a heatwave?
Pregnant and breastfeeding women need to prioritise hydration above everything else — they require more water than usual even in normal temperatures, and heat increases that demand significantly. All standard cooling strategies apply: fans, cold showers, wet towels, and air conditioning. Visiting air-conditioned public spaces like supermarkets is also a practical, no-cost option worth building into the day.
More water than you think — even before the thermometer rises
The key message from The Toddle About Show is simple but easy to underestimate: pregnant and breastfeeding women are already running a higher fluid deficit than everyone else, even on a cool day. In a heatwave, that gap widens fast.
This isn't about sipping a little extra water. It's about making hydration the active, non-negotiable priority of the day — ahead of tasks, ahead of errands, ahead of keeping everyone else comfortable first.
"Put something cold on your wrists because the blood vessels are much closer to the skin and then you're almost cooling yourself on the inside."
Bill Clapson — Host, The Toddle About Show. Bill Clapson co-hosts the show alongside Emily Clapson, discussing the real, everyday challenges parents face — from surviving heatwaves to navigating school routines. This episode aired in early July 2026, during a summer that had already seen four separate heatwaves before August.
The wrist-cooling tip applies to everyone in the heat, but it's especially relevant here. Small, repeated actions — cold water on pulse points, a damp cloth on the neck — add up when you can't easily regulate your body temperature under normal circumstances. This is one of several practical hacks discussed across this episode of The Toddle About Show.
Partners, public spaces, and the air conditioning question
The episode is direct about the role of partners: do everything possible to keep a pregnant or breastfeeding woman comfortable. That means taking on logistics — the school run, the paddling pool setup, the dog walk at four in the morning if that's what it takes — so she can focus on staying cool and hydrated.
On the practical side, air-conditioned public spaces are flagged as an underused resource. Supermarkets, play cafes, and similar venues offer genuine relief without cost or planning. As Bill Clapson notes in the episode, a slow walk around a cool supermarket is a legitimate heat management strategy — not a chore to be rushed.
The broader point is that no single tactic is enough on its own. Hydration, cooling the body directly, and accessing cooler environments all work together. Dropping any one of them during a heatwave raises the risk for women who are already physiologically stretched.
All of this is covered in fuller context across The Toddle About Show's heatwave episode, which tackles everything from baby sleep to keeping the whole household functional when temperatures don't drop overnight.
See also
What free or low-cost activities can families with young children do to escape the heat during a heatwave?
Walking around a supermarket with air conditioning is highlighted as a free activity that is particularly popular with parents and young children, offering a practical way to cool down without spending money.
Does placing something cold on the wrists help cool you down in the heat?
Placing something cold on the wrists is suggested as a cooling technique because blood vessels are much closer to the skin at that point, which may help cool the body from the inside.
What is the frozen hot water bottle hack for helping children sleep in a heatwave?
Parents fill a hot water bottle partially with water (not full, as water expands when frozen) and freeze it, then place the cold bottle in the child's bed to help lower the temperature before sleep.
Key takeaways
- Hydration is the single highest priority for pregnant and breastfeeding women — their baseline fluid needs are already elevated before the heat hits.
- Every standard cooling strategy — fans, cold showers, wet towels, air conditioning — applies fully and should be used in combination, not as alternatives.
- Air-conditioned public spaces like supermarkets are a practical, free option that's easy to overlook but genuinely effective.
- Partners play a direct role: removing logistical load and actively ensuring comfort is part of managing heat safely for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
This answer comes from a real episode of The Toddle About Show — find the full episode and more on Listenly.
Listen to the episode on Listenly