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Can pregnant and breastfeeding women sunbathe?

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
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Many expectant mothers wonder whether pregnant women can sunbathe. Before answering this question, it is worth noting the positive properties of sun treatments:

  • The sun promotes the production of vitamin D, which acts as a preventative against rickets in the fetus.
  • Summer holidays improve your mood, relax and improve your well-being.
  • Ultraviolet rays boost immunity, improve metabolism and activate the work of many organs and systems of the body.
  • Increased sweating helps remove toxins from the body.

The sun is a source of well-being, energy and mood for the expectant mother. After a summer vacation, many women stop suffering from toxicosis and depression goes away. But in some cases, tanning during pregnancy is contraindicated. Such a vacation should be avoided if you have the following health problems:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, coronary heart disease).
  • Metabolic disorders.
  • Dermatological diseases.
  • Pathologies of the endocrine system.
  • Diabetes mellitus.
  • Mastopathy.

In other cases, if the pregnancy is normal, you can sunbathe. Particular caution should be exercised in the early and late stages, as dry air and heat can cause a deterioration in your health. When relaxing on a dirty beach, there is a risk of getting hurt and getting an infection, which will negatively affect both the woman's health and the development of the child. Also, do not exclude the possibility of sunstroke or heatstroke.

To ensure that pregnancy and summer vacation do not cause complications, you should adhere to the following rules:

  1. You should sunbathe in the morning before 10:00 and in the evening after 16:00. At other times, there is a risk of getting sunstroke.
  2. During pregnancy, the tan sets in much faster, so it is better to allocate no more than 1-2 hours a couple of times a week for a beach holiday.
  3. To protect yourself from sunstroke, you should wear a sun hat and don't forget about sunglasses. You should also buy a special cream with a high protection index.
  4. It is not recommended to lie on sand or pebbles, as they become very hot under the influence of UV radiation, which increases the risk of burns and overheating of the body. You should rest on a special lounger so that your head is slightly raised.
  5. You should take still cool water with you. Cold drinks are contraindicated, as a sharp change in temperature can cause a cold.

Failure to follow the above recommendations is dangerous for the woman and the unborn child. Overheating causes a sharp increase in the temperature of the mother's body and her internal organs. This can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the fetus's nervous system and even brain damage. Overheating provokes relaxation of the smooth muscles of the uterus, which can cause uterine bleeding, miscarriage or premature birth.

Can a nursing mother sunbathe?

With the onset of summer, many women face the problem: can a nursing mother sunbathe in the sun? Mammologists claim that sun procedures during lactation are allowed, but only if the following rules are observed:

  • During breastfeeding, the sensitivity of the mammary glands is increased due to hormonal changes, so direct exposure to UV should be avoided. That is, resting topless is contraindicated.
  • It is necessary to use special creams with a protection level of 30-50 SPF. Recovery processes during lactation are increased, so an increase in birthmarks under the influence of UV can be observed.
  • It is better to sunbathe in the morning before 11:00 and in the evening after 16:00. On the first day, you should limit yourself to short rests, gradually increasing the time spent outdoors.
  • After resting, you should rinse with clean water and apply a moisturizer to your skin. Also, don't forget to maintain your water balance.

If there are any diseases, then whether it is possible to sunbathe during lactation, the attending physician should determine. In other cases and subject to the above recommendations, sunbathing is allowed.

When can you sunbathe after a cesarean section?

Modern medicine does not stand still, so many abdominal surgeries have been replaced by more gentle ones. But there are surgeries that cannot be replaced. These include cesarean section, as an effective method of delivery. In any case, surgical intervention is a rather serious test for the body, after which a long time is required for recovery. Therefore, it is not surprising that the postoperative period has many prohibitions and contraindications.

Summer vacations should be treated with special caution. When sunbathing after a cesarean section is allowed is determined by the attending physician, individually for each patient. As a rule, sun treatments are allowed after the end of the rehabilitation period and healing of scars, on average after 3-4 months. Ignoring medical recommendations in combination with overheating in the heat can lead to bleeding and inflammatory processes.

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