Managing the condition in summertime.

• Position: Pregnancy - Brief article

Summer is not the most fun time to be pregnant, as heat and sweat add to the ordinary discomfort of pregnancy, and hormonal changes can make women less able to regulate body temperature. Still, it is important to get healthful exercise, 30 minutes a day, three to four times a week, maintains Diane Hughes, an obstetrician at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. "By taking some simple precautions, and knowing the early signs of overheating, pregnant women can maintain their health even through hot weather."

Avoiding overheating especially is important in early pregnancy, when the fetus is going through critical developmental stages. For that reason, pregnant women should not use hot tubs or saunas, but they should drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day. They also can enjoy cold treats such as frozen fruit pops, but keep an eye out for junk ingredients like added sugar.

If exercising outdoors, do it...