Re:
Why am I always cold since becoming pregnant?
That’s a really good question! Most pregnant women feel warmer than usual during pregnancy, because pregnancy ramps up your metabolism, producing heat. Your body might try to cool off by speeding up your breathing rate, sweating and producing greater blood flow to your arms and legs.
In some women, those cooling efforts may go into overdrive -- which could explain why you feel so chilly.
If you’re constantly cold, though, it’s a good idea to consult your OB. Feeling cold all the time is a symptom of hypothyroidism, a condition caused by an underactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism isn’t a serious disease, but if you have it, it’s important to get treatment. A simple blood test can confirm (or rule out) hypothyroidism.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Hypothyroidism during pregnancy
Fever during pregnancy
Fatigue during pregnancy
James O’Brien, MD, ob-gyn and medical director of inpatient obstetrics at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island in Providence