5 Tips To Help You Survive A Summer Pregnancy

Depending on where you are in the world, you may be sweating right now (hello to all our mamas in the southern hemisphere!). And if you're in your third trimester... you're really feeling the heat! There's nothing quite like a summer pregnancy.

It's a funny term because you're pregnant 9 months out of the year — so you're going to experience at least 3 of the seasons while expecting. But if your third trimester coincides with the hottest months of the year, we'd call that a "summer pregnancy."

Being pregnant in the summer definitely isn't a bad thing — you get to wear flowing, flattering, comfy maxi dresses, the sun emphasizes your glow, and a refreshing dip in the pool is right at your fingertips. Sounds blissful, right? It is... sometimes.

In the high heat, however, things can get more uncomfortable. Your body will already feel a bit warmer during pregnancy because of the increased amount of blood in circulation. Also, you're more prone to excess sweat during pregnancy, so things can get a bit sticky, and let's be honest: slightly stinky. You also want to make sure that you're staying hydrated and not overheating–so safety comes into play as well, especially when it's seriously hot outside.

We want you to enjoy your summer as much as possible, so, to help you survive a summer pregnancy, we're going to share some of our best hot-weather hacks to keep you cool, comfortable, and happy straight through September. Read on for our top 5 tips!

5 tips for surviving a summer pregnancy

1. Invest in a pair of supportive sandals

No one wants to put on socks and sneakers in the summer, and while we love a cute pair of sandals, they tend to be a bit lacking in the support department. In the later stages of pregnancy, the arches of your feet actually flatten out and roll inward, which is what causes some women's shoe sizes to change during pregnancy. Sandals with good arch support do exist, you just have to do a little digging to find them.

We know you know about swelling too–and extra fluid that makes your feet puffy, combined with the summer heat is not a combination anyone looks forward to. So, when you do find a pair of sandals you're ready to buy, make sure to buy at least a half size bigger to give yourself some extra room (and extra comfort!)  So, look for sandals and slides with arch support, padded soles, and soft straps - and you'll be good to go.

We'd Recommend: Birkenstock's Gizeh T-Bar Sandals

2. Make Safe Sunscreen your new best friend

It's always important to protect your skin from damaging UV rays, but during pregnancy, your skin is even more sensitive than usual. While pregnant you are more likely to experience melasma, a type of hyper-pigmentation that appears on the skin and face, which affects up to 50% of pregnant women, according to the British Skin Foundation. But don't worry, there are things you can easily do to prevent this: staying out of direct sunlight at peak hours (10am-2pm) and wearing sunscreen daily will reduce your risk of sun damage. Since your face is most likely to be affected by hyperpigmentation, a straw floppy hat is always a good accessory to have on hand–on trend and practical!

It's wise to be picky when it comes to choosing your sunscreen. A minimum of SPF 30 and a physical sunblock (instead of a chemical one) are two good starting points. Unlike chemical sunscreens that can be absorbed into your bloodstream, a physical (also called mineral) sunscreen acts as a barrier by using titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide to deflect damaging UV rays away from your skin. At the moment, these compounds are the only two ingredients categorized as Generally Recognised as Safe and Effective (GRASE) by the FDA.

Luckily, physical sunscreens aren’t hard to find, and you can pick up one that you like in your local pharmacy (Hint: Most products marketed as safe for babies are safe for pregnant moms, too! You can check out some of our favorites here). Want to avoid the white cast of mineral sunscreens? Rub the cream between your hands before applying!

We'd recommend: Coola Organic Mineral Sunscreen

3. Opt for loose, breathable clothing

One of the best parts of being pregnant in the summer is the ease of dressing your growing bump: no tight, uncomfortable jeans, bulky sweaters, and restrictive jackets that pull on your belly. Instead, embrace the ultimate wardrobe staple in comfortable and fashionable maternity clothing: dresses.

Maxi and midi cut dresses are incredibly comfortable, and their stretchy and light material won't put unwanted pressure on your abdomen. In hot weather, opt for dresses made of breathable fabrics such as linen, cotton, and rayon. Also, be on the lookout for supportive straps that won’t rub or dig in as the day goes on, and choose empire waists that cinch above your belly for a naturally flattering look.

We'd recommend: Pea in a Pod's Polly Nursing Dress

4. Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more

It’s easy to get dehydrated in the summer heat, and when you’re pregnant you want to be especially mindful of this. We talked about swelling earlier, which can feel extra uncomfortable in the heat, but staying ahead on your water intake will actually help flush excess fluids from your system and decrease swelling. 

If you struggle to remember to drink enough water throughout the day, one of the things we've found to be the easiest way to remember is to pick up a reusable water bottle that has time marks on, indicating how much water you should have consumed by that time of day. If you find it hard (or boring) to drink plain water, try adding frozen berries (which will help keep things cooler too)! They’ll add a bit of sweetness and flavor to your water as they melt, and the antioxidants in the berries are an added bonus.

We'd recommend: Cactaki Time-Marked Water Bottle (note: while pregnant you'd need more water than this bottle recommends, so use this as a baseline!)

5. Don't be too cool for cold packs

This comes down to good old-fashioned ice packs providing instant cooling relief. They're a savior for pregnant moms in the heat of summer, and they're a great way to reduce swelling at the end of a hot day. Place a cold pack on the back of your neck or between your chin and neck to quickly cool off, or pop some on your ankles or wrists if your feet or hands feel swollen and puffy. We've heard of some women freezing a pair of wet socks and putting them on at the end of the day–and to that, we say: whatever works!

Another way to get full-body relief is to cool down the girls... seriously. Keep a head of cabbage in the fridge (or freezer) and when you need some quick relief, pop a cabbage leaf on each breast. The best part is: no one will know. You can also pick up a pair of bra coolers (yes, ice packs for your bra do exist), and we've linked one of our favorites below.

We'd recommend: Lansinoh Therapearl 3-in-1 Breast Therapy

For more health and wellness recommendations suited to your stage, be sure to download the Baby2Body app, and follow us on Instagram at @baby2bodyofficial!

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