Summer Pregnancy Survival Guide

This helpful post is full of tips for surviving a summer pregnancy. If you’re wondering how to make it through the summer when you’re pregnant, this summer pregnancy survival guide will help!

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Two summers ago we were living in the very humid Midwest and I was due with our second baby the beginning of September. I was constantly hot and uncomfortable, and I had a hard time staying cool with a rambunctious toddler to take care of. Pregnancy problems, am I right?

Luckily, I did figure out a few things that helped me stay cool, and now as we are about to enter July, I’m sure that all of you pregnant mamas are in the same boat as I was. Today I want to share my summer pregnancy survival guide, including some helpful tips for staying cool during a summer pregnancy, in the hopes that maybe you won’t feel like you are constantly sweaty every day.

1. Go to the pool as often as you can. I know what you’re thinking. “But I don’t have a swimsuit I can wear!” Well guess what? Cute pregnant swimsuits exist, so go buy yourself one. Now if you have older kids, I’m sure you’re probably using the excuse that you don’t have the energy to take them to the pool. Go with another mom, go with a friend, or find a waterpark or neighborhood pool with a 1″ shallow zone. We had a city waterpark down the street in Iowa and there was a huge kid area that I just let Little J play in while I sat there next to him. It kept me so cool, and I was able to survive the hottest summer days.

2. Invest in a hand-held fan. Okay that might sound nerdy, but if you can use it to keep your face cool (and maybe your armpits when nobody is looking) then it’s worth it. I love this fan from Brookstone because it’s not super bright and duh, Brookstone makes amazing products. Bring it everywhere you go and you’ll be able to cool off whenever the heat starts to take its toll.

3. Wear big hats. As if you needed a good excuse to wear a big hat, right? Sunhats are the perfect maternity accessory, and they will for sure help keep you cool during a summer pregnancy. They’ll keep the sun out of your eyes and off your face, too, and you’ll feel extra fancy with one, too.

4. Fill a bucket with ice and put your feet in it. My mom had two July babies, so this was her favorite way of staying cool during a summer pregnancy. I have yet to try it myself, but it does sound amazing. Plus, I’m sure it would help with any swelling in your feet!

5. Wear the right clothes. Obviously you need to be wearing shorts and short-sleeves, but you probably don’t want to break the bank on maternity clothes that you’ll only wear for a few months. I wrote a post about my favorite places for maternity clothes, but I would recommend Old Navy, Target, and PinkBlush Maternity as my top three.

Now even with these helpful ways to stay cool, there are three things that you CANNOT forget if you are going to be out in the sun when you’re pregnant.

1. Sunscreen. Pregnancy makes your skin more sensitive, so yes, that does mean it is more susceptible to sunburns and and heat rashes. Sound fun? I didn’t think so. Make sure you are applying that wonderful sunscreen often when you go out in the sun, and make sure you use at least SPF 30. Take care of your baby by taking care of yourself!

2. Bug spray. This probably wasn’t such a huge deal when I was pregnant, but now with the Zika virus, I think that bug spray is extra important, no matter where you live. I know it’s super rare that you could get it, but I think it’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to pregnancy and your growing baby. Plus there are other diseases mosquitoes carry, so just be extra safe.

3. Water. DRINK WATER. I am not kidding. I got dehydrated during my first pregnancy and ended up in the ER. Not fun, and not cheap. Obviously if you’re sweating more (thanks, summer) then you’re going to need more water, so you need extra water when you’re out in the sun. Don’t make the same mistake as me and make sure you always have water around to drink. It will prevent you from getting headaches, getting nauseous or sick, and from potential ER visits.

Summer pregnancies don’t have to be the worst. I know it’s for sure preferable to be pregnant in the winter, but sometimes you just can’t control it. Just be smart, try and stay cool, and don’t feel like you have to stay inside all day because you definitely don’t. Hopefully this little summer pregnancy survival guide will help you out, and hopefully you can make it to your due date without dying of heat exhaustion (kidding).