Welcome To Your Summer Survival Guide!
There’s a lot we love about summer. Backyard barbeques, beach vacations, and those beautiful flowery dresses. But if you are pregnant in the summer (especially in the third trimester), it can quickly turn into the worst time of the year.
Pregnancy comes with a whole host of physical issues that make life difficult. The increased blood flow and hormonal changes make you feel hot all the time, your feet start swelling, and sleeping becomes a real problem. Add to that the intense heat and humidity, and everything you already feel is made worse.
But here is the good news; you don’t have to deal with the discomfort lying down. As a person who has gone through two summer pregnancies, I have a handful of tips that can minimize the discomfort significantly. So, without further ado, let’s dive in and get you some relief.
Stay Hydrated
This may seem obvious, but the best way to cool down your overheating body is to hydrate. Summer heat tends to leave people dehydrated, and pregnancy only makes it worse. There is also the swelling aspect where the body holds onto water and causes edema. The only way you can overcome all these issues is to drink at least ten glasses of water a day. Water flushes out the excess fluids and reduces edema besides cooling you down. Keep a bottle of water near you throughout the day so you can sip often. If you struggle to drink water due to taste, flavour the water with some lemon juice or berries.
Making a big pint of natural juice with mangoes, berries, and other fruits is also a great way to hydrate and nourish yourself. Since the juice is delicious, you will have no problem downing many glasses throughout the day.
Another way to make sure you drink enough water throughout the day is to carry a reusable water bottle that has a wide mouth, making it easier to drink numerous liquids at a time. I personally use the Yeti Brand. It keeps the water cold (or hot if you want), it is light so you can easily carry it in your bag. They also have a variety of colours, so you can have fun with them!
Get Your Bathing Suits Out
There are many times during your pregnancy you’ll want to lock yourself in the refrigerator just to get a second of relief. Don’t do it. What you need during those times is to get into a nice cold pool. The cold water will cool you down, but it will also give your joints and muscles some relief from pain.
Swimming is a fantastic exercise option for pregnant women. According to a study in BioMedCentral, women who took advantage of water aerobics requested less pain relief medication during birth. But even if you don’t know how to swim, just hanging out in the pool can reduce swelling in your ankles and relax your entire body.
That said, don’t let pregnancy stop you from rocking that hot swimsuit. The secret is to find a comfortable bathing suit that can adjust as you grow bigger. Personally, I love Summer Mea Brand, and once I found out that they have a maternity line I was thrilled! Those maternity bathing suits have adjustable shoulder straps that offer good support, and removable padding bras. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, and the price is super affordable. Bikinis may have been your thing before pregnancy, but during pregnancy your body requires something more comfortable and one can be adjusted to the body changes.
Dress Light
One of the perks of summer pregnancies is that you don’t need to wear layers of clothing. This is the one season when you can rock a light free dress, and some tank tops without worrying that you’ll be judged. Take advantage of the situation and dress as light as possible.
Opt for loose, breathable clothes that let in plenty of air. Sleeveless maxi and midi cut dresses are perfect at this time because they are airy, comfortable, and stretchy. Just make sure you go with light, breathable fabrics like linen, cotton and rayon. I personally love this style, however, a number of retailers on the market offer endless choices for summer dresses. Treat yourself to a summer shopping spree. This will make dressing up and getting ready more fun and light!
Rest Up
That’s right. Summer is typically a season where you should stay home and relax more. I know you have errands to run and baby essentials to buy, but you need to rest too. If it’s not absolutely essential to go out in the sun, stay home and delegate errands to other people.
The thing with staying home is that you get to enjoy some air conditioning, ice packs, cold water, and putting your feet up. If you can afford it, take a nice babymoon and enjoy your rest on the best beaches and hotels. You are about to have an entire year of sleepless nights and zero rest. Why don’t you take this time to rest in advance and get pampered instead of working yourself up?
That however doesn’t mean you stay in bed all day or become a couch potato binge-watching series after series. Instead, make a point to move around the house every few hours. Walk upstairs several times, vacuum the house, make dinner from scratch-anything to keep your body moving. Putting your feet up may sound cool at first, but too much time lying down will only worsen the swelling.
Protect Your Skin From Sunlight
Protecting yourself from UV rays is always important, but you need to be even more vigilant when you are pregnant. This is because pregnant women have more sensitive skin prone to melasma, a type of hyperpigmentation that affects over half of pregnant women.
Not to worry though, there’s plenty you can do to protect your skin besides staying home. For one, you should wear sunscreen daily, even if you don’t expose yourself to direct sunlight. But not any sunscreen will do here- you need a minimum of SPF 30 and a physical sunblock instead of chemical protection. Physical sunblock’s contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide that acts as a barrier and deflects UV rays.
A nice brim hat like this straw floppy hat will also protect your face from direct sunlight. Since you can’t cover up your entire body in that heat, try to avoid being out in the sun during peak hours (10 am-3 pm).
In Conclusion
A summer pregnancy can be great if you want it to. You get to wear free summer dresses, spend a lot of time in the water and live in flip flops. As for the uncomfortable stuff, incorporating the above simple steps into your daily life can make all the difference. Hydrate, dress appropriately, protect against UV rays, and rest. During those days when the heat and the swelling start to get into your head, remind yourself that you don’t have to cover up or bend to wear winter boots.
How I Choose The Recommendations for This Article
All of the products on this article (and in this blog in general) have been personally tested by either myself or a close family member. That means if I recommend something, it’s because I truly believe in it. Some of my recommendations may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click any of those links and make a purchase, I might get a small commission for it.
