A summer pregnancy can be unbearable. Yes, hot, humid, and sticky weather can feel like there’s no end in sight. However, there are so many pluses to welcoming your child during the warm weather. From outdoor exercises to comfy clothes and shoes, below are the top ten reasons to love a warm-weather pregnancy.
#Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Are Abundant
One of the best things about being pregnant in the summer is that you have a ton of healthy options for newly harvested and garden-fresh fruits and veggies. Summer is the time when nature is at its colorful best and produces a diverse range of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, making it easier for pregnant women to maintain a nutrient-dense prenatal diet.
#Sunshine Equals Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem during pregnancy and puts you at a higher risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, bacterial vaginosis, and other complications. With all that extra sunshine around, you can get plenty of vitamin D to keep your and your baby’s bones, muscles, and teeth healthy. Additionally, regular doses of sunshine keep your little one jaundice-free.
#Float On
Swimming is a great form of exercise for pregnant women as it helps them stay active, cool off in the heat, and takes the pressure off of joints and ligaments. Moving your body is difficult due to weight gain but lounging in the water makes it much easier. There’s nothing like floating around weightlessly in the water to relax your mind and strengthen your body during those scorchy days.
#Easy, Breezy Maternity Wardrobe
When it’s hot and you’re pregnant, wearing restrictive clothing is about the very last thing you want to be doing. While you layer yourself during winter, summertime is all about a single layer. That’s why maternity kaftans for pregnant ladies are fair game during the summer, as they leave you feeling wonderfully cool, no matter which trimester you’re currently in. You can also try other popular options: maxi dresses, skirts, tank tops, bathing suits, and bikinis.
#Flip Flops
Flip flops are a godsend for pregnant ladies during summer because swollen feet don’t always fit in traditional footwear, such as heels, straps, buckles, or laces. You have limited options in the winter, but you can choose anything from flip flops to the most comfortable hiking sandals in the summer season. Just make sure you constantly monitor your swelling and have proper foot support.
#The Less Germs
Summer pregnancy means you’re less prone to catching flues, colds, viruses, and infections as fewer seasonal bugs are flying in the atmosphere during this season. The abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables significantly boosts your immune system, which further minimizes your chances of getting sick. On the other hand, you run a much higher risk of getting a couple of colds during winter, even if you stay at home 24/7.
#Great Time for Outdoor Exercises
When you have a summer pregnancy, it’s a great idea to head outside for some fresh air, and low-impact outdoor exercises are a perfect excuse for it. Daily physical activities, such as walking, swimming, running, yoga asanas, and dancing, are perfectly safe during summer and can be done during all stages of pregnancy, no matter what your fitness level is.
#Summer Means Vacation Time
The summer months are perfect for taking a vacation and some time off work. If you’re already in the second trimester of your summer pregnancy, it is the best time of the year for one last kid-less hurrah before you transition from being partners to parents. Use this extra free time to reconnect and spend quality time together, even if you’re taking a short road trip or staycation.
#The Guilt-free Ice Cream
Summer pregnancy brings a delicious frozen treat that you can taste anywhere and everywhere. When it comes to eating delicious ice cream in the summer, you don’t have a second thought about weight gain or catching a cold because it’s summer, and you want to enjoy ice cream utterly free of guilt.
#The Less Stress
Summer is the time when you want to spend most of your time outside. Walking, swimming, jogging, parks, beach, farms, and so much more – all the options relax you and reduce stress levels drastically. Additionally, summertime brings many holidays, so you don’t have to worry about work-related stresses. Thus, summer is possibly a more relaxing time than those tough frosty days.
Surprising Things About a Summer Pregnancy
If you have a summer pregnancy, here are some things you might not expect:
- You feel hot all the time
- Your feet and ankles swell a lot
- Constant sweat is your new reality
- Dressing comfortably won’t be as easy
- Sunscreen becomes a new chore
- You can sometimes overheat
- You stop shaving your legs
- You have chafing thighs
- Sleep is now just a dream
- You pee more often
- You reach new levels of laziness
- You get weird tan lines
- You have an office air conditioning war
- You want to eat a lot of ice cream
- Your hay fever is out of control
- You become irritable
- You feel sick
Best Ever Hacks to Survive a Summer Pregnancy
Don’t let rising temperatures stop you from enjoying the excitement of awaiting the arrival of your baby. Follow these simple guidelines to stay cool, fit, and healthy during your summer pregnancy:
- Take quick showers frequently to stay cool
- Do outdoor tasks either in the morning or evening
- Wear lightweight and breathable cotton maternity dresses
- Drink plenty of liquids to stay well-hydrated
- Carry a spray bottle of water with you when stepping outside
- Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher half an hour before going out.
- Reduce your salt intake to combat water retention.
- Take frequent naps.
- Elevate your feet to alleviate the swelling
- Exercise at the cooler times of the day. Don’t overdo to avoid overheating.
- Don’t stand in one place for too long.