If you’re like many pregnant mamas, you might consider summer the most difficult season to be pregnant. Don’t get me wrong… all year long, we romanticize this time of year, with the cute baby bump beach pics, maternity dresses and more, but when the temps start rising, you get to a point where it’s just too dang hot.
Finding the right clothing for pregnancy can be challenging enough, albeit as fun and trendy as it may be. But on the hottest days of summer, it can feel nearly impossible. I remember one of my summer pregnancies basically living in gym shorts and a sports bra because nothing else felt even close to comfortable.
Here we lined up some of the most trendy summer looks (thanks to our awesome community), plus links to the best places to shop. And we may have added a couple extra tips for staying cool this summer, too.
Favorite Summer Looks
Best Places to Shop
We polled our community (and our team of mamas here at The VBAC Link), and the results are in – here’s our list of the best spots to buy maternity clothes that are cute, comfy and will help you stay cool this summer!
Amazon – Love it or hate it, Amazon has almost everything, including a ton of maternity options. Our community especially loves ordering biker shorts, bodysuits and leggings.
Target – We all know Target offers classic women’s clothing options, and it’s no different with their maternity section. We see lots of mamas finding dresses, leggings and essential tops from Target.
H&M – Lots of bump-friendly options here! We especially like their dresses, basic tops and nursing clothing (hint: a lot of nursing clothes can be worn comfortably during pregnancy, too!).
Walmart – Similarly to Target, Walmart offers a ton of variety and essential items. Some Walmart favorites are biker shorts, dresses and flowy tops.
Old Navy – Several VBAC mamas also recommend Old Navy. We love their activewear maternity section for items like nursing sports bras, shorts, joggers and leggings as well as their huge variety of cute and comfy shorts options.
Other suggested spots that tend to be a bit more pricey but offer high quality products include Hatch and Blanqi. These are great places to grab a couple essentials that you know you’ll wear again and again and can be dressed up or down with accessories and layers. You might also want to check these spots for statement pieces that you’ll wear to special occasions (hello, wedding season!) or for maternity photos.
And one last shopping tip, don’t forget to shop pre-loved. That’s right, don’t be afraid to ask family & friends for hand-me-downs, shop your local thrift stores and online Marketplaces or even consider clothing rental companies (like Nuuly). Maternity clothes are usually used for such a short period of time that they aren’t really all that worn. You could save some cash (and help the planet) by buying used. Plus, mamas typically loved sharing their gently used maternity items with someone they care about.
Other Ways to Stay Cool
How you dress is obviously going to impact how comfortable you are in the heat of summer, but don’t forget about these other things you can do to stay cool…
- Stay hydrated. Like, 64-96oz per day hydrated. You want to be hydrated every day of pregnancy, but when the weather is super hot, it’s even more important. Remember that you can stay hydrated with more than just plain ol’ water. Add watery foods like watermelon and cucumber to your plate, flavor your water with fruit or infusions and sip on smoothies or electrolyte drinks.
- Refresh with cold foods & drinks. Now might be the time to skip your hot coffee or tea as well as spicy or fried foods, all things that make your body feel even warmer from the inside out. Choose things that feel cool and refreshing and are easy to digest.
- Protect yourself from the sun. Use sunscreen, wear a hat, sit in the shade, seek out air conditioned spaces. Being outside is totally fine and safe, but protect yourself from getting too much sun and heat.
- Exercise wisely. Staying active during pregnancy is certainly important, and it feels good, too. But when it’s so hot outside, remember to be smart about it. Get outside before the sun and temperature rise too much. Opt for exercise that’s done in air conditioned spaces like taking a yoga class, going for a swim or doing an online fitness class.
- Take a dip. Find a pool, hit the beach and take as many cool showers as you need to. Now is the perfect time to swim and float and soak.
- Rest. I think every piece of pregnancy advice, no matter which topic, should include resting. It’s good for your body, your mind, your baby and… your temperature. Rest is so important right now, so be sure you’re taking lots of breaks, getting good sleep and putting your feet up throughout the day.
We see you, mama. We have been in your shoes. We know you’re doing the best you can along this VBAC journey, and sometimes, especially this time of year… it’s just too dang hot. We hope these tips have you feeling positive about staying cool and finding the look that’s just right for you!
As always, we want to leave you with this affirmation and a reminder…
Creating Your Ideal Hospital VBAC Environment