5 Must have Clothing Pieces For A Summer Pregnancy
Is it just me or are summers getting hotter and hotter and more unbearable every year? After I shower, sweat. Put on sunscreen, sweat. Drink a glass of water… You guessed it, I start sweating… and I haven’t even left my air-conditioned house yet. I’m beginning to confuse my body’s capacity to sweat with a shower! Summer hit like a freight train and I feel like I’m melting faster than the wicked witch of the west!
They also say that you sweat more when you’re pregnant. A byproduct of growing life inside you, there are hormonal changes, increased blood volume, water retention causing you to gain some weight, and not to mention you’re metabolism is working for two! It’s no wonder there is this not so slight uptick in the amount of sweat pouring out of your pores.
As inconvenient and unappealing as this may feel, it is the body’s natural way of keeping cool and from overheating which is dangerous for both the mother and the baby! And it is no surprise that with a summer pregnancy, you are HOT. ALL. THE. TIME!!
That being said, cool and comfortable clothes are a MUST! Most of the pieces I am mentioning below are wonderful transitional pieces as well from pregnancy to post partum so you can look great, feel great and your wallet will thank you! These are the 5 pieces of clothing I have been LIVING in this summer:
Bicycle Shorts
My biggest regret with bicycle shorts is not having bought them sooner! I have NEVER been a bicycle short person nor have I ever owned a pair, so the thought didn’t even occur to me to pick up a pair when pregnant. What a bit mistake that was! Let me tell you… the chub rub is real and it was blindingly apparent when I was waddling my way through europe on my baby moon. The whole time I was wishing I bought a pair and I did so as soon as I got home.
They are amazing under flowy dresses to keep those sweaty thighs from chaffing (putting deodorant there only goes so far). They look great on their own with a top of your choosing. They are easy to throw on for any occasion from working out to a night on the town!
My absolute favorite pair are the Maternity pair from Blanqi. These bicycle shorts are SOOOO soft, don’t ride up the legs, and grow with your belly! They are a bit on the pricier side ($45) but totally worth it! If you are looking for something just as comfortable at a lower price point, these bicycle shorts from Amazon do the trick!
Leggings (mostly only for climbing)
I know what you’re thinking… who in their right mind would wear leggings in this heat?!? That’s why I prefaced it by being climbing specific. I like to keep my legs fully covered while climbing as, generally, I stick really close to the wall (belly allowing). Leggings are also nice for those cooler summer nights. Shown, I have a pair of really soft stretchy pair from Amazon (~ $20) that are on the lighter side, a pair from Seraphine, and a pair from Blanqi with a similar profile as the bicycle shorts. Unlike the shorts, the material is definitely thicker making it a warmer choice, but the belly support is quite nice! I love all of them, my only issue with the ones from Amazon and Seraphine is that they don’t stay over the belly. While climbing or working out, the waist band starts sliding down and I have to keep pulling them up. A bit annoying but nothing too crazy.
Whether you are going for a walk, a workout, or looking for an easy outfit to get out of the house, you can’t go wrong with a pair of leggings! Especially black ones
White Down Collar Shirt
Hands down, the MOST versatile piece of clothing on this list. Beach cover up? Check. Light jacket? Check. Dress it up or dress it down? Check. Check, and CHECK!
Nothing encompasses classy, casual and chic like a linen/cotton dress shirt does! Light weight and breathable, linen is a perfect fabric to protect tho use shoulders from the sun every summer!
Here I have paired it with the bicycle shorts and leggings for a sporty look. I have also teamed it up, fully buttoned down, with a pair of Jean shorts for a casual day out. Mocktails with friends anyone? I’ve worn this shirt over a bathing suit on the way to the beach and over a dress while making my way to eat for two.
Flouncy Dress
I feel like a light flouncy dress needs no introduction. Pregnant or not pregnant, a flouncy dress is the epitome of women’s summer fashion. It’s easy, it’s light, and there are so many different options! Not to mention, paired with bicycle shorts underneath to keep the rubbing to a minimum? Chefs kiss!
Loose Pants with an Elastic Waist Band
Like a flouncy dress but in pant form! Here I am wearing a pair of super lightweight pants with an elastic waist I bought ages ago from Thailand (you can find similar on Amazon here!) but if you want something a little more fashionable, a pair of Plissé pants are the way to go! Plisse pants are basically the sweatpants of summer. What are they? You might ask. Usually made from a cotton or satin like material, Plissé pants are crinkled, heavily pleated pants that are super light weight and stretchy. I wore XS prior to my pregnancy and because of the pleating, I fit in a size XS/S plissé pant comfortably making this a great piece to transition from pregnancy to post partum while still looking stylish. Both the plissé pant and the Thai pant can be worn with whatever top you feel comfortable adorning. Tank top, sports bra and… yup! You guessed it! A white linen/cotton collared button down!
I hope this helps!! What are YOUR favorite hot bump summer pieces?
