What to Pack for a Summer Vacation When Pregnant
3 weeks left until I can no longer fly cross continentally and I decided to go out with a bang!
2 weeks galavanting in Europe, traveling from France to turkey to Greece to Switzerland before I am locked into a 2-4 hour radius from my OBGYN, which for those of you who know me, is going to be tough!
Traveling is exhausting when you aren’t growing organs every second of every day so you can imagine what all those plane and train rides were like, but it’s worth it!
June is the start of not just warm not HOT in Europe so I wanted to make sure I packed light! In fabric and in luggage size. Before we get to the fun stuff, let’s talk fabric. We are going to want light, flowy and natural fabrics that breathe! Comfort is key during the summer, ESPECIALLY when pregnant!
Linens
Linen is a top choice for a breathable fabric for hot weather conditions. It is very light and is loosely woven allowing heat to escape from the body. It absorbs a lot of moisture and dries quickly, keeping you cool and dry. Linen tends to be stiff and also wrinkles pretty often, but a lot of people like it, and view it as a part of the style and look of linen.
Cotton
Cotton is one of the coolest fabrics for summer and hot weather. Not only is it cheap and hugely available, but it is also great for the heat. Cotton is soft, lightweight, breathable, and soaks up sweat, allowing heat to escape the body and for you to stay cool.
Silks
Silk is an ultra-soft, luxurious material woven from natural fibers harvested from silkworm. Silk is a costlier and more lavish fabric that is delicate and breathable making it great for summer weather. Though, take note that silk doesn’t absorb sweat well and can leave unsightly stains on the underarm area. Still, it is a popular choice for elegant attire.
Chambray
For those of you who want that Jean look without the thick fabric, Chambray is often described as imitation denim, so it has all of the same benefits as denim but is a lot lighter in weight.
Polyester
I know. This one is surprising… Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from durable plastic fibers and is often compared to fabrics like cotton. Over the years, clothing manufacturers have make vast improvements to polyester with more advanced thread structures to draw sweat away from the body and out towards the fabric’s surface making polyester a great summer choice for fun under the sun.
Now, let’s get ready and take a look into what I packed for my baby bump moon!
Dresses!
An absolute must! They are easy to wear, comfortable, and pack up really small! Personally, I don’t like the pressure of a waist band on my stomach at 27 weeks so dresses were my go to! When picking dresses, pack a few flowy options that won’t cling to your body. Depending on where you go and the humidity, anything tight on the body will likely feel miserable. Opt for something flouncy that allows airflow!
What I Brought
1 sleeveless maxi dress
1 white linen shirt dress (also great as a cover up)
1 flouncy mini dress
Shorts/Skirts
For those days you don’t feel like wearing a dress, you can’t go wrong with a pair of linen shorts with an electric waist band! And for those who are bold, a bait of light jean shorts. Skirts are also a fantastic option, I just didn’t pack any but my friend did!
What I Brought
1 pair of tan linen shorts
1 pair of light maternity shorts
Bathing Suits
I didn’t want to break bank buying what I normally would on cute suits in the summer so I splurged one very sleek bikini set from Blanqi and a classic black one piece from Amazon. Solid colors that are flattering and can be worn over and over!
What I Brought
1 two piece
1 one piece
Cover Ups
My favorite cover up is a collared, button down linen shirt. This can triple as your main top with some shorts, bathing suit cover up, and outerwear!
What I Brought
2 linen collared button down shirts
Tops
For tops, I simply brought one white tee shirt and one white tank top. They are small, easy to pack, and go with everything!
Accessories
Sandals
Trainers - If you plan on doing any walking or hiking
Sunglasses - protect those eyeballs!
Hat - Depending on where you go, the sun can be brutal!
Sunscreen!!!
Light jacket - You never know! Plus they are nice on the plane
Extra: COMPRESSION SOCKS!!!
For those who plan on being on a plane for over 4 hours, compression socks are a must! During a flight, you need to take care of your blood circulation. Cabin pressure is low which increases strain on your arteries and veins, which is already hard if you're pregnant so you need to wear compression socks to avoid the risk of any sort of clots and deep vein thrombosis! I am not a doctor, but this advice is passed on to you from my doctor!
