My summer pregnancy survival guide

It's hot and I am so tired, but these routines and products are keeping me (somewhat) sane.

I’m sure pregnancy is tough during any time of the year, but I am only familiar with the experience of growing a human in the summertime. When I was pregnant with Theo, we lived in upstate New York and enjoyed the most beautiful, mild summer on record—maybe ever? I’m talking 70 degrees and sunny, breezy and not-too-muggy, perfect for sitting outside and going for walks at any time of day. I did not realize how good I had it.

This pregnancy, I’m fatigued from the moment I step outside. Heat and humidity zaps my already small reserves of energy, and I just want to float in any available body of water like a happy little hippopotamus. I also have an almost-three-year-old with an abundance of energy and curiosity—so to sum it up: wow, this is way harder than the first time around.

With help from family, careful attunement to my body, and a few essential products, I’m managing. Really, I’m hanging in there and doing okay—okay enough to put together a list of my summer pregnancy essentials, from mindset shifts to gadgets.

Summer Pregnancy Essentials

• Mindset: being pregnant in the summer sucks, but having a newborn in the fall is heavenly.

  • 1. According to my acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine, a pregnant body is in a state of heat, so it makes sense to crave cold foods like fresh watermelon, salads, and other summer essentials. In the postpartum period, your body loses that heat, and your nutritional needs change. Soups, stews, and other hearty and warming foods aid digestion, healing, and replacing lost nutrients. The summer to fall food transition perfectly lines up with my pregnancy to postpartum timeline!

    • (This is just me passing on information from my practitioner, not scientific medical advice. You can find plenty of information and well-vetted studies on it if you’re interested in searching, though!)

  • 2. Pumpkin jammies.

  • 3. It’s easier for me to slow down and enjoy baby cuddles when the weather is chilly and I’m naturally inclined to nest at home. It’s also WAY easier for me to get outside for a walk when there is a nice chill in the air—both rest and movement proved essential for my postpartum healing with Theo.

• My mom got me a neck fan, and it’s a lifesaver for moments when I feel close to overheating. It got me through over two hours of walking at the zoo and helps me sneak a few pages of reading in while Theo plays outside.

• I prioritized chiropractic care during my first pregnancy and vowed to do so again because it made such a huge difference in my comfort, movement, and—I’m convinced—my postpartum recovery. I wish more insurance companies covered preventative, holistic care like chiropractic and massage therapy. Ours does not, but it makes such a huge difference in my overall health; for me, it’s worth every penny.

• Luckily, some of my nursing bras from a few years ago work well as maternity wear, but I did size up in my favorite wire-free bra from Evelyn Bobbie. I’m also leaning on this Kindred Bravely sports bra to get me through hot summer days with extra support.

• The real MVP of the summer is this swimsuit from Target. It’s stretched with me through every trimester, supports my large chest, and covers all the right bits for chasing a toddler into the lake. In anticipation of a growing bump, I opted to size up via the plus size option.

• As my grandmother aged, she began setting clear limits on how much she could do in one day. We quickly caught on to her unspoken “one thing a day” rule. If she needed to go out shopping, that was it for the day. Having dinner with us? She’d better not make any more plans. The further into pregnancy I venture, the more I find myself embracing my own “one thing a day” rule. It doesn’t always work out—I still have lots of parenting and life stuff to manage—but it helps me stay intentional with my limited energy and get some rest before my body yells at me to sit down. I plan on carrying this “rule” through postpartum for as long as I need.

• My one Amazon sale purchase was a Yoto Mini + Starter Pack, and it just arrived yesterday. Once we got it set up, Theo listened to 45 minutes of Sesame Street stories, completely entranced. I’m hoping the novelty remains long enough for us to incorporate audiobooks into his daily routine. If he continues to love it, this little device will buy me some much-needed time to lay down, take a break, and maybe even read my own book.

• I don’t experience many pregnancy cravings, but due to the heat, smoothies are the only thing I want to eat most days. To turn a smoothie into a well-balanced meal, I mix and match the following add-ins:

  • Pregnancy-safe protein powder

  • Collagen peptides

  • Peanut butter

  • Greek yogurt

  • Cottage cheese

  • Steamed-then-frozen zucchini or sweet potato

  • Frozen fruit

  • Oats

• Last, but maybe most important? I paid someone to deep clean my house, which I highly recommend even if you’re not growing a baby. Spring cleaning gets all of the attention, but what about pre-fall cleaning so your house is ready for hibernating? I think I’m onto something here.

One last note: I’m pausing paid subscriptions to alleviate any extra pressure on my schedule over the next several months of nesting, birthing, healing, and adjusting. I still plan on bringing book recommendations (and maybe essays, if I can get my brain to cooperate) to your inbox, so keep an eye out for me!

Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you shop these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work in this way.