First time, due in summer. Advice on what to do and buy?

[Yukana]

Another topic gave me this idea, and I'm glad I thought of it. I'm due in August, I don't cope with heat well, and I'm not exactly the smallest person on the planet either.

Any suggestions on things that helped you cope with the heat/tiredness? I'm sat here on the couch at 18 weeks - absolutely shattered with warm/hot late spring or early summer weather outside.

I've bought flip flops, although I still need to buy a large fan and a handheld fan. What sort of things would you suggest wearing (apart from shorts or mini skirts) in hot/summery weather? I was thinking of buying some maxi dresses, although I'm having trouble finding maternity ones.

I sat on the stairs whilst 9m pg in the summer of 2006. I recommend the stairs!!

Another august baby coming my way too...

I had DS in August. I bought from matalan a couple of thin cotton maxi dresses in a size (or two) bigger than I would normally and they were great. they were strapless so I would jut tuck the bra straps down inside and were great afterwards when I was BF. Other than that, flip flops yes, though I onyl had one pair in the end that I could wear cos my feet were quite swollen so look for ones with stretchy straps. Wheh it does get really hot, try and elevate your feet where possible and soak them in cool water at the end of the day. I actually think its easier than awinter baby because you don;t have to find boots and thick coats to fit.

I had DS in June, summer babies are lovely, when you are awake at 4.30am its much better if its bright and sunny than dark and freezing cold!

I carried wet wipes around with me a lot to wipe round my neck and face. I found quite a lot of summer dresses in non maternity shops that did the job, as long as they gather under the boobs and have lot of baggy material below they worked just fine (I was huge - so had to buy a couple of sizes up)

I went to an antenatal physiotherapy class and flip flops were apparently a big no-no as they don't provide adequate support to your feet/legs etc and can result in leg and back pain. Sandals with straps are preferable, but I have a pair of breathable merrel trainers that I wore/still wear to death as they were far more comfy than sandals (even more than my birkenstocks, which normally are really comfy for me) and because they were breathable (netting, iyswim) they were still cool. I had an August baby and wore lots of baggy linen trousers and cotton t-shirts. I found it difficult in the heat so kept out of it as much as possible, sat in the shade, always had a bottle of cold water on me.

Hia, I know what that's like. I brought a maxi dress and wore it nearly all summer I was pregnant!! It was sooooo comfy and light.
You dont need a maternity one. Just get one which is gathered just below the breast and flows out from there and you will be fine - I am no dainty chick either!

I actually find maternity jeans pretty uncomfy.

Maxi-dresses are a must for summer pregnancies. I had DS in August 09 and this one is due early September despite my vow of no more summer babies!

A pedestal fan is a life-saver, on really hot days I used to just strip to my undies (remember to close the blinds!) and lay on the sofa with the fan blowing.

Get a water bottle, fill it every night with your drink of choice, and put it in the freezer (don't fill it full though or it'll crack, leave an inch or two at the top). Next day take it with you wherever you're going, it will defrost slowly so when you get too hot you've got ice water. This is brilliant for labour too.

Cotton underwear is a must have. You'll thank me when it's 80C outside.

Poundlabd sell little fans with a water bottle attached, spritz while it's spinning and you have water mist. You can also get spray cans of cold water mist from Boots, they're a little pricey but one can last ages and they're often on 3 for 2 or 2 for £x-amount. Also great for in labour.

Get a parasol for the garden so you're not in direct sunlight. On very hot days, if you're able to then go to the beach because it's usually cooler on the coast.

Linen and cheese-cloth type fabrics are nice and cool.

Keep one of those gel eye masks in the fridge, brilliant for cooling you down on a hot afternoon.

Keep the freezer loaded with ice pops. If it gets too hot to sleep at night then pop your pillow in a carrier bag and bung it in the freezer for an hour before bed (if your freezer is big enough)

People will point at the sun and then at your belly and then say stupid things like "I bet you're hot today" with a stupid grin on their faces. Resist the urge to punch them.

Sounds weird but when I had my son in August '08, my husband tied ice packs (the kind for cool boxes) to the front of the fan, which acted as a very basic air con system and made things even cooler

Thank you so much for the advice, it's very helpful.

Now it's just tackling the shops to see if I can find some nice dresses! Does anyone recommend a particular shop?

Is anyone also in the South West? I'm down near Bristol and the sunny weather is lovely but it makes me want to stay in bed with a fan!

Could you afford a small aircon unit? I spend days in my air conditioned bedroom last summer when it got really hot.

Hi Yukana waves
when i had my first it was june and a really hot summer, so i found flip flops great although i had to go a size bigger as my feet seemed to have swelled up by that point!
maxi dresses definitely good idea, also possibly long gypsy type skirts (worn under the bump maybe? with a long floatyish kinda top) i think peacocks or matalan can be good for cheap maxi dresses? then can just get a size or 2 bigger and it'll do for maternity and also good for post natal. after i had my ds1 i was stuck in hosp for ages and didnt want to be in PJ all the time so i sent my dh to buy some maxi dresses and they were great, good for bf, nice and cool in the boiling hospital etc. i think he got from bhs
its nice having a summer baby though, my ds2 was middle of winter and its nicer really being able to take them out to the park for walks when nice and sunny etc rather than going out struggling with snow and ice and having to wrap up soo much! although it is a pain when you're hugely pregnant and so hot, but atleast its an excuse to sit down and relax and get your dh to bring you ice lollies

my best tip is to keep a pair of DH's socks wet and in the fridge/freezer. when you get home after work/day out/whatever, put them on and pull them up as high as you can. they will feel amazingly cooling.
my DD was born in late august and for the summer I just lived in cotton dresses and flip flops.

I'm due July 18th with my first and live down in Cornwall. Am totally dreading summer coming but hopefully we will have a typically cornish weather and it will chuck until august.

doIreallywant3 has just reminded me of a tip I used when pregnant and hot and night - soak your nightie/pj's in water, ring out and wear them to bed wet! They will be dry by morning and you will be cool enough to fall right asleep. I also went to bed with wet hair which helped too. It sounds a bit wierd, but when you cant sleep from the heat anything is worth trying!

Not specifically pregnancy related, but a good way to cool down is to apply something cold (like water, ice pack etc) to where your major arteries run close to the skin. So wrists, neck, ankles/feet. I always find that works a treat when I feel like I'm overheating in summer.

Also, wear natural fibres like cotton! Anything artificial makes you sweaty and can be hugely irritating if it's close fitting (like undies or bras).

Yukana how about Cribbs Causeway just outside Bristol? It has a big H&M where you could get some cheap maxis, the list is online so you can look at what else there is

I had DD1 in a mini-heatwave in July a few years ago (yes, in the UK, really) and also have an August baby on the way.

Towards the end I lived in my 3/4-length maternity trousers and Birkenstocks, and a straw cowboy hat from Monsoon, which kept my head warm.

In the heat of the summer, I slathered myself in sun cream and sat in my shorts and a bikini top on my birthing ball in the garden, reading book after book. Or lying on the grass was also good. It was fab, very relaxing and I got a nice tan for the early photos.

Freeze lots of bottles of water/your chosen soft drink.

We bought an air conditioning unit for my last weeks of pregnancy and also used it when the baby arrived (not environmentally-friendly, I know, but we use it once in a blue moon...).

Honestly, I do think having a summer baby is better. Birthday parties are much easier, for a start (BBQ in the garden, rather than a hoarde of bored kids in the house or paying a fortune for a soft play party).