Just when you thought pregnancy can’t get any more uncomfortable, here comes the summer sun! I am normally a huge fan of the heat, but not when I’m so pregnant. With my first pregnancy I was able to lay in the air conditioning with my feet up, but now that I have Joey running around, it wouldn’t be fair to keep him inside on a beautiful summer day. So with a due date of August 3 I need to figure out ways to survive the summer sun. Here’s the advice I’ve collected from other mamas and some from yours truly.

~Try to dress in light colored clothing. It will keep you cooler by not attracting as much sun. Also, opt for tank tops, shorts, and dresses. However, I know for me personally, I feel so heavy that I will probably suck it up in my black clothes because they look more slimming. It sounds stupid, I know, but it’s what I feel comfortable in. But I did buy some black tank tops and summer dresses!

~Wear sports bras as opposed to regular bras with underwire. With my protruding stomach, the underwire feels like it’s just pressing against my skin and is so uncomfortable, especially when I start sweating. Sports bras have no underwire and they are made to sweat in, so they are much more comfortable.

~If you need to do outdoor chores, or have other kids like me that want to play outside, try to spend the majority of your time outdoors either in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is less strong. This way you can still get your chores done and/or your kids can still play, but you are not outside when the heat is the worst. Try to schedule your kids nap time or lunch/snack for when it is the hottest between 10 and 2.

~Make sure you are prepared with plenty of fluids. You need to stay hydrated normally for pregnancy and now you are adding the heat into the equation. Also, make sure you have plenty to share with your kids too!

~Since you are more sensitive to the sun when you are pregnant, make sure you are well protected. Apply sunscreen generously and often, wear a hat when possible, and stay in the shade if it’s available. If you need to, bring an umbrella for hanging out at the park. You would be surprised how much cooler it is under there.

~They have these awesome fans that clip onto the stroller so your baby or toddler will stay nice and cool. So when you get one for them, pick one up for yourself too! Strap yours onto the handle of the stroller to keep yourself just as cool. And if you have older kids (so no stroller) then clip them onto your chair at the beach or at the soccer field!

~Try to plan activities around water. If you live near the beach, frequent there, or try a free water/splash park, or simply hook up a sprinkler in your backyard! And guess what? Baby pools aren’t just for babies! If you don’t have a big pool in your backyard, treat yourself to a baby pool!

~Recognize when you need to get out of the sun. This is extremely important. If you start to feel dizzy or more exhausted than normal, listen to your body and head to a cool spot where you can sit down and grab some water. And don’t go back in the sun for the rest of the day.

~This last one is my favorite- have a mock tail! My favorite drink is a Pina Colada so it’s no surprise this is my favorite mock tail as well! Mix 1 cup pineapple juice, 1 1/2 cups ice, 1 tsp. rum extract, and 1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology or Vegan Vanilla Shakeology. Serve it to yourself in a mason jar with a fun straw! And don’t forget the coconut flakes! Enjoy!