Depending on how your last winter went, you may find yourself pregnant over the summer. I know everyone seems to think this is the worst thing ever (don’t get me wrong it can suck) but it might not be as bad as you might think. There are, for sure, a lot of perks to being with child over the summer. Here are six of them!
1. The dress code is a lot more forgiving
As your belly (and everything else) expands, wearing certain outfits can be a struggle. In cold weather, you are tasked with finding boots, pants, sweaters, and coats that will cover your new body and growing bump.
Even though lots of retailers create cute maternity wear for every season, some of this can be pricey. In the summer, all of these problems are solved by flowy dresses and skirts.
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Many A-line and T-shirt dresses can be worn as maternity dresses without costing extra money and with the added benefit of being able to wear them again post-baby! I just picked up a few of these dresses from Old Navy for eight dollars, and they are perfect for covering baby bumps and food babies! No judgment here, girl, my summer body wasn’t ready either.
2. People feed you BBQ
The great part about being pregnant is that you are offered food literally everywhere you go. The great part about being pregnant in the summer is that everybody is cooking BBQ, so you’ll be fed like a queen at the next cookout! Between Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, graduation/college-send-off parties, and Labor Day, you will get more than your fair share of grilled goodies.
An added benefit is that usually, you’ll be able to prop those swollen feet up while someone makes your plate(s) for you. Yeah, you only get a few months of the queen treatment before you’re bossed around by a baby, so milk it!
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3. Adorable beach body!
Now, normally eating all of the BBQ would be a major setback to your summer body plans, but not when you’re pregnant! The bigger the belly, the better! Your bump and the growing baby inside are a cute accessory to any bathing suit, whether you opt for a two-piece, tankini, or maternity monokini.
I just love the fact that this is the only time a big belly is praised and not judged at the beach! No pressure to constantly suck it in or cover it with a sarong. Nope, let that belly hang, mama!
4. Flip-flops every day or barefoot is totally fine
One of the worst parts of being pregnant during winter in a Midwest city is trying to zip calf-high leather boots over swollen feet and ankles. Well, in the summer, this is no longer a problem. Swollen feet and legs can breathe and expand easily while you are wearing flip-flops, slides, and sandals.
This makes it even easier to kick those puppies off every chance you get and even chill outside on the porch without shoes completely. Try doing that in Chicago with sub-zero temperatures and seven inches of snow on the ground. Yeah, not going to happen. Being able to slide off those sandals and prop up your feet pretty much anywhere you go is definitely a win for all the preggos out there.
5. Backyard baby shower/ gender reveal party
One of the challenging aspects of hosting a baby shower in cold weather is finding the ideal venue. If no one is willing to throw your shower for you, the task of finding a place and securing a reservation can be daunting, especially after you find out that prices usually start around $300 for a good-sized venue.
In the summer, things get a lot simpler because you can have a backyard party at home. This eliminates the extra cost of renting out a venue, but it’s also a lot less work. There’s no need to figure out how to transport decor, food, and yourself to a venue, and then all of those gifts back home afterward if you’re already at home!
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6. Winter maternity leave
Finally, maternity leave, aka mommy vacation, in the winter is awesome! If you’re at least four months pregnant by mid-summer, this means your maternity leave will take place in the dead of winter. If your town has brutally cold winters, you’ll be happy to have a good excuse not to go outside to work every day.
So, at least you have something to look forward to while you and your baby bump sweat and pant your way through the summer months. Nothing is better than snuggling on the couch with your new baby and Netflix while everyone else treks to work in seven inches of snow.
Being pregnant in the summer months doesn’t have to suck. As with anything, you just need to look on the bright side of things. Sure, you may be extra hot, big, and exhausted, but always remember you are creating life with every breath you take and the world is ready to bow down! Accept those plates, have people bring your ice cream and live your best pregnant life, girl!
Brittany Wright, B.A in Creative writing and English – University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, is an aspiring writer and creator of the She’s Wright blog. This black, millennial mom loves everything beauty, motherhood, and marriage related!
