There's no denying that pregnancy is a miracle, but despite what Instagram and Beyoncé may lead us to believe, it's not always easy. When you have stretch marks and spider veins and are carrying around an extra 25 to 35 pounds, it's pretty hard to feel comfortable, let alone good about yourself. And when you add hot and sticky temperatures, small and revealing clothing, activities that require actual energy, and flip-flops that need to fit your swollen feet, things go downhill real quick. If you're expecting during the Summer, you can also expect a whole lot of aggravation. From sweat stains to humid nights, here are just a few of the reasons there's no worse time to be with child than the summertime.
Fancy maternity gowns may not seem like a worthwhile investment, but you'll find that last Summer's cocktail dresses don't quite fit like they used to.
Whether it's weddings, rooftop hangouts, happy hour meet-ups, or a fun day at the beach, you can kiss those delicious Summer drinks goodbye. All events and gatherings will be dry affairs for you.
Forget that pregnancy glow everyone always talks about — instead of beautifully glistening, you're drenched and smelly. And you're also sweating in places you didn't even know you could sweat in before. Yay!
As if your newly inflated fun bags aren't heavy enough, your bra will also have to shoulder the weight of a whole bunch of boob sweat.
All that hair on your legs, underarms, and undercarriage — you basically have no choice but to let it grow. How do you shave something you can't even see? Bring on the bush.
Thought morning sickness was bad in the Spring? Just wait until that nausea is compounded with the Summer's stifling heat and the abundance of smells that come with it.
Between having to squeeze into a maternity bathing suit and baking your already overheated body in the sun, beach trips (or really any outdoor expeditions) aren't likely to make an appearance on your to-do list.
With your new belly (and many new hard-to-reach places because of it), you'll require a team of helpers and at least three hours to thoroughly coat your pregnant body in SPF protection. No thanks.
As if getting a good night's sleep in the summertime wasn't difficult enough, try keeping cool and comfy with a pregnant belly. This is what the Mission Impossible franchise should really be about.
Most women, pregnant or not, could share their own Summer thigh chafing woes, but the experience becomes significantly more hellish when you add in too-small shorts and extraswollen thighs.
Heat and water retention are a dangerous combination, and your body will swell to comic proportions (made worse by the fact that the Summer calls for lots of open-toed shoes that leave nothing to the imagination).
Pregnant cardio is enough of a struggle, but when you're sweating before you even start, chances are you're not going to last through to the end of the workout.
Summer requires extra hydration, but with a baby resting on your bladder, you might as well stay in the bathroom all season long. And if you're determined to look somewhat cute in overalls and rompers, just make sure you have a search party ready to come look for you once you've been in the bathroom for two hours trying to put it back on.
Fireworks, festivals, and all of those outdoor social gatherings — you'll grow to hate the sound of other people having fun. But being pregnant means making demands you couldn't otherwise, so feel free to tell your neighbors to pipe down — you deserve it!