Pregnancy in Indian summer is its own specific challenge. Your body temperature already runs higher when you're pregnant and add 38°C heat and 80% humidity and the wrong clothes become genuinely miserable.
Here's what actually works.
Fabric first This is the only rule that matters in summer. Natural fibres, think cotton, linen, breathe in a way synthetics don't. Your skin is also more sensitive during pregnancy, so rough or synthetic fabrics feel worse than they normally would. Look for: cotton with a small stretch component (overbelly pants, relaxed tops), linen for days when you want something structured and cool, and cotton-rib for basics like nursing camisoles.
Silhouettes that work in heat Loose and flowy beats fitted in summer, not just for comfort but for airflow. Wide-leg pants allow air circulation in a way that fitted leggings don't. Midi dresses and relaxed tops with some ease in the body are cooler than anything structured or form-fitting. The bump is generating heat on its own, don't add to it with tight fabric sitting directly against the skin.
Colour and print Light colours absorb less heat. This isn't just a style preference in Indian summer — it's practical. Solids and simple stripes also tend to look more considered on a bump than busy prints, which can read as a visual distraction.
The postpartum summer problem Nursing in summer adds another layer. You need feeding access that's quick and doesn't require removing layers — which rules out most layering approaches. Tops and dresses with built-in feeding access in breathable fabrics are the most practical solution.
be imli's range was built with Indian weather specifically in mind, not designed for a Western spring and then sold in India. If you're navigating a summer pregnancy, the fabric choices are already made for you.
1 comment
Indian summers are brutal, using this as a guide to shop for all my clothes