You don’t know what hot means until you’ve been pregnant in the summer. Here are a few mom-proven methods for staying cool on even the hottest days of summer.

• Dress the part of the sizzling hot mama-to-be. Zero in on comfortable, free-flowing styles made from breathable fabrics—whatever you can find to keep yourself cool. The same goes for sleepwear: choose loose-fitting sleepwear and light-weight cotton sheets: they’re your best bet for getting some zzzs.
• Install a ceiling fan in your bedroom. Keeping the air circulating will help to keep you cool and will also help to minimize odors (a common morning sickness trigger).
• Rely on some of the same instant cool-down techniques that your great-grandmother relied on to stay cool a century ago. Apply a cold cloth to the nape of your neck and dip your wrists into a bowl full of cool water. Dip your feet in a basin filled with the coldest water you can stand.
• Keep yourself well hydrated. Keep a jug of ice water within easy reach so you’ll keep refilling your glass throughout the day. Add a few slices of cucumber or orange for an extra-refreshing effect.
• Try to avoid exercising during the hottest times of day. Time your workouts for early morning or in the evening, or plan to work out in an air-conditioned facility or in a swimming pool. In other words, keep it cool, baby!