When summer rolls around, many of us are making up our lists of fun things we want to do before it’s over. Since you’re pregnant, your list will probably look a little different this year.
And, with the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be restricted as to what you can do. Even with things back to “normal,” the virus still has the potential to spread until a vaccine is found. With that, some pregnant women don’t feel comfortable going to large gatherings or crowded places where catching it is more likely.
Since the virus is new, we still don’t know everything about how COVID-19 affects pregnancy or how it may impact a fetus or born child. Continuing to take precautions is an especially good idea if you’re pregnant. Unfortunately, that may lead you to cut out many activities.
With fewer public gatherings, less travel and more time at home, the summer of 2020 may look boring if you’re pregnant. But, we have some interesting ideas to share that will liven things up while keeping you safe.
#1 Find a Secret Spot in Your Town/City
Although you probably won’t be taking any major vacations for a while, there’s still some ways to explore this summer! Choose a nice day and visit parts of your city or town you’ve never been to. Check out some new trails, parks or wildlife areas. Challenge yourself and your partner to find one “secret” spot (ex. a hidden waterfall, the perfect log in the forest to rest on, a little-known lookout, etc.).
#2 Outdoor Scenic Bump Photos
Baby bump photos are a fun thing to do and a good memory to create during any time of the year. But during summer, you have the added luxury of choosing beautiful backgrounds. Plan ahead each week and choose a different location for every picture. For example, maybe one week you’re photographed in front of a beautiful tree in the park and the next, you have a colorful garden as your background. The options are endless, so have fun challenging yourself with scenes in your area.
#3 Plan an Elaborate Summer Date
A date night before may have looked like a night of dancing and drinking or maybe a classy dinner. Since pregnancy means no drinking and you may be uncomfortable going to crowded establishments, you may be looking for alternatives. Although you don’t have to go too far, we suggest planning something special ahead of time. This will give you the special date “feel” without putting yourself at a potential risk. Here are some safe summer date ideas:
- “Midnight” picnic— Choose a park and make a delicious meal to take with you. To make it feel like a date, pay attention to the aesthetics. Bring comfortable blankets, lights, light music to play in the background, etc.
- Backyard movie night— If you have a screen outside or are able to set up a projector, have a romantic movie night. Again, choose comfortable blankets and add fairy lights for a magical touch.
- Adventure picnic— If you’re someone who loves to be outdoors and hike, pack a lunch and plan to have a date at the most scenic spot on your route.
#4 Meet (at least one) New Mom Friend
Pregnancy can be challenging if you’re the first of your friends to have a baby. Even if you’re not, the pandemic may mean less hanging out and the cancellation of some prenatal classes. Even without these mom groups, it’s still possible to meet people. Since other pregnant women are limiting their time outside the home, more of them are going online. This means it’s a great time to use mom apps to meet friends. You can chat now and plan to meet whenever you feel comfortable to. The Peanut app is a popular free choice for connecting women through fertility and motherhood.
#5 Plant Something and Dedicate it To Your Baby
Gardening is a great way to get outside without being in public and exposing yourself to germs. If you have a backyard, consider creating a small garden of anything you choose. If you’re not much of a gardener, choose a single flower or tree that you can plant and dedicate to your baby. Those without outdoor space may consider a small balcony garden or growing a few plants on a windowsill. As you watch your plants grow, it can symbolize the growth of your fetus too. Flowers that bloom every year can be a special time and story to tell your child as they grow up.
#6 Have a Campfire
Even if you’re not going camping this summer, it can still be fun to roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories over a fire. Light one in your own backyard or see if there’s any local public spaces you can use.
#7 Discover a New Way to Exercise
If you’re someone who goes to the gym, your local one may be closed due to the pandemic, or you may not feel comfortable going yet. If that’s the case, you can discover new ways to get exercise from home. Summer can be especially good for this since it widens the possibilities:
- Following a workout video in your backyard
- Following a yoga video on your balcony
- Jogging in the park
- Walking a new route
Read 11 Easy and Super Fun Pregnancy Exercise Ideas That You’ll Actually Do
#8 Create Your Own Signature Mocktail
No alcohol doesn’t need to mean no summer drinks. You can still enjoy a hot afternoon with a delicious cold beverage. Challenge your partner or kids to come up with a signature family mocktail.
#9 Go to a Drive-In Theatre
This isn’t an option for everyone, but if you live somewhere with a drive-in theater, it’s a safe way to get outside of your home for an evening. Since everyone is in their cars, you don’t need to worry as much about overcrowding and germ spread.
#10 Make a Belly Cast
Making a belly cast is a fun activity you can do at home by yourself or with your family. Here’s how it works:
- Purchase a kit
- Apply the plaster and strips to your belly to create the cast
- Wait 5-10 minutes, then remove it
- Let it dry
- Decorate the cast with pens, markers, picture collages, stickers, etc.
It’s a great way to get your creativity out if you’ve been missing crafting classes or groups. It also makes a memorable keepsake you can show your baby in the years to come.
#11 Use a Fetal Doppler
Fetal dopplers are small, at-home devices that allow you to hear your baby’s heartbeat while they’re in the womb. It’s a great device to have in these times when many check-ups are being done virtually.
With fewer in-person appointments can come added anxiety. Baby heartbeat monitors are a good way to ease anxiety when you use them with your doctor during calls or video chats. Since you can record the heartbeat, you can send it to family members who you may not be able to visit before birth.
Get a fetal doppler with free ultrasound gel today for $59.95
#12 Choose an “Indoor” Activity and Take it Outdoors
If you’re trying to limit your time in public, the feeling of being home too often may start to wear on you. If this is the case, look for one or two things you usually do inside that you can bring outdoors. For example, let’s say you need to work from home for the summer. You can change up the pace a bit by working on your balcony or in your backyard. If you’re into reading, consider reading under a tree instead of on your sofa. If you’re into knitting, bring your supplies to a picnic table for a change of scenery.
#13 Have a Backyard/Park Game Night
The pandemic has put a pause on many sport team practices and fun competitive events. Still, you can have your own games with your partner or family. Select a few outdoor games you can do in your backyard and hold a friendly tournament.
#14 Have a Few “Absolutely Nothing” Days
Bucket lists are about doing things and crossing items off. But sometimes, you really just need to rest—especially when you’re expecting. Pregnancy can make you feel fatigued and there’s nothing wrong with taking a few days off in the summer to do completely nothing. Since COVID-19 means the cancellation of major gatherings, it’s the one time where there’s almost no FOMO (fear of missing out). Even when the weather is nice, there’s less pressure to be outside. Plan a few days where you can stay in bed, watch tv, read or do whatever sparks you.
Summary on Summer 2020 Pregnancy Bucket List
Whether you’re spending less time in public because of pregnancy symptoms or because of COVID-19 precautions, there’s still plenty of ways to have fun in the sun. We suggest reading through the ideas we’ve outlined above to see what sounds interesting to you. Then, create your own list that you can refer back to throughout the summer.
Hear Your Fetus Between Appointments—Get the Baby Doppler today!