Walk—Just Take It Indoors
You know those final weeks when even putting your shoes on feels like a workout?
This is when walking became my best friend.
I stayed quite consistent with exercise throughout my pregnancies, but towards the end, when I felt particularly heavy and uncomfortable, walking became my main form of movement.
The only problem? Walking outdoors during a Dubai summer is almost impossible.
My solution has always been the malls.
I love going early, before the shops properly open. Parking is easy, the corridors are quiet, the temperature is perfect and I can get some movement in without battling the heat.
This summer, the Dubai Mallathon has made it even more fun. There's something surprisingly motivating about seeing so many other people walking alongside you, and they even have a floor dedicated to women, which makes the experience particularly comfortable.
Some days I walk longer. Other days, twenty minutes is enough.
At this stage of pregnancy, I've learned not to overcomplicate it. Moving is the goal.
Let the Water Do the Work
If you're at the stage where your belly feels like it weighs approximately the same as you do, get into the water.
The relief is almost immediate.
The heaviness lifts, the pressure on your hips eases and suddenly you can move again without feeling the full weight of a third-trimester belly.
Whether it was an early morning swim or an afternoon at the beach once the sun softened, water became one of my favourite ways to stay active throughout all three pregnancies—and an easy way to still enjoy being outdoors with my children during summer.
While preparing for my VBAC with my second daughter, I also started doing deep squat walks through shallow water. The water supported my weight while giving my muscles some gentle resistance, making movements that felt difficult on land so much easier.
It became one of my favourite little pregnancy rituals.
As always, check with your doctor before introducing new exercises, particularly towards the end of pregnancy.
Make Getting Dressed as Easy as Possible
You're hot. You're heavy. Nothing seems to sit quite right anymore. And somehow you're standing in front of your wardrobe wondering what on earth to wear.
This is where I stopped trying to make complicated outfits happen.
My biggest summer wardrobe hack is simple: linen, cotton and one-step dressing.
I practically lived in our KAGE linens and Desmond & Dempsey sets because they're incredibly lightweight and breathable, but still make you feel put together.
A matching set or an easy dress removes the decision-making entirely. Put it on, add your accessories and you're done.
As an Emirati woman, there is also the additional layer of the abaya, so what I wear underneath needs to be as lightweight and breathable as possible. Pure linen and soft cotton make such a difference, particularly when layered under my favourite summer abayas.
And there's another reason I love button-down sets: they don't stop working once pregnancy ends. The shirts transition beautifully into postpartum and make breastfeeding much easier.
Anything that saves me from having to rethink my entire wardrobe after giving birth earns extra points.
Take Sun Protection Seriously
Pregnancy has always made my skin behave differently. Mine becomes much more sensitive and prone to breakouts, and with the increased risk of melasma during pregnancy, SPF is something I take very seriously.
This summer, my favourite has been Timebeam's Sunbeam Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 (Link). It's incredibly lightweight, gives my skin a beautiful glow without the sticky white residue I usually hate about SPF, is easy to reapply and—most importantly for me—hasn't caused the breakouts or irritation I normally experience with sunscreen.
Beyond SPF, shade makes a huge difference.
Personally, I'm not really a hat person. I tend to wear one when I know I'll be directly exposed to the sun—at the beach or when travelling somewhere that involves spending a lot of time walking outdoors.
It's actually something we considered when curating the hats at TMP. I wanted styles that could work beyond beachwear and with different summer outfits, while still giving you proper coverage over your face when you need it.
Whether you wear an abaya every day or don't, combining SPF with physical shade is such a simple way to be more intentional about protecting pregnancy-sensitive skin.
If melasma is something you're struggling with—or simply want to prevent—we've also written a dedicated TMP blog taking a deeper dive into what it is and the different ways to prevent and treat it (Click here to read the blog).
Three Summers Later...
If there's one thing being pregnant with my third baby has shown me, it's how much easier pregnancy can feel when you stop fighting the season and start finding little ways to work around it.
I still feel heavy. I still get tired. And yes, Dubai is still incredibly hot.
But I know where to walk. I know that getting into the water will make my body feel better. I know which fabrics I can comfortably live in. I know not to complicate getting dressed. And I'm far more conscious about protecting my skin.
They're tiny things individually, but together they've made this summer feel completely different.
And sometimes, when you're growing a human in the middle of a Dubai summer, making life just a little bit easier is more than enough.
Fatma Rashid
Founder & CEO of TMP
Fatma Rashid founded The Maternity Project to create a holistic space for mothers, inspired by her own pregnancy and postpartum journey. Experiencing the challenge of finding luxurious, stylish clothing that adapted to her changing body, she set out to curate pieces that evolve with women while empowering them through this transformative stage. Her vision combines fashion, knowledge, and community to celebrate the strength and individuality of every mother.