Now that the snow has finally melted and the dog poo has started to wash away with the last few days of rain, I think it’s safe to say the good times have finally arrived!
There is nothing I enjoy more than spring in the city, except maybe summer in the city. But, for now, let’s focus on these next couple of months and how to have the best spring when you’re pregnant in Montreal.
Doesn’t this photo just make you SO ready for warmer weather?
First things first- you KNOW your feet have been seriously neglected over the last few months. So get thee to a nail salon! My preference is for Sandra Beauty in Westmount on the corner of Grosvenor, but there are a million places to go. Choose the brightest coral or pink you can find and then relax into your chair with a terrible gossip mag and drift away for an hour or so. Your mind and feet will thank you. If you’re nearing the end of pregnancy you might start to get a bit puffy or swollen, so take care of yourself. Buy a good pair of sandals (I could barely squeeze my feet into flip flops in the last month, so you might want to size up!) and make sure that they are comfortable cause you’ll be out walking- a lot!
My next recommendation is to hit up a terrace with friends. I know, I know- you’re pregnant and even if you are indulging in a glass of wine here or there, most people are not into publicly downing a pitcher of Sangria in front of mixed company. So, order a fruity drink or non-alcoholic beer and enjoy that warm 15 degree celsius weather that we Montrealers think passes for summer because we’re so desperate to be outside after 7 months of wintery hell.
I can’t even begin to explain how much ice cream I consumed when I was pregnant…
Choose your favorite neighborhood (Mile End, Plateau, or St-Henri, anyone?) and revisit all your favorite shops and cafes that you’ve neglected all winter because you were too lazy or tired to leave the house. Don’t forget- even if it’s not summer yet, the sun is still harsh and most pregnant women will find their skin is very sensitive and burns more easily. So, wear a wide brim hat and sunscreen and avoid starting your spring looking like a lobster.
One of my favorite activities during my spring pregnancies was to earn an ice cream at Bilboquet by finding the longest and most uphill way to walk there. They have the most delicious flavours of frozen yogurt or ice cream…I’m drooling just thinking about it! If you’re more of a Ben and Jerry’s fan, then hit up the one in NDG on Monkland, or take the super touristy route and head to Old Montreal for your sugar fix.
Finally, if the ground has started to dry grab a nice blanket and a book and head to your favorite park or green space for some quiet time to watch the trees and flowers start blooming. I like the Lachine Canal or Westmount park, but anywhere will do really. Having time and space to start thinking about your upcoming labour and birth and your new baby is so important. After the long winter of avoiding the cold, digging out of snowbanks, and vegging at home it’s time to get ready for all the new things that spring brings!
