Summertime means getting outside, enjoying the beautiful weather and trying to keep cool, especially for moms-to-be. After all, gaining 25 or more pounds doesn't exactly keep you cool and comfortable. But just because the sun is hot doesn't mean you have to sit in the air-conditioning all day. 

Pregnancy is a great time to hang out at the pool. Sure, you might not feel sleek and graceful in your pregnant figure, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself. Whether you want to get some exercise or just cool off and relax, consider the following tips for hitting the pool while expecting.

Bathing suit season is hard enough without being pregnant. But sporting a big belly can make finding the perfect bathing suit even more difficult. According to Brette Sember, author of Your Plus-Size Pregnancy: The Ultimate Guide for the Full-Figured Expectant Mom (Barricade Books, 2005), comfort is the key.

Make sure your suit fits well and has enough room to accommodate your expanding frame. Otherwise you'll be constantly tugging and picking at the fabric and you'll never feel comfortable. Racer back suits are especially easy to wear, and suits with built-in bra support are essential, says Sember. And finding the right suit is worth it because swimming in a T-shirt will most likely be uncomfortable.

"T-shirts and shorts are not a viable option if you plan on going in the water because they get wet and cling and show your undergarments," says Sember. But you have several bathing suit options in the maternity section and on the regular bathing suit rack.

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