Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling, too! The holiday season has officially arrived. Soon, we’ll be stuffing our faces with turkey and ripping into presents galore. The cold winter air will be filled with the delicious, sweet smell of holiday ham and cranberry sauce.
The holidays are a fun, eventful time, but they can also be pretty stressful. From trying to find the perfect present, to figuring out finances, to hosting 30 family members at your house, the holidays aren’t always filled with merriment and cheer. If you’re a pregnant or new mom especially, the holiday season may seem more like something to check off your to-do list, rather than than something to look forward to. Luckily, we have the perfect tips for how to survive the holidays while pregnant.
First and foremost, if you’re pregnant over the holidays and are due sometime soon, be careful not to travel too far away from home. Not only can traveling add more stress to your body, but it can create an uneasy or even dangerous situation if something happens during your pregnancy while you’re away from home. Try to keep your holiday gatherings nearby, or even host them within your own home, for a safe and comfortable environment in case anything changes.
Of course, the holiday season is well known for its delicious food and easy overeating habits. While this can definitely be tempting, it’s still important to maintain your nutrition and focus on good eating habits while pregnant over the holidays. The food you eat literally translates into energy for your body—and your developing baby’s. While the holidays are a fun time to splurge a little, be sure that you’re still getting plenty of vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy diet over the next few months.
With healthy eating habits comes healthy sleeping habits over the holidays. Surviving the winter season is going to be pretty tough if you feel exhausted the whole time. As a mommy-to-be, sleep is absolutely essential, so make sure you’re getting some. While spending time with friends and family members is valuable, don’t be afraid to excuse yourself for a nap or an early-to-bed when you feel your body being drained.
If you don’t have time for a nap, that’s okay. Just be sure to take some time to put your feet up and relax. The holiday season is full of shopping, wrapping and throwing parties, so it can get pretty exhausting pretty quickly. As a soon-to-be mom, it’s important to stay refreshed and feeling healthy. So, don’t be afraid to enlist help in all of the holiday festivities—whether that means asking dad to do some more holiday shopping or having grandma babysit for awhile. Your health and wellbeing matter, so take the time to care for yourself.
As you’re out and about over the holidays, one great survival tip is establishing boundaries. Chances are, friends and family galore are going to want to touch all over that belly and ask all sorts of deep, personal, potentially intrusive questions. Of course, this can get very old very quickly, and end up making you feel like the main event in a circus act. So, establish boundaries. Have your loved ones—or even strangers—ask permission before touching and rubbing on your belly. Keep conversations light, and if they start to turn too personal, try changing the conversation to focus on them, or even politely say you’re not comfortable discussing the question. Establish gentle, but firm, boundaries over the holiday season, and you will find yourself enjoying the time much more.
Finally, the greatest survival tip out there: it’s okay to say no. This holiday season, don’t feel like you have to be Super Mom. Just say no. If you’re too tired to entertain the family this year, say no to hosting the party. If cooking the whole turkey is too much, feel free to say no. Or if spending 10 hours on your feet shopping for every single cousin’s present, say no. There’s no shame in saying no this holiday season and focusing on your own health and wellbeing. After all, your comfort and stress levels impact the little one with you every step of the way.
The holidays can be a very stressful time for everyone involved, especially for pregnant or new moms. This holiday season, try out some of our survival tips to have a wonderful time, while still making it through cheerfully. Of course, when all else fails, relax with a delicious glass of non-alcoholic wine, to both survive and thrive.