There's no denying that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It's full of magic and festive joy, but navigating the festivities while pregnant can definitely make things more difficult. Whether you're about to pop, or still at the mercy of your morning sickness, you might be dealing with stress and emotions that you don't normally associate with the Christmas period!
Here are our top tips for enjoying the festivities and some simple steps you can take to prevent feeling overwhelmed.
Focus on what you CAN enjoy
Okay, you can't indulge in the boozy Christmas pudding or the pate and seafood platter... but there's still a huge host of goodies that you can dig into and make the most of over the festive period. While you might have to avoid picking at certain foods, like some of the mould ripened soft cheeses from the cheese board this year, hard cheeses like cheddar and stilton are safe to enjoy.
If you prefer a soft cheese, like a good brie or camembert, thoroughly cooking it until hot will kill the bacteria and make sure that the cheese is safe to enjoy (plus, camembert is WAY better hot anyway)!
If you're looking for the best place to position yourself for the day, the sweet treat and dessert table of biscuits, chocolate, and crisps should be a safe bet to openly indulge in all of the goodies and add to your growing bump. Our other top tip when it comes to eating is remembering to eat little and often to avoid overdoing it and feeling unwell.
Make the most of the non-alcoholic Christmas drinks
One thing that many people don't make the most of while pregnant is the host of tasty non-alcoholic drink recipes out there, especially those of the festive variety! You might not be able to have your traditional buck's fizz with breakfast to get your Christmas Day started, but that doesn't mean that you can't have some fun and yummy fancy drinks this festive season.
Whether it's our go-to classic cocktail you feel like you're missing out on, or you're craving the first festive sip of mulled wine, there's a non-alcoholic alternative out there for just about any drink you want. It's just about being prepared when you're out and about when pregnant, as you can probably assume friends and relatives won't have the ingredients for your alcohol-free recipes. If you're attending a Christmas party or event, make sure to take your drinks with you so you don't get stuck on the kids' apple juice for the night!
Maybe save the hosting for next year
Picture this... it's mid-August, you're sitting around the table at your parents' not long after the buzz of announcing your pregnancy, and you find yourself volunteering to host this year's family Christmas. All seems well, but fast forward four months and you could well find yourself cursing that summer day you made the drive up to see your loved ones.
When you're pregnant, it's impossible to predict how you're going to feel in months, or even days, to come. As you might well have discovered already, pregnancy can come with a whole host of weird and wonderful symptoms that can impact your day-to-day life.
While hosting family and friends might seem like a fun idea at the time you agree to it, it can be a lot of added planning and pressure to put on yourself while pregnant at Christmas. From all of the food prep and cooking to washing dishes and keeping everyone's drinks topped up on the day, there's a good chance you might end up feeling overwhelmed and wishing everyone would leave by midday.
Listen to your body
Even if you're not hosting this year, and you're going to a family member or friend's place to enjoy the festivities instead, don't feel like you have to be the life of the party and spend the whole day there just to enjoy Christmas properly.
While you're pregnant, it's the perfect excuse to rest and relax over the Christmas season. If you're looking to make the most of the day, we'd recommend finding yourself a comfy seat for the day and putting your feet up (preferably with a good view of the tv and in close proximity to the snack table!)
Whatever your plans, remember to take some time for yourself to avoid overdoing it. Whether that's skipping this year's crazy Christmas Eve party, having a slower morning and joining the fun in the afternoon, or shooting off to put your Christmas PJs on and watch a film after dinner's over, do whatever feels right. And remember, volunteering as the designated driver for family and friends might seem generous, but it means you've got to stay until those drinking are ready to leave.
Cool it with the Christmas shopping
If there was ever one year to give the December Christmas shopping trip and miss and do it online from the comfort of your own sofa, this is the time. There's nothing worse than being hot, bothered, tired, and pregnant while pushing and shoving your way through a heaving department store.
If you do venture out, try to go at a time when it won't be as hectic or when most people are at work. Also, if you are hosting this year, or simply staying home for Christmas dinner, try to book a delivery slot for any big food shop orders. Or, if you're too late and have already missed all of the delivery slots, don't be afraid to ask a loved one for a festive favour and send them off to the supermarket with a good list!
The main thing to remember when pregnant at Christmas is to take it easy and enjoy yourself. Don't try to do a million things, but at the same time you shouldn't be dreading the festivities this year just because you're pregnant. Listen to what your body needs, take some time to yourself when you feel like it, and enjoy the festive cheer and celebrations!
