How to Celebrate Christmas While Pregnant

Advice for Expectant Mothers to Enjoy the Yuletide Season

Nov 5, 2008

Although a joyful season, Christmas can be particularly stressful for pregnant women. There are ways, however, to lessen the anxiety.

Christmas is a magical time for everyone. But for the expectant mother, the strain of shopping, traveling and endless rounds of entertaining can cause tension and anxiety. Here are some practical tips for pregnant mums to keep the season merry minus the stress.

Start Christmas Shopping Early

Pregnant women should begin Christmas shopping much earlier. Getting stuck in a mad rush just before Christmas can be extremely taxing and definitely not good for both mother and baby. So prepare a shopping list and hit the stores weeks before the big day. Get a friend or the spouse to help if possible. With some time to spare, Christmas shopping can actually be enjoyable. Another option is to shop online.

Get Help Whenever Possible at Christmas

Expectant mothers with other children should try to engage as much help as possible before and during Christmas. Get family or friends to help with babysitting, cleaning, baking and cooking. Accept help when it is offered. Also, avoid hosting parties or big dinners. The preparation and cleaning up when all the fun has ended will be too much to handle. Family and friends will understand if an expectant mother is not organizing any Christmas party.

Eat Sensibly During Christmas

This advice applies to women throughout their pregnancies but more so during festive seasons because there are more food and drinks around. Heartburn is a big concern but its severity can be reduced by eating small and frequent meals. Include lots of complex carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables too. Stay away from fried and spicy food. Also, eat only food that is properly cooked to avoid the risk of salmonella.

Drink Safely at Christmas Parties

Pregnant women should avoid alcohol. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no safe level of alcohol drinking for women in pregnancy. So the best approach is not to drink any alcoholic beverages at all. Plain water and fruit juices are definitely okay, however. In fact, pregnant mums should drink plenty of water. When attending parties, try to stick to fruit juices and water only. Avoid punches as the alcohol content is not known.

Watch the Back

All the shopping, cleaning and decorating the house with Christmas ornaments can take its toll on the back. Try not to bend the back too much when doing these activities. If a heavy item needs to be lifted, get someone else to do it. If a pregnant mum needs to carry something herself, she should hold it close to her chest and bend her knees instead of her back when lifting it up. It’s very easy to hurt the back. So take extra care of it when preparing for Christmas.

Take Care of Feet

Like the back, the feet need more attention as well. The extra walking – shopping, attending parties, visiting, running after other kids while on holiday, etc – can be a source of distress for the feet. Also, pregnancy often results in water retention around the ankles, causing more swelling and discomfort. So pamper the feet after a hard day of walking. Soak them in warm water and give them a gentle foot massage. And don’t forget to wear only comfortable shoes. Avoid stylish high heels completely.

Get into the Spirit of Christmas with Baby

Although the baby is still in the womb, there is no reason why an expectant mum can’t share the spirit of Christmas with her unborn child. While resting, which should be done regularly, try singing Christmas carols and reading Christmas stories to the little bump. Mum’s soothing voice can help stimulate the baby’s brain development and form bonding between the two.

Undoubtedly, the hectic schedules that expectant mothers have to put up with before, during and possibly after Christmas may dampen the spirit of the season. Fortunately, shopping early, getting help whenever possible, eating and drinking healthily, taking extra care of the back and feet as well as injecting some Christmas fun to the unborn baby can considerably remove the potential stress and anxiety during the festive season.

Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year. New York: William Morrow, 1994

Hannah Dahlen. “Ten Tips for a Pregnant Christmas” in Australian Parents. (New South Wales: FPC Magazines, December/January 2007)

The copyright of the article How to Celebrate Christmas While Pregnant in Pregnancy & Childbirth is owned by Wei Yin Wong. Permission to republish How to Celebrate Christmas While Pregnant in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.