There are several ways that you can enjoy Christmas while pregnant. But there’s no denying that Christmas will look a whole lot different when you’re with a baby bump. While you can still very much be a part of the festivities, the dos and don’ts that come with being pregnant will affect how you celebrate Christmas this year. Sure, I cannot speak for everyone, but here are nine revelations that I found when I was pregnant with my little one during Christmas.
1. Half Of The Traditional Christmas Dishes Will Be Off Limits
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During pregnancy, you have to strictly follow your doctor’s advice. This means you can’t use the holiday as an excuse to eat what you want. If your pregnancy is anything like mine, the morning sickness and heartburn are enough to make you swear not to munch on the several delicacies on the Christmas table. Which meant, while others sipped on wine and eggnog, I had to make do with mocktails and water.
2. Your Mind Will Be Preoccupied With Thoughts Of Next Christmas
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You cannot contain the excitement and are constantly thinking about how different it will be next time this year with a baby in your arms. You will be officially a mom and will have a little one to dress up in adorable Christmas outfits. You start thinking of how you’ll make it special. But if you’re anything like me, your thoughts might soon spiral downwards, and you start freaking out about having a little human entirely dependent on you when you can barely take care of yourself. You start thinking about all the things that could go wrong before something or someone jolts you right back into reality.
3. You Will Have A Whole Lot Of Unsolicited Advice Coming Your Way
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It’s nice when your close friends and family are concerned about you. But when you’re repeatedly told how you should be raising your baby and what you can and cannot do during and after pregnancy, it can get a little exhausting and annoying. While you appreciate their love and concern for you and your baby, you secretly wish they would just shut up and not ruin Christmas for you. You are your own critique, and you don’t want another person telling you how to be a mom and would appreciate it if they would only share their advice when you ask for them.
4. You Start Thinking About New Christmas Traditions To Start Once Your Baby Arrives
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I wouldn’t lie; it’s definitely fun to think about all the new traditions that you could start with your partner and kids in the coming years. From sending out Christmas newsletters with matching family portraits to watching holiday movies during December and making new recipes that your kids can join in, you will have a zillion ideas. But here’s a fair warning, the first two years are going to be a bit of a challenge that you will be too tired and disorganized to follow most of them.
5. You Will Realize That The Holidays Are A Minefield For Belly Touchers
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With friends and family coming over to your home during Christmas eve, you will constantly have someone touching and caressing your belly. I can’t remember the countless times I had wished for the holiday season to be over just so my baby bump would get some space from all the belly grabbers. If you don’t enjoy people touching your belly, you could politely let them know that you’re not a fan of belly touching. And if someone asks permission, don’t feel bad or hesitate to express your thoughts.
6. You Will Cry A River
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The holidays will bring up a lot of emotions, and you will cry for every little thing. You’ll cry when you watch a silly holiday movie, you’ll cry when you decorate the tree and hang the little ornaments, you’ll cry when you set up the crib under the Christmas tree, and a million other times. The holidays can be overwhelming with people coming over and asking you questions you’re not prepared to answer yet — “Have you painted the baby room?”, “When do you plan on going back to work?”, “Have you thought of a name for the baby yet?”, and “Is your husband taking a paternity leave?” among others.
7. You Will Get Tons Of Presents…For Your Little One
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I was excited about getting presents for Christmas, but unlike the gifts that I usually receive, the presents were more for my baby than me. While I was relieved that we got to save money on some baby stuff, it’s hard to get too excited over onesies and bassinet. However, a few weeks later, I received the best gift I couldn’t put a price on.
Christmas is a time to make merry with friends and family. While Christmas this year wouldn’t turn out exactly like you imagined, you can still make the most of it and have a fun time with your loved ones. Ensure that the festivities don’t stop you from taking care of yourself and the little one inside you; take enough rest and focus on eating healthy food. And in case of any emergency, make sure you have your doctor’s number on speed dial.
