5 Mistakes Pregnant Women Make Around the Holidays

‘Tis the season for large family dinners, presents, extra social outtings, office parties and delicious morsels. If you are expecting during this holiday season, watch out and avoid these mistakes! Here are 5 mistakes pregnant women make around the holidays.

5 Mistakes Pregnant Women Make Around the Holidays

1. Host the holiday family meal

If you are scheduled to host the holiday family meal, I am so, so sorry. Please, try to get out of it. For a non-pregnant woman, hosting a family gathering is a lot of work. There’s cleaning, meal planning, grocery shopping, food prep, cooking, hostessing, serving, and insult of all insults… cleaning the kitchen.

And if you’re also hosting overnight guests? Yeah… nope.

If you are pregnant and are slated to host, that list up there ^^^? Yeah, there’s no way to do it all without pushing your body too far. Never mind having a good attitude during dinner. 😉 Ladies, it’s impossible to both be pregnant and still do “all the things”.

What you could do instead:

If at all possible, get out of hosting the family meal! Or, consider swapping holidays with a family so that hosting is your responsibility next time. If those two options won’t work, create a list of every task that needs to be accomplished and delegate like there’s no tomorrow.

If you can’t swap and nobody will help, consider canceling the family meal. Sometimes drastic measures need to be taken to protect the welfare of you and your unborn baby. By not putting your foot down and saying no (or compromising), you are putting the needs of others above you and your baby’s.

Or you could just be passive aggressive and post these on Facebook. Totally a valid option.

or?

2. Eat for two

I am not the food police, nor will I ever be, but “eating for two” during the holidays won’t leave you feeling so hot. Low energy, heartburn, bloating, weight gain, and even nausea can accompany a pregnant over-eater (or eating too much of the wrong things).

And who wants to feel horrible while pregnant? Especially during the holidays? No thanks.

What you could do instead.

• Before a holiday meal or party, eat a high protein snack or meal so you will feel less tempted later on.
• Fill your plate with lots of vegetables and less breads and starches.
• Indulge on a fruit salad instead of the dessert table.
• Eat fun foods like a pomegranate and raspberries to keep things interesting.
• If you’re hankering for food that goes “crunch” cut up celery sticks, carrots and eat them with a delicious vinaigrette.
• Make and freeze, ahead of time, delicious coconut oil chocolates. They are AMAZING and good for you too!

3. Schedule an induction

During the holidays the seduction of induction is extremely tempting at the end of the third trimester. Induction may sound like a really good idea, especially when trying to plan for out of town guests and other logistical complexities.

On top of that, the last few weeks of pregnancy can be miserable – lack of sleep, heartburn, body aches, prodromal labor, lack of energy, etc. I am not a fan, and if someone say she’s enjoying herself at 40 weeks pregnant, she’s has to be lying! 😉

Can I stop you right there? I get it. I really do. The thing is, the risk of an elective induction (one that is not medically necessary) is greater than the benefit (not being pregnant for Thanksgiving or Christmas) for you and your baby. (And I would even caution you against using natural methods for induction.)

Here are the facts about inductions:

• Induced labors are harder on babies. It takes really hard contractions for a long time to get in a good labor pattern. Sometimes, drugs like Pitocin, Cervidil, and Cytotec can cause unnaturally long and close together contractions, which in turn can cause physical stress and harm to the baby.
• Inducing for convenience has been disapproved by the FDA.
• Ultrasounds can be off by +/-1-2 pounds so it would seem that an induction for a suspected “big baby” (per the results of an ultrasound) might not be the wisest solution. Especially since shoulder dystocia (SD) doesn’t have a strong tie to weight. (I was recently at a birth with SD and the baby was 6 pounds something! SD was resolved just fine, by the way, by a well-trained midwife.)
• The average length of pregnancy for first time moms goes to the 41st week… which means a postdates induction at 41 weeks just because a woman is 41 weeks is a bit silly. Give her a little bit more time… you’re stressin’ her out!

What you could do instead:

• Take holiday inspired family photos that show off your beautiful bump! Hire a professional to get some really good ones. In years to come you will treasure these photos (probably!).
• Unplug from social media.
• Change your voicemail to something that says “I am still pregnant I’ll let you know when I have the baby”.
• Spend time outdoors – hikes, neighborhood walks, etc. Nature has a way of cheering us up.
• Go to a movie by yourself. It might be the last time you’ll do this for a very long while!
• Check out my post about “waiting for labor activities” for other good ideas.

Also, if your doctor or midwife is pressuring you to schedule an induction to accommodate their holiday plans? That’s a red flag that they’re not looking out for what’s best for you.

For more tips on how to have an empowered natural hospital birth ——->>>> click here.

4. Fill the calendar

Pregnancy (and having a newborn) may not be the time to make long holiday bucket lists full of baby’s first Christmas traditions. High expectations become unmet disappointments, which leads to frustration with yourself and your family. You cannot do “all the things” when pregnant!

What you could do instead.

You may have to say no to people, events, and other things that sound amazing. Saying no will be hard, but you can do it!

Consider making a shortened list (like 2-3 things) of really meaningful activities that you would like to accomplish in November and December. When January rolls around, you’ll want to have made sure that where you chose to spend your limited time and energy meant something!

5. Refuse help

The fifth, and final mistake pregnant women make around the holidays is that they don’t, won’t, or can’t ask for help. Modern women have believed the lies that a) we can do it by ourselves and b) we have to do it by ourselves. No pregnant woman is an island and honestly, life drastically improves by letting others help.

What you could do instead.

The next time the bagger at the grocery store offers to take your groceries to your car, accept that help. With a smile! When your partner asks how they can help, make them a list. When a friend offers to wrap presents for you, go for it. Even if they don’t do it as well as you!

5 Mistakes Pregnant Women Make Around the Holidays

To recap, here are the 5 mistakes pregnant women make around the holidays:

1. Host the Holiday Family Meal
2. Eat for Two
3. Schedule an Induction
4. Fill the Calendar
5. Refuse Help

Alright ladies, that’s all I got! Whatever your fall and winter plans are, I want you to have a delightful holiday season. I hope you keep things peaceful with low expectations, lots of patience and planning ahead. These tips will serve you well  next year for baby’s first Christmas and keep you from getting holiday mastitis too! I’m thankful for you!