So your baby bump might be rivalling Father’s Christmas’s belly, but so what? ‘Tis the season to be pregnant!
With just some minor alterations, Christmas + New Year + Bump can be extra special. Just think, next year there will be no more ‘silent nights’ for you (sorry….)
Here’s some Mumbler tips to make the party season bump friendly:
Be Hangover Free!
So, lets turn the lack of wine into a positive, no hangover!
Don’t feel like you are missing out, as well as yummy mocktails, you can buy some really tasty alcohol free drinks now, so start sampling! This includes beers, wines and tasty cordials and juices.
Here’s some mocktail recipies to try:
Christmas Mocktail: 4 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups pineapple juice, 2 cups orange juice, ice, Sprite or sparkling water (optional) & sugar (optional to decorate the glass rims)
Banana Smoothie: 1 banana, a pinch of nutmeg, half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, a cup of milk and two cups of crushed ice. Put in a blender and whip up a deliciously thick smoothie.
Cinderella: 2 shots of pineapple juice, orange juice, lemon juice, ice, soda water and a dash of grenadine creates a lovely Christmassy colored mocktail. Garnish with a slice of pineapple or a cherry.
Shhhhh!
If you are in the early stages of pregnancy, and don’t feel quite ready to divulge your special news, here are some top tips to disguise the fact you are avoiding the bubbly this party season:
Order Mocktails: No one need know the alcohol has been skipped – there’s loads to sample!
Spirit & a mixer – again, without tasting it, no one will be any the wiser that your vodka and coke is missing the vodka.
Pass it on: If you have someone with you who is in on the secret and happy to be hungover on your behalf, then gratefully accept any drink sent your way, do a couple of fake sips if required and pass it on! (if you are stuck with a drink, a last ditch solution is down the sink during a loo trip!)
The good old “I’m taking antibiotics, so can’t have a drink” excuse
Say you are still hungover from the night before / saving yourself for the night after / have a busy day ahead and need to be on top form – all valid reasons to be avoiding the Christmas bubbly.
Designated driver: Depending on where you are partying it might be quite reasonable to have chosen to drive to the event; safety first!
Saving the Pennies: Christmas can get expensive! So you may choose to have a cheap night and stick to the lemonade.
Food, Glorious Food
You may be struggling with sickness, or heartburn, or both (hopefully not!). Eating little and often can make things easier and drinking lots of water is essential to help with digestion as well as keeping you hydrated.
Christmas buffets can be full of tempting goodies, including cheeses, seafood, meats and pate. Whilst there are many foods you will be able to enjoy, it’s worth having a read of the NHS guide regarding foods to avoid when pregnant, so you can be confident your choices are enjoyable for you, and safe for baby.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/foods-to-avoid-pregnant.aspx
Put those Festive Feet Up
With all the shopping, cooking and entertaining, Christmas is hard work! Don’t forgot you are using lots of your energy on that little task of growing a baby!!!! Therefore, you need plenty of rest built into the Christmas period.
– Lots of shopping to do? Get your feet up and order online
– Organise and plan ahead as much as possible to spread out all the ‘to do list’ and avoid those manic days
– Build in time for rest, reading a book, having a bath or watching a Christmas film (or 2 or 3..)
– Delegate – sharing is caring, you can’t do it all!
The Treatments & Spas Page on the Calderdale Mumbler website has lots of lovely treatment providers listed, many offer treatments that are suitable/especially for pregnant women to help you get that well deserved pamper! Or could also be an idea for a Christmas gift voucher for you?
Christmas Maternity Photo Shoot
Make the most of having a gorgeous baby bump at Christmas time, by capturing it forever in a Christmas themed maternity photo shoot ideas.
We have lots of photographers listed on the website, who would be more than happy to help.
New Traditions
With a new baby on the way now is the perfect time to start some new traditions that you can carry on as a family. How about a family mince pie baking session? Nothing beats homemade mince pies! As always, Mumblers have come up with some great suggestions:
I buy my daughter a Christmas bauble each year that she can put on the tree, I have a special box for her to keep them in and the idea is that when she leaves home she’ll have her own special Christmas decorations to take with her.
Mumbler SL
New Pyjamas for the whole family for Christmas eve to sit together and watch a Christmas film in.
Mumbler GL
Halifax Minster do a Christingle service on Christmas Eve and all the little ones can dress up and take home a Christingle orange. We’re going to try and make it a Christmas tradition!
Mumbler CG
Last year we went for a walk in the woods and scattered our reindeer food. The kids loved it so that is going to be the Xmas eve tradition in our house!
Mumbler CS
We started a new tradition of making our own gingerbread house.
Mumbler GL
Maternity Wear
Just because your favourite party dress doesn’t fit right now, that’s not an excuse not to go to the ball! There’s loads of gorgeous maternity party wear available now, some in the shops but lots online. Order early to leave time to try on and send back if it’s not right. Consider comfy, stretchy material which will nicely accommodate baby and then lots of Christmas buffet and mince pies too; no tight waist bands need to stop you this year!!
Date Night
If this is your first baby, make the most of this special couple time and enjoy a date night or two. Soon the simple things like being able to go for a walk holding hands, or pop to the cinema become a little trickier! Even if it’s not your first baby, couple time is still soooo important, it just takes a little more planning and a babysitter to make it happen – but worth it!.
HO HO HO Happy Christmas
We wish you and your family a fabulous Christmas, and just think, your greatest gift of all is still to come!!!
Thanks to York Mumbler for this wonderful blog!
