Pregnancy and the Holidays

 

If you have a baby due to be born around Christmas, congratulations! You are going to have a very special Christmas this year indeed. Being due around Christmas is a joyous occasion but it can also be a bit stressful, especially if you have other children already. However, with a little bit of help and extra planning and preparation, you can make sure that this Christmas is enjoyable for your entire family.

If you are due right around Christmas, it is a good idea to get all of your shopping done ahead of time, just in case. You may want to consider doing a lot of your shopping online to save you the time, hassle and energy required to comb the malls. Many companies offer free shipping over the holidays if you spend a certain amount of money online. Amazon.com offers a Prime membership that costs $99 per year and gives you free shipping on most items.

You will also want to have a plan for childcare for your other children when the new baby arrives. It is a good idea to coordinate family visits with family members who can care for your children when you are in the hospital and if needed, carry on your family holiday traditions in your absence. This may include grandparents, aunts, uncles and special family friends. It is a also a good idea to go ahead and pack a “go bag” in case you need to go to the hospital on short notice.

If you have other children, it is a good idea to go ahead and talk to them about the possibility of the baby coming on or right before Christmas. This will give you the opportunity to assure them that Christmas will still happen as planned, even in your absence. You can also talk about the special gift you will be bringing home to them after the birth. You may even want to help your child shop for a special gift that he or she can wrap up and put under the tree for the newest addition to your family. Congratulations on your pregnancy. We hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday season.

Posted on behalf of Dr. Carlos Alarcon, Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A.