The holidays are a hectic time of year for most of us. The frantic pace of life during this time wears us all out, but is especially difficult for pregnant women. You need to rest, but you need to shop, wrap gifts, visit relatives and fulfill many other commitments.
You need to take stock of what you really need to accomplish. Prioritize your list so you can fulfill your obligations while preserving some time for rest. Shopping is one chore that can be avoided. Shop online for most of your gifts. This is easier than ever and the gifts arrive on your doorstep. In some cases, you can have the item shipped straight to the recipient. This is a great option for out of town relatives.
When visiting family, keep in mind that you are setting a precedent that may not work after the baby arrives. Talk to your partner about how you envision the holidays after the baby is born. If you want to spend Christmas Day in your own home, you may want to start that tradition now. Invite your family to your home and host dinner.
You will need to renegotiate how the holidays are split, if both families live locally. Your mom may not have cared a bit that you spend every Christmas morning with your mother in law for the past five years. Next year, she may care. There are many ways to handle this. Some couples spend Christmas Eve with one family and Christmas Day with the other side. Other couples alternate and spend the holiday with the wife’s side one year and the husband’s side the next.
However you decide to handle the future, make sure to leave time to relax. Rushing from one function to the next will leave you exhausted. Plan your visits to allow time to relax. Try not to plan more than one or two activities each day. If you must attend the office Christmas party, arrive early and go home to bed at a decent hour.
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