With just some minor alterations, Christmas + New Year + Bump can be extra special, just think next year they’ll be no more ‘silent nights’ for you (sorry….)
Here are some Mumbler tips to make the party season bump-friendly!
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, spirits 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.
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:
Drink 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 night before / saving yourself for 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.
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 & 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 choice are enjoyable for you, and safe for baby.
With all the shopping, cooking & preparations, 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.
Alison Goodwin, pregnancy yoga teacher at Stables Yoga, says “It can be hard to rest at the best of times, but even more so in the build up to the big day! It’s great to be busy and for most of us Christmas is a joyful time to spend with friends and family, who will now be excited to share your pregnancy and happy news with you. Balancing that out with some rest time will help you continue to feel energetic enough to enjoy it. Attending a weekly yoga class is great if you can fit it in, and means there is a designated time and space to celebrate your pregnancy and relax. You could ask for a block of classes as your Christmas gift – a great zero waste option too! If you just have a few minutes to spare between shopping and parties, find somewhere quiet to sit and take a few “golden thread” breaths. Simply inhale through your nose, part your lips just wide enough to hold a piece of tissue paper between them, and slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat a few times, you can’t do too much of this so if you have longer, do more.”
Some other suggestions to conserve your energy:
The Pregnancy Massage Page on the 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?
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 Mumbler recommended photographers listed on the website HERE, who would be more than happy to help.
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, Mumbler’s 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
“The Minster do a crib service on Xmas eve and all the little ones dress up. We are going to do that every year as it was very entertaining!”
Mumbler CW
“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
Just because your favourite party dress doesn’t fit right now and you are pregnant at Christmas, that’s no 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 & mince pies too, no tight waist bands need to stop you this year!!
See the maternity wear page on the Mumbler website for some top shopping tips.
If this is your first baby, make the most of this special couple time and enjoy a date night or 2. Soon the simple things like being able to go for a walk holding hands, or popping to the cinema for a date become a little more tricky! 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!. The Mumbler website has a Date Nights page full of Mumbler recommended suggestions of places to enjoy.
We wish you and your family a fabulous Christmas, and just think, your greatest gift of all is still to come now you are pregnant at Christmas time.
Don’t forget to check out the pregnancy pages on the Mumbler website, for all you need to know when expecting a new baby in York!
