Top 10 Reasons to Enjoy a Pregnant Christmas

Thursday 20th of December 2012 | Category: Pregnancy News | Written by: Siobhan Thomas

Other people love to question how you'll 'cope' without being able to get drunk or eat unpasteurised cheese at Christmas, but it shouldn't be a time to feel hard done by. There are lots of reasons to celebrate being pregnant over the festive period.

1) Indulge your cravings

Whether at home or at someone else's house, there is usually more food around at Christmas and the supermarkets are heaving with snacks and nibbles to satisfy any cravings. Whether you're after chocolate covered pretzels or garlic infused pecan nuts, this is the time of year to consume the weird and wonderful combinations without raising any eyebrows!

2) Your clothes are supposed to stretch

Make the most of ruched side seams and adjustable waistbands and enjoy whatever festive feasts are offered to you. Your little black dress for New Year's Eve will allow for the extra growth this year so dig in!

3) Trying to keep it under wraps?

Despite all the offers of alcohol and foods that are off limits to pregnant women, this isn't necessarily a difficult time of year to disguise your pregnancy. People are usually too distracted to notice that you're on the grape juice, or that your other half just swiped the pâté from your plate. Blame your morning sickness on one too many mulled wines last night. Nobody will be surprised that you ate your selection box before breakfast or if you head off for a snooze after Christmas lunch - this is normal behaviour for anyone on Christmas Day!

4) Your Last Grown-up Christmas together

At least for many years! If this is your first baby then future Christmases will be magic with a child in the house, but it also means that this is your last Christmas for a while where you can really focus your attention on one another, so make the most of it!

5) Enjoy the Party without paying for it tomorrow

There's nothing to stop you heading out to Christmas parties if you want to, and glamming up for an evening out can be no less enjoyable when you're pregnant. Take the time to enjoy getting ready, get your hair done or paint your nails and take advantage of the great range of maternity frocks available to suit all budgets. Enjoy the party and come home when you're ready, then gloat as much as you like the next day when you wake up without a hangover!

6) Don't be too disappointed by the foods that are off limits

Having been restricted on the food front this year, you will no doubt find that next year you enjoy your brie and pâté all the more (whether you liked it before or not!)

7) Nothing beats Christmas television

If the celebrations get too much, line up some extra nights in and enjoy the best TV viewing month of the year. Cheer yourself with your favourite family films, catch up on this year's Christmas specials and remember to record the ones you're going to miss! If you can't watch them now then you might appreciate them in the weeks to come.

8) Celebrate the bubble bath standard!

Nothing says 'I didn't know what to get you' like a gift of bubble bath. But don't be ungrateful, get those aching legs upstairs and have a long soak. And don't stop taking relaxing baths until all those bubbles have been used up!

9) Make the most of your central heating

Most pregnant women find that their internal thermostat is set higher than everyone else's. So break with tradition and don't mention the cold. An extra scoop of ice cream with your Christmas pudding will help if you are over heating!

10) Let them fuss!

If you are lucky enough to be part of a family with too many cooks, make the most of taking the back seat. Let other people do the hard work if they want to. It might be in your nature to take control of proceedings but if there are others who want to see you sitting with your feet up then for goodness sake don't argue with them!