You're due when?

Your due date is smack-dab in the middle of the holiday season. Plus or minus a week or two, you could actually go into labor on Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa ... so how do you plan for the holiday and your birth at the same time?

Pack your hospital bag early

Don’t leave this task until the last minute. With all the boxes, gifts, wrapping paper strewn all over the place, make sure you collect everything you need at least two weeks in advance of your due date and keep the bag in a place where anyone can find it.

Don’t travel too far from home

Holiday travel is usually part of a family celebration, but with the Covid-19 pandemic, your best bet is to stay home. Even under regular circumstances, you should not be traveling more than a few miles from home close to your due date. Not only are long travel times painful and potentially dangerous (increased risk of blood clots in the legs); they take you away from your doctor and the hospital where you’ll be delivering. 

Skip family parties during the final days

Again, with the current pandemic, crowded parties are the last place you want to be at all, but especially days before your due date. Normally, holiday parties involve mingling leaving few places to rest. You need to prop up your feet and rest for at least 15 minutes every hour.

Rest as much as possible

Then rest some more. Rest is essential to your health, strength, and immune system. The holidays naturally drain energy from our bodies, let alone when your pregnancy due date is looming near.

Don’t feel obligated 

Say no to added obligations whether it's making cookies, decorating, or shopping if you are feeling under the weather or tired. The more stressed you are the less prepared you’ll be to fight off infections and illness. You need a strong body to recover after birth.

Freeze holiday leftovers for meals after baby is born

With everyone cooking massive amounts of food, ask family members to freeze small portions of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and vegetables before the meal begins. If food is left out too long it can become a food-health hazard and should not be frozen and reheated.

Find out your doctor's holiday schedule

Doctors have families too. Ask your attending physician about his or her holiday plans. If your doctor will be traveling during the holidays, you’ll need to find out who is covering the practice and patients. If your obstetrician is off for the holidays contact the covering physician. Contact the covering physician before you go into labor, is possible. Pass along your due date and any relevant health information that could prove useful if you should go into labor and your doctor is not available.

Wrap holiday gifts early

Don’t wait until the last minute to wrap holiday gifts. You could go into labor with a room full of unwrapped gifts. A good tip is to wrap each gift as it gets delivered to the house and tuck it away.

Arrange care for other children

Ask a family member to keep an overnight bag for other children in case you go into labor. If the family member is unavailable at any time during the final weeks of your pregnancy, find a replacement, and make sure that all weeks are covered.

Look on the bright side

Having a due date during the holiday season may feel stressful, but just remember that you’ll be celebrating a birthday every year when sales are rampant and emotions are filled with joy and love.