Holidays, Pregnancy and a Pandemic: Balancing Holidays and Health

Navigating pregnancy during the holidays and a pandemic doesn’t need to be stressful.

From the moment you find out you’re expecting, your only concern is your baby’s well-being. From eating a healthy diet to having prenatal care, you’re making all the right decisions. But with the holiday season approaching and being in the middle of a pandemic, it’s expected that your stress levels are higher than usual, and you might not know what to do.

Making the most of the holidays and health doesn’t need to be stressful. Read on to learn some of the best ways to enjoy the holiday season when you’re expecting.

Get Enough Rest

Planning holiday meals and trying to navigate online shopping is exhausting. However, when you’re pregnant, you might feel the effects even faster. And that’s in addition to possible morning sickness and ongoing heartburn, which happens to a lot of pregnant women. When possible, take naps and go to bed earlier to give yourself the extra rest you need. Since most people won’t be traveling this year, you can use this to its fullest advantage.

Stay Active

When you’re pregnant, staying active is even more of a priority. Since holidays and health go hand in hand, you need to make sure you’re getting your daily dose of exercise. If possible, walk for at least 30 to 60 minutes a day outside. Exercise, combined with being outdoors, is a natural mood booster. Just make sure you take the necessary precautions, like wearing a mask and social distancing.

If you aren’t able to go outside, there are tons of online exercise programs you can do for free. Just make sure that you have medical clearance from your obstetrician prior to working out.

Managing Stress

Navigating the holidays when you’re not expecting nor experiencing a global pandemic is stressful enough. However, when you factor in being pregnant and trying to figure out the best way to enjoy the season and still stay safe, anxiety levels can soar. A great way to manage anxiety is through meditation. Even if you’ve never tried it before, learning to meditate can help you de-stress and feel more in control.

Have Realistic Expectations

With so many uncertainties during this time, it’s important to have realistic expectations. For instance, if you usually spend the holidays with family and friends, you might have to swap in-person get-togethers for virtual ones. And as disappointed as you may be, you also need to remember it’s to keep you, your baby and your loved ones safe.

Plan ahead and schedule a time when you can eat holiday meals together over Zoom or Facetime. You can even host an online party with multiple family members and friends at the same time.

Final Thoughts

Holidays and health, yours and your baby’s, don’t need to be fueled with worry and fear. In addition to asking for extra help from family and friends, do whatever you need to feel at ease during this time. And most importantly, don’t feel guilty for being scared or apprehensive. Being pregnant during a pandemic means playing by a different set of rules, all of which need to focus on you and your baby.