5 Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season When You're Expecting

This time of year is supposed to celebrate family and togetherness, and you’ve certainly got a lot to celebrate because you’re expecting. Whether it’s your first holiday season while pregnant or you’ve been down this road before, a few best practices can see you and your unborn baby through with the least amount of disruption.

As experts in obstetrics and women’s health, our caring providers at Bayard Street Obstetrics & Gynecology understand that holidays can be tricky under normal circumstances, never mind when you’re pregnant. To help you navigate the holiday season — and your pregnancy — more smoothly, we suggest the following.

1. Prioritize sleep 

The first item on our list is prioritizing sleep, which is important for everyone, but even more so for expectant mothers. The reality is that 40% of pregnant women have what’s called short sleep duration, which means they’re not getting the recommended 7-9 hours each night.

Pregnancy has a way of disrupting sleep patterns, and the holidays can further interfere, so we want you to make sleep your top priority. Go to bed at the same time each day. If you’re traveling, bring along your favorite pillow or whatever else helps you sleep.

2. Minimize stress

It may or may not surprise you that nine out of 10 Americans report that the holidays are more stressful than other times of year. If you find that the holidays elevate your stress levels and you’re pregnant this year, it’s really important to find ways to decompress.

For example, we love deep breathing exercises that you can do anywhere, anytime to quickly reset your sympathetic nervous system. Click on this link to learn more.

Aside from deep breathing, you can listen to music, walk away from arguments, turn off the news, or do what you need to so you can calm your mind and body.

3. Keep your legs up and elevated

If you’re in your second or third trimester, it’s a good idea to avoid standing around for long periods over the holidays. You’ve got the pregnancy card, so we suggest you play it and find yourself a spot where you can stretch out with your legs elevated.

4. Keep moving

While resting and elevating your legs is important, we also want you to keep your body moving when you’re pregnant. Instead of putting exercise on hold over the holidays, suggest others join you for a post-meal walk that will get everyone moving and digesting better.

5. Be mindful of large gatherings

People not only exchange gifts over the holidays; they also exchange germs and viruses. If you're participating in large holiday gatherings, be mindful and watch out for people with runny noses. Perhaps keep your hands to yourself — and wash them frequently — and make people aware that you need to know if they might be sick. 

Getting vaccinated can help prevent respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID, and they can also prevent serious illness should you become infected.

If you have questions or want more tips about having a healthy holiday season when you’re expecting, contact Bayard Street Obstetrics & Gynecology. You can call 212-226-5530 or request an appointment online at one of our convenient locations: in lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, Flushing, Queens, and Syosset on Long Island, New York.