Christmas parties while Pregnant: A Survival guide
For pregnant women, the festive season can be complicated to navigate – particularly when it comes to Christmas parties.
A Christmas lunch or party can be a minefield of things on a pregnant person’s “steer clear” list, such as cold meats, seafood and, of course, alcohol.
Add to that the fact that hormones are going crazy, maternity dresses don’t seem to fit and depending on how far along you are, your little bump might still be a little secret.
Yep, while Christmas is for sure a magical time, having a pregnant Christmas can be tricky – even though you feel so blessed to be carrying your little miracle.
Not to worry though, we’ve got our top tips for surviving the silly season when you are pregnant at Christmas.
Navigating Christmas parties with a bump: 11 essential tips
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1. Dress up!
Look, it might be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re walking with a waddle, but isn’t that all the more reason to look utterly fabulous?
You may not be able to drink alcohol or eat a plate of smoked salmon, but gosh darn it – you can look like a goddess this Christmas.
Plus, it might be the last chance you have to get glammed for a while so we say go large!
2. Leave your stilettos at home
While we do encourage you to dress and feel like Beyoncé, be nice to your feet.
They’re carrying more weight than they’re used to and possibly even swelling. Because these are just the ‘fun’ things our bodies do during pregnancy!
More importantly, all these ‘fun’ body changes can impact your balance. Changes in your centre of gravity could make walking in your usual high heels a little troublesome. And possibly painful. Especially if you’re well into your pregnancy.
The last thing you want is to take a tumble on your way back from the buffet.
So, make life easier and wear comfortable shoes.
And don’t mistake comfortable for boring. There are plenty of gorgeous shoes out there that won’t send you toppling over.
3. When you reach the venue, locate the bathroom. Immediately.
Has your unborn baby been using your bladder as a pogo stick during this pregnancy?
The answer is likely “yes”.
So we suggest you arrive and then locate a bathroom. If you can, find a table nearby for easy access throughout the function.
If there’s ever a queue for the toilet, this could be a great time to make the most of pregnancy privilege. Allow your best work wife to yell “Pregnant lady coming through!”
4. Don’t be afraid to hog the coolest spot in the room
Aussie work Christmas parties can be notoriously hot and stuffy.
There are often a lot of hot, sweaty people crammed in together and before you know it, you’re going red and trying to hide sweat marks.
Pregnancy also increases the amount of blood in your body, so you’ll probably feel warmer than the average person. In this case, don’t be surprised if you’re dripping with sweat while everyone seems fine around you.
If there’s air conditioning, great, you’re all set. Find the nearest vent and don’t be afraid to claim that spot for the whole night.
If not, find other ways to stay cool. Drink water (lots of it), stand under a fan or near the window and try to take regular breaks outside in the fresh air.
5. Have an exit strategy
Being pregnant (assuming your colleagues know that you are) is the perfect excuse to duck out of a party before the night gets too crazy and your workmates decide to perform an impromptu (and out of key) rendition of ‘Sweet Caroline’.
So, don’t be afraid to head out early so you can go and put your feet up and have a wonderful time at home.
Honestly, the best part of being pregnant at Christmas might just be the ability to show up at a party, inhale a bunch of (safe) festive food and then peace on out of there in record time.
6. Prepare for massive food envy
Do you know what’s worse than missing out on free food? Missing out on free delicious food.
There are still ways to enjoy festive food, you just have to be diligent about food safety and eating things that are properly cooked.
This is because certain foods contain listeria bacteria, which can be very dangerous for pregnant women and their baby. Listeria infection is most commonly caused by eating improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurised milk products.
So what are some of the common party foods you should be avoiding?
- Soft cheese
- Cold meats
- Pâté
- Sushi
- Pre-packaged salads
- Raw seafood
- Soft-serve ice-cream
While it is recommended to avoid soft cheeses, if they have been made using pasteurised milk, it can be safe. Goat’s cheese, cream cheese and cottage cheese are some examples of this. However, when you’re at a party where you’ve not sourced and prepared the food yourself, it might be better to avoid them altogether.
Another thing to keep in mind is raw egg – which can sometimes be used in creamy dishes like mousse and custard. This can pose the risk of food poisoning so best to tread carefully.
The good news? Hard cheeses, Christmas pudding and mince pies are generally considered ok so dig in!
7. If you’re left hungry, get yourself a treat on the way home
It’s never nice watching everyone eat all your favourite foods while you’re stuck with a celery stick, so give yourself a treat. Stop at your favourite takeaway joint on the way home and order a meal just for you.
Healthy eating can start again tomorrow.
8. Get used to being sober around drunk people
Pregnant women also get to experience the feeling of being one of the few sober people present while a lot of people get tipsy and potentially hammered.
It’s always a bit disconcerting at first. It can feel lonely even…
Jokes might not be as funny and small talk with Cheryl and Todd from payroll might feel a lot harder.
When it all gets a bit too much, refer to tip number 5 and get on out of there, your friends from payroll won’t even notice, we promise.
9. Protect your belly
Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you have to let every Tom, Dick and Harry into your personal space.
If you’re happy with some belly pats, that’s cool too. Whatever floats your boat. It’s just important to feel in control of your body, either way.
So, if someone tries to touch your belly and you’re not comfortable with it, don’t be afraid to say no or to excuse yourself for some fresh air.
10. Haven’t told HR yet? Then it’s time to get tricksy!
If you’re in the early stages of being pregnant and haven’t told anyone you’re pregnant yet, you have permission to be totally sneaky.
So what sneaky tactics do we recommend?
- If you’re usually a drinker, just grab sparkling water in a short glass and tell people it’s got vodka.
- When someone inevitably forces a champagne into your hand, excuse yourself and ditch it at the next table.
- Brought a partner? Tell everyone you lost a bet and tonight you’re designated driver.
- Afraid people will notice you avoiding certain foods? Plan ahead. Drop a few white lies earlier in the day that you’re recovering from food poisoning or don’t want to make your indigestion worse.
- Hiding morning sickness? Smuggle some dry crackers in your handbag and munch on them in the bathroom.
- If you’re constantly running to the bathroom, blame it on the “vodka” you had earlier.
- Look fatigued? Tell people you were up all night bingeing the latest Netflix thriller.
11. Don’t be afraid to just say no!
One last tip: if you’re feeling exhausted, cranky and can’t be bothered, there’s no shame in giving the work Christmas party a miss altogether! Chuck on your cosiest PJs, order in and watch a movie.
Don’t feel bad. You’re pregnant. You’ve earned it.
Celebrating with family and friends over the Christmas period
Even though you can gracefully opt out of Christmas drinks with co-workers, you’ll likely still want to indulge in some festive cheer with your friends and family.
This is a great time to let others do the cooking and food preparation while you sit on a throne being fanned and fed pudding. Okay, just kidding, your family are probably not going to agree to do that, but you can still enjoy the festive period with them!
From Christmas Eve to Christmas dinner and Boxing Day, this hectic time of year involves a helluva lot of food and it can be tempting to “eat for two” and indulge. After all, it’s what the baby wants, right?
Our advice if you are pregnant during this period is to try to eat smaller meals and avoid richer foods which could give you bad heartburn and put a dampener on your Christmas fun.
Just like at the Christmas party, avoid foods that could be dangerous to your baby and be sure to cook food properly before consuming.
Make sure you also get adequate rest and drink enough water, and don’t be shy in accepting help from family when it comes to cooking and entertaining or even doing your Christmas shopping!
The takeaway
So there you have it – our top tips for getting through the Christmas season during pregnancy. Just think – next Christmas there will be another amazing little human with you on Christmas Day – and a plate full of food in front of you that you can actually eat!
Merry Christmas!
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