Would you prepare a back up Christmas?

[MrsCK]

I'll be 35 weeks pregnant on Christmas day and we are spending it about 5 hours away from where we live. This is not negotiable (I really want to go) and we will be there all over the festive period into new year.

So all these lovely food brochures coming out got me thinking....should I buy christmas food just in case I've had the baby? I'm thinking stuff in the freezer that we could use later if not needed. but undoubtedly if I do end up buying a Christmas back up dinner I'd want to but back ups for everything. ..drinks...crackers...etc etc.

so...what would you do?

[saintsandpoets]

I wouldn't bother. If it comes to it, shops will be open on Christmas eve - send DH out. it might be a bit mix and match, but you'll manage.

There absolutely will be crackers and stuff left - My local Asda sells everything Christmassy for a penny after the 25th just to get rid of the damn stuff!

[squiggleirl]

I would prepare some sort of back-up Christmas. Not necessarily the full whack (last thing you need is to be trying to cook Christmas dinner if Baby does arrive early), but definitely I'd have things in to make sure if you did find yourself at home, there'd be nice things to eat.

TBH, I don't know if I'd have done the 5 hours from where I live so close to being due. You'll be past 36 weeks at New Year, plus a 5 hour journey at that point isn't necessarily comfortable. I'd think as well as a back-up Christmas plan, a plan for if the baby arrives over Christmas would also be good.

[Thehedgehogsong]

It's so unlikely that you'll have the baby at 35 weeks I wouldn't worry at all about a backup Christmas.

I would fill the freezer for when you get home after new years. Then you'll be closer to your due date and you'll want some food prepared.

[MrsCK]

Thanks for all of this! I hadn't thought really about filling the freezer for after Christmas so will definitely do that!

[Sootgremlin]

I was 37 weeks at Christmas last year, we didn't go anywhere but had a really simple roast chicken dinner, few crackers etc. Yule log. Best Christmas Day ever. Gave birth two days later

Yes, if you are feeling up to it, definitely freeze a couple of easy dinners, child or shepherd's pie or something for that first week home. Will save on takeaways and make you feel better having something proper.
You can always pop the shops but you might feel more relaxed knowing you're sorted.

I wouldn't have fancied a long drive at that stage, but of you are doing it make sure you have your notes with you, let your midwife know, check out the local maternity unit just in case you get caught out. Take regular breaks to stretch your legs.

Of four of us pregnant last year, the babies came at 35, 36, 37 and 38 weeks, 3 of them first timers. It's unlikely, but better to take the stress out of it as much as possible if it happens.

[Sootgremlin]

Chili! Please don't freeze a child

[MrsCK]

Lol at freezing a child! I know it'll be a long journey and I'm planning lots of breaks so hopefully that will help. just off to research local maternity units now!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I think it never hurts to have a back up plan.

Our Christmas plans may change at the last moment due to a close family member of DH's being very ill. At the moment the plan is to spend Christmas with them, but things may change.

I have backup plans in place for Christmas Day at home just in case, as I wouldn't want to DCs to be disappointed on the day.

[574ejones]

I would get some stuff in anyway. The year I had my Ds2 who was premature, my sister's DS got chicken pox on Xmas Eve and they had to cancel seeing us and rush out and buy their dinner. You won't want that last minute panic and you can freeze it to use another day.

[crazykat]

I'd get a decent sized chicken and put it in the freezer or turkey crown if you'd use it another time. Possibly a few snack type things that you'd normally have but that's it. Shops will be open for veg and likely to have some even on Christmas Eve.

If you have the baby that early they might not have been discharged from hospital. If you're both home Christmas Day you won't feel like making or eating a full on Christmas dinner anyway. Dd2 was 12 days old her first Christmas and I felt like postponing Christmas a few weeks but didn't because of dd1 and ds.

Prepare a back up but a low key one without a million snacks, ten veg, side dishes etc. Neither of you would feel up to it with a premature newborn to look after.

[BiddyPop]

I would have the makings of a few nice meals - easy ones. Which may be festive, but may just be nice meals that you and DH can enjoy in that peaceful period before the arrival. (Is it your first?).

And if you don't need to use them over the Christmas and New year period, you will have them there a couple of weeks later when you have loads of visitors dropping in so time for prep will be short. And Dh and you can have a nice celebratory meal one night when you're alone that is easy to do.

I'd get a few of the nice packets of different Christmassy nibbles too - ones that you like - so that when you do have visitors a few weeks later, you can feed them something small rather than having to extend dinner invites, but also DH can just pop them into the oven (I know many DHs are very good in the kitchen, even my own, but when new baby arrives, they can panic, they can focus on their DW, or visitors, or housework, or loads of other things so making everyone's life a little easier always helps!!)

[BiddyPop]

BTW, I was 40W exactly on Christmas Day (or 39+6, 40+2, 39+3 -depending on which Dr and when they made their estimation!!). We travelled the 3 hrs to family about 4 weeks beforehand to drop off presents and catch up.

I had some things organized at home, but our plan was to go to my DGran's house for Christmas dinner (it was the only year ever that we had dinner there, despite staying "at home" a good few years rather than travelling - we'd have been shot by all parents "down home" so used to only visit for drinks and nibbles in midday - and both DGPs are no longer around but were both hale and hearty at that point so it was nice). The various aunts had most things done, I was grudgingly allowed to stir the gravy (I WANTED to stand up but lots of people were trying to take over my job and make me sit).

I got home long enough to phone hospital and change from nice Christmas gear into rugby shirt and yoga pants before going to hospital that night, so they all woke up to news of a new DGrandchild/DGreatgrandchild/DNewRelative.

One thing I had not done enough of was having a few dinners in the freezer. As I had spent the 2 weeks off running around (appointments, shopping, wrapping etc) and work had been manic until I left at 38w. And as the shops were closed, DH was running around trying to find somewhere to get milk (regular, for him), newborn nappies and lots of babygrows (DD was a very spitty, pukey and pooey baby!!) over the next couple of days, in between visiting me and going to work (to take time off when we got home).

[tiredteddy]

I went away when pregnant with dc3 for Xmas. It was 3 hours away and I was 38weeks. It was fine. I took my hospital bag just in case. We didn't back up shop for home. We felt that we could last minute shop if needs be.

[MrsCK]

aww biddy what a lovely story!

Good plan about the bung in the oven nibbley things. they'll get eaten at some point even if we don't have the baby by then I guess!
yup it is DC1 we are expecting :)