Ideas for 40th birthday when very, very pregnant?

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Hi everyone - it's my 40th birthday this Christmas, and my first baby is due at the same time! So it won't quite be what I thought it would given that I'll be fat and sober (and I wouldn't have it any other way, I am so thrilled to finally be expecting a baby!)

DH and I have had a tough couple of years and I love planning surprises and big occasions for other people, so it would be nice to celebrate my own birthday too. I'm just not sure what to do, though. A mega party doesn't really appeal - it's not the same when you can't have a drink, and I'll be competing with work dos etc. I'm also conscious that a weekend away with friends probably isn't a good idea either as people won't have much spare cash around Christmas so it's unfair to ask.

Should I not bother and just let it fly under the radar? I think I'd feel a little sad if I didn't do SOMETHING a bit different/special to mark the occasion!

Congratulations!

Why don’t you go for a night away with your DH to a really special restaurant for the actual birthday, and then Sunday lunch somewhere lovely with your favourite people? It’s casual, you can be close to the hospital in case baby decides to make an appearance, people can spend as much or as little as they like and it’ll be relaxed whilst still celebratory.

I have a birthday in January and for my 30th (weekend away to Cornwall), 40th (zoo keeper experience) and 50th (weekend to Chester & Zoo) I've had to wait some months for my big present as my DM always says when she "gives" me my present "we'll go in the summer when it's warmer". We always go out for a family meal on the day. Is this type of thing a possibility for you?

Obviously I don't mean the things I did but to delay until it's warmer .

My family lives in another country so I won't see them on my birthday (I'd planned to visit them at Christmas this year but that won't be happening now!) but a Sunday lunch might be a good idea for friends @MustardScreams - it's lower-key/less demanding than a night out, people might find it easier to commit to that . . .

I also thought about 'deferring' my birthday until I can have a few drinks again, @TroysMammy 😄

Well, you will be 40 for a whole year, not for just one day.

You can have a 40th party any time. Nobody will check your birth certificate! You could plan one for next summer if you like parties.
For my 40th I went to the laundrette in the morning because our washing machine had broken, squeezed in lunch with DH, then 2.5 hours at parents evening in the afternoon. Then quick tea with the kids and MIL, then went to bed exhausted with the baby.
That was in Feb and I've just started to think..wait a minute, that wasn't a good way to celebrate!
So do whatever feels fun for you.

I also live in a different country to my family.

For my 40th, DH took me to a local spa hotel the night before. It was lovely being woken up to a posh breakfast in bed before we spent time in the spa area and having pre-booked treatments.

We also had a relaxing lunch before heading home (for cake & presents)

It was a fabulous way to celebrate and would be totally doable when pregnant.

Having said all that, some of the best birthdays have been spent lounging on the sofa, eating chocolate, so try not to overthink it!

I was pregnant with DS2 when I turned 40. We stayed a night in a very nice hotel in London, had an amazing afternoon tea, went to see Book of Mormon and had a lovely dinner after. It was ace.

I was due a week after my 40th and had a nightmare pregnancy! I deferred mine for a year and had a lovely weekend away in London with DH, my mum looked after the kids.
On my birthday I had just come out of hospital (hyperemesis and high blood pressure) managed a pub lunch in the local and was back in hospital the next day!