If you were due Christmas Day..

[Shemozzle]

Would you plan to spend Christmas Day with family, at home and invite family or at home and no invitations? I just can't decide what would be easier. We could have a newborn and be stuck with having to make Christmas dinner on our own, or I could be going into labour when we have guests due round?

We planned to be at inlaws who live 4o mins away with the idea that if I was in labour we wouldn't be going. It was hardcore stopping there overnight with a small newborn though in hindsight. I wouldn't do that again I would just do a day visit next time. We have a three year old though that would have wanted fuss anyway so it was the best plan for us at the time

DC2 is due a week before Christmas. My main worry about a Christmas Day baby is disappointing DS1 by not being around to celebrate with him. We're making no plans other than my Mum said she'd nip round with Christmas dinner plated up for us if need be.

My due date was the 20th, we made no plans. Baby arrived 6days early so was here for Christmas and even slept so u could have lunch!

I'm due in Jan so not as close to Christmas as you but I'm planning a relaxed year! Have accepted an invite to go to family but with the qualifier of if I feel ok. Obviously I will give them a more concrete answer nearer the time but I just don't know how I will be. Luckily as it is close family they are fine with that and have been keen to put no pressure on either way.

For new year I want to be with my parents as it would be nice and relaxed and we will have a built in taxi service/dog sitter if anything were to start!

As an aside I was actually due to be born on the 25th, but came a couple of weeks early. I'm pretty sure my parents went to my Nan's house and were very well looked after!

Am due on Boxing Day.

Plans this year: NO PLANS.
DH and I will be home alone. If we have had the baby a couple of weeks before and everything is ok we'll reassess it.
If baby hasn't been born then I will most likely be a grumpy bitch. Bring me food.

This is the first grandchild for both sides. Both sides are an easy drive away. Less than 20 minutes. We have lowered expectations through the floor so if we see anyone they'll be made up.

My due date was just after Christmas but from about mid Dec I knew I DD would arrive before hand, elective c section. She was born on 23rd and the family planned to wait until I was out of hospital to have Christmas dinner.

As it happened they realeased me on Christmas Day so my mother was caught on the hop with no turkey. It was still the best day though, home with my little girl I didn't care what we ate. I think my mother spent half the day in tears (of happiness).

The most important lesson - be flexible. Nobody really cares what they eat/do when there is a brand new baby to coo over.

My due date was 21 December and I had a hunch that baby would be late. I filled the fridge with tasty but easy to prepare food, stocked up on nibbles for visitors and notified family that they were welcome to visit but I was not going to be doing a Christmas lunch or waiting on anyone. It worked well, and baby arrived boxing day.

DD3 was due the week before Christmas, and we puts plans on hold. In the event she was born the week before Christmas - and DH cooked Xmas dinner for just us & the older dc, and we invited a few relatives to visit afterwards and have a tipple with us.

It worked well - it was really nice.

DS was due on Christmas day but actually arrived a couple of weeks early.
We had Christmas just the three of us at home and it was lovely. The dinner took a bit longer than usual to make due to breastfeeding breaks and an impromptu family nap (we were taking them where we could).
It was a fab Christmas though.

I was due on the 31st Dec but had some complications at the end of Nov so knew DS would be arriving early so we didn't make any plans at all. Eventually I had an emergency section on the 21st and we came home from hospital late on the 24th, Xmas day we had to wait in as Midwife was coming but never gave us a time.

Even prior to Nov I didn't make any plans as didn't want to let anyone down if I went into labour or was feeling crappy.

DC3 was due on the 23rd December. I prepped loads of food in November and just bought a Frozen turkey crown.
Plan A was baby had already arrived and DH cooked dinner,
Plan B was still pregnant and DH cooked dinner,
Plan C labour starts Christmas Eve night, my parents on hand to come round and be here, DH to stay until baby nearly born
Plan D labour started Christmas morning DH and DC go to PIL until baby was nearly being born,
Plan D labour starts Christmas Eve night, my parents on hand to come round and be here, DH to stay until baby
Plan E just had baby and still in hospital, DH cooked.

Plan A was the one that happened as DS2 was over two weeks early. Nearly 6 years on and DH still crows it was our best Christmas dinner. It wasn't, but it was nice to sit on my arse eating chocs, opening the kids toys and savouring a few glasses of Champagne and Baileys

Aaaand I should preview my posts!