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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Christmas babies!

61 replies

Rubyshoos · 24/09/2007 14:14

Hi Everyone,
My baby is due December 22nd and I'm just wondering what you other ladies pregnant with christmas babies are planning on doing? My parents live about an hour out of London (I'm having the baby at St Mary's Paddington) and my mother really wants us with the family on Christmas Day. I'm so worried that I'll go into Labour on Christmas Eve or Christmas day and have to do the one hour drive up the M4 into London. Should I just stay in London and sit it out (and strike christmas this year) or should I risk it and go home for the night? My sister in law said when she was in labour the last thing she wanted to do was sit in a car - therefore I should stay in London as the car journey would be uncomfortable. In a perfect world the baby will be early and I'll avoid all this stress, but knowing my luck, he/she will choose to arrive on Christmas day!

any suggestions, much appreciated!

OP posts:

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1dilemma · 26/09/2007 00:37

Yeah echo everyone
long drives in late labour are uncomfortable speed bumps and contractions don't mix
don't plan on going away
don't have people to you (unless for a short time/their Christmas doesn't depend on it/you know you can both cope with them)
stay home and enjoy your new baby or enjoy a little bit of a rest.
Good luck

BandofMothers · 26/09/2007 07:47

Can't they come to yours for xmas, bring a pot luck xmas dinner to help you out, then bugger off after 3 hrs????

DD1 was born on 17th Dec, and we had xmas at our house that year. It was wonderful. She was 8 days old, DH and mum cooked. I didn't have to do anything and it was great having them all there. Course it depends how well yoiu all get on. I LOVED it.
DD1 was dressed in gorgeous hand knitted bright red cardie>

oopsiedoopsie · 26/09/2007 09:15

Have everyone come to you for xmas, if possible all on the same 1 or 2 days.
Worked for us last year

chocbutton · 26/09/2007 10:30

I was due xmas day last year, but had DS on 27th (after going to hosp on boxing day!).
Must admit that we sort of missed out xmas last year, as I was constantly thinking of going into labour at inopportune moment. In the end my labour took ages but I couldn't have considered a drive anywhere on xmas day, but lucky my family are just round the corner.

You need to think about you and only you(and DH too) and what makes you feel safe and at ease. If that means quiet xmas on your own then so be it. If you can face a family horde then thats fine too. Good luck with everything xx

indiasmum · 26/09/2007 10:32

dd was due 21st dec and my mum and dad live very close by and we all went to them for xmas day. but... i felt miserable with still being pregnant, i couldnt fit any food in cos there wasnt room, spent most of the day asleep or crying emotionally at stuff on telly. she was born 5th jan in the end. if i were you i would have xmas at home with your dp. if poss as other people have suggested, get them to visit you instead and bring the food. hopefull y then you can nap when you feel like it and you have support should you need it. good luck!

beanstalk · 26/09/2007 10:39

My DD was due 14th Dec last year, so I assumed she would be here by xmas day, so had planned champagne breakfast, all the food I hadn't been able to eat, etc... She was over 2 weeks late and arrived on new year's eve! So my advice would be don't assume anything and keep plans flexible. We still had a lovely xmas at home just the two of us and took lots of photos of the bump to show her her first xmas - she was with us in spirit if not in body And very very glad I didn't arrange to go to family - either you will have a new baby so may not feel up to the chaos of travelling, family, being away from home, or you will still be pregnant in which case you will feel quite grumpy and won't want everyone watching your every move and asking 'do you feel anything yet'!!!

becklespeckle · 26/09/2007 10:54

Could your family possibly come and spend the day at yours, with them doing all the cooking, clearing up etc? Even if baby is on time I am sure you will not feel like travelling an hour that soon after giving birth!
Am due 27th Dec, we always have BIL (and his GF) round for the day and there will be no change this year. DH did suggest inviting another BIL over but I put my foot down at that! I went a fair bit over with both DSs so don't expect baby to come on time but will at least have people around to make it fun for the boys if s/he does.

vnmum · 26/09/2007 12:18

im due 19th dec and because i live in germany my parents are coming to us. my mum is coming from the 16th so she will be here to look after DS if i gop into labour and my dad is following later then theyre both going home on boxing day. i have quite a busy december anyway with my parents coming out at the beginning for the xmas markets and for DS's birthday which is on the 2nd and then its get ready time for DD appearence.

i am hoping for an early arrival as i want to be home with DS for xmas as he's 2 this year and will understand more and i dont want to be in hospital missing out on him opening his pressies etc.

wether i have DD early, on time or late at least i know i'll not have to do anything over xmas. it will be DH fighting my mum out ofn the kitchen i think.\lol

meadow6 · 26/09/2007 12:21

I am due on Xmas eve and I am so looking forward to not having to entertain this year. Have option of going to my brothers on xmas day ( we live close to each other). My parents will stay with them this year so if I want I can just have it at home with just hubbie and 3 other kids plus the baby if he has made an appearance. I am making no promises to anybody and insisted that I will see how I feel on the day which everyone is fine with.(As they should be!)

3littlebears · 26/09/2007 12:50

Definitely definitely stay at home. DS1 was due 5th Jan, so spent that Christmas with very nervous DH concerned that he wouldn't get to finish his turkey! Arrived on 3oth Dec, so he had plenty of time to digest. DS2 was a summer baby - much more sensible - but DS3 is due 27th December. I'm assuming he will be early too and can't even contemplate still being pregnant at Christmas. Had enough now (back ache and indigestion that makes me vomit but I digress...). Anyway, will absolutely definitely stay at home and now that we have children I think it's really nice to have Christmas at home anyway, to establish your own traditions and maintain a slight element of control. Oh, and Dh always does the cooking anyway, so I don't have that additional hassle!

SachaF · 26/09/2007 16:05

I was due on the 20th Dec but went into labour on the 24th and had him the 25th.
My mum wanted me there on Christams Day (from about 4 months beforehand she was telling me she wanted this) but dh and I just kept saying 'we are making no plans this year, we shall see what we feel like on the day, don't plan for us and we can always just bring some chicken breasts with us to quickly cook if we do turn up'. Eventually she accepted that.
If this is your first then you should have quite a time before you first realise something is happening and actually giving birth. I started with mild pains at 4am on Christmas eve and had him 7am Christmas Day. We then turned up at my mums at 3pm Christmas Day and I got to sit on her sofa and cuddle my newborn and be waited on hand and foot and see family - it was a lovely day. 4 generations together. It was really nice that we could make the decision on the day - if I hadn't been in labour I would have wanted something to take my mind off it all as it gets depressing waiting. If we had already had the baby we may have stayed at home but as we were out anyway (eg hospital) it was no hassle to drive an extra 30 minutes.
As to driving for an hour whilst in labour - well it depends how far advanced you are! In the first 12 hours it would have been fine, after that.......
HTH - everyone is different and every birth is different!

MrsMcJnr · 26/09/2007 17:43

Sorry to crash - PBirdy glad to see you are ok we haven't seen you for a while on the NY thread and I was just checking up on you! Hope you are not working too hard!

PatsyCline · 26/09/2007 21:50

My DD1 was due on Dec 27th, 1999. I refused to go anywhere for Christmas, refused all offers of visits and bought all of the food from M&S.

We had a really great Christmas Day - just the two of us flinging yummy food in the oven and then driving around London, which was virtually traffic free!

Madam didn't arrive until the next millennium, but I am still glad that we stuck to our plans for a peaceful Christmas.

Good luck with eveything

lulabelle · 26/09/2007 23:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumzyof2 · 27/09/2007 10:57

My ds was born 23rd December, went home on Xmas Eve, its best to stay where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Enjoy a nice quiet xmas wth dp, you wont get another one for a while!!

pritchard · 27/09/2007 14:01

My little girl is due 3rd January and my husband and i were going to have all my family over to ours this Christmas but it's now at my parents. Have told them we will decide Xmas morning if we will be coming along.

MadamePlatypus · 27/09/2007 17:14

It really depends on you I think. If you want to have a family Christmas go for it, but if you don't want to mix having a baby and Christmas, there is no reason why you have to celebrate Christmas on Christmas day itself. I think your mum should bear in mind that with a due date of the 22nd, everybody is going to have to be flexible. On the 25th you could be still pregnant, in labour, recovering from a C-section, have the baby and want to see loads of people or have the baby and want to cocoon yourself.

DS was born at the end of November, and we didn't 'do' Christmas with the IL's until the end of January. IMO, it was nice to have a really long, laid back Christmas celebration.

FranksMum · 28/09/2007 03:04

Look - it's only September. Play it by ear. If it's the 1st baby nothing is going to happen fast so just see how you feel nearer the time. An hour away if your waters break is fine or if you start to labour - the hospital will probably send you home anyway! Nothing will happen quickly, so just settle down, be waited on and watch The Sound of Music with friends, You will be pretty bored by then anweay so you'll enjoy the company! Family will just have to understanding if you don't feel like it in the week leading up to xmas. OR you may be late (more likely if its the 1st)and fancy a bit of familial stimulation). Just enjoy what you decide to do and get some rest! Bear in mind that they will all wait on you. The next year will be bedlam!! All the best. Just think- it's the only year you will be able to leave mid-meal just because you WANT TO!!!!xx

FranksMum · 28/09/2007 03:07

...and if you've had the baby BY then, do whatever you want and make no promises in advance of that. You don't know how you'll feel so play it by ear.

arfishy · 28/09/2007 04:24

I went into labour decorating our tree [wistful emoticon]

DD was due early Dec but was so late she practically gate-crashed Christmas.

My advice is to get ahead of the game, have all presents wrapped and food in the freezer for after the birth. Organise the baby stuff and your bag in plenty of time.

Then if you are still pg on the day just put your feet up and let Christmas come to you. You'll be so pg by then you won't want to have to jemmy yourself out of whatever comfy armchair you're parked in for anything.

In labour I did a 45 minute drive (A3 in rush hour), followed by a walk from one side of the hospital to the other (maternity wing about as far away from emergency drop off as possible ). Which was fun .

elauns · 28/09/2007 08:57

I have 2 kids - the last born xmas day last year. I got out on the 6 hour slot so still luckily got to spend the day with my eldest!
My in laws came to us and helped my hubby cook!

I only went and got pregnant again - 3 months later!
This ones due 23 December.

My husband thinks it's great - he's putting a bet on in the bookies for another xmas day babe!

I say get your family to bring xmas to you. Sit back and relax and don't worry if it comes it comes!

jamila169 · 28/09/2007 09:01

Absolutely no point going anywhere with baby in or out on christmas day, you could end up stuck in traffic, extremely pregnant and with a need to pee every 15 minutes - or you could have a very young, very ratty baby in the car(usually strapped in in a position that involves climbing seats if you need to get to them quickly ) If your mum has an uncontrollable need to see you at xmas let her bring it to you. I'm due 12th jan but usually go at least 6 days early so my mum, very sensibly has decided to go away for christmas so she's recharged for looking after my other 3 while we have a couple of days peace with the new one, so we're not moving at all over xmas.
Lisa X

beller · 28/09/2007 09:19

im due 28th dec with my first too...Have made arrangements to go to my sisters, but my aunt will be there ( who is nurse and midwife trained )....My bil is on driving duty...but will play it all byt ear.

Good luck for all xmas babies xxxxxxx

Mustdobetter · 28/09/2007 09:21

Mine was due 28th, arrived on the 26th, after I went into labour the evening of the 25th. We had loads of pressure on us to make a 2-hour drive away for Xmas, but there was NO WAY I was doing that (we broke down in the dark and cold on the motorway at Xmas once, no fun then, and certainly NOT to be recommended if pg). Pressure was also on to let MIL take 4 yo down to relatives for Xmas what??? We wanted him with us, whether LO was born or not. Even if LO had arrived by Xmas, I wasn't going to subject a newborn to all the coughs and colds everyone seems to have at these big Xmas gatherings. Ended up cooking for MIL and FIL, who insisted on coming to us (it 'made them feel better', but what about me??), but managed to get them out of the house without letting them know I was in labour (did NOT want them trying to run my show). Xmas comes to a grinding halt in that situation anyhow, and that year the birth was a much greater priority after all, they only get born once, but Xmas will come time and time again.

Sufi · 28/09/2007 11:55

My baby is due on 2 Dec and we're spending Xmas just me, newborn and dp. No one is allowed to spend Xmas with us (unless they stay in a hotel!) and we're not driving for 3-5 hours to go and see anyone.

My mum put me under a lot of pressure but I've made it very clear that, as this is my first baby, I don't want to be under any pressure at all. I just want to relax, enjoy and get my head round being a mum. It'll be s**t trying to deal with sleepness nights, nappies and hormones without the added pressure of either entertaining (my family are very demanding when they come and stay) or being at my mum and dad's.

For you, this will be the last time in a long time that you have any 'me' time. It's perfectly reasonable to be 'selfish' about this, and totally unreasonable of your family to put you under pressure - the idea of being stuck on the hard shoulder during labour - ugh! IF they have your best interests at heart they should be able to put you and the health of your child first.

My mum, BTW, is now totally OK with Xmas plans. She's staying with us for 2 weeks in January instead and I can't wait to have her here for that. She responds well to boundaries - and learning to set a few is perfect practice for being a parent!!

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