Congratulations! Whether you’re expecting a baby, or already had your baby, times are exciting! Your loved ones are excited for you too – sometimes it seems like it’s all everyone’s talking about. Which is fine sometimes. But sometimes not. You might want your own space, or desire help without the fanfare. This is especially true during the holiday season, when social events are more frequent, as is the need to prepare for them. The holidays – as positive as they can be – can also be overwhelming, especially when you are pregnant or have a new baby.
Since it’s almost Thanksgiving, the beginning of the five-week holiday season, we’ve put together some tips for handling pregnancy and the postpartum period during this time of year.
-Nutrition. Reach for whole foods, and keep processed foods to a bare minimum. Eating wholesomely ensures you get bang-for-your-buck on calories, meaning you’ll maintain higher energy levels throughout the day. By contrast, if you eat processed foods – high in sugar or white-flour carbs – your energy levels peak fast and then crash.-Exercise.During pregnancy, aim for 20-30 minutes of exercise a day, five times a week. If that feels like too much, at least get out for a daily brisk walk. After you’ve given birth, a normal exercise routine is recommended after six weeks in most cases. Nonetheless, it’s important to walk around and do calisthenics every day, even if you’re not working up a sweat.
-Sleep.Even if you are somewhat insomniac during pregnancy, or the baby keeps waking you up after you’ve given birth, there are ways to get in more sleep during the day. That’s right: naps. If you can’t possibly conjure up at least 7 hours nightly, then it really comes down to allowing yourself to snooze during the day. If you find that even naps are hard to come by because you have too much to do, then get help with tasks during pregnancy and/or the baby during the postpartum period.
-Sunshine.The literal light for your soul. Make sure your shutters are open, and that you try to get at least 15 minutes of non-peak sunshine per day. We’re talking Vitamin D, and we’re talking feeling alive. The sun is a cost-free brightener, and thankfully here in Miami we get lots of it!
The above tips are useful not only during the holiday season, but for anytime while you’re pregnant or postpartum. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving as a good start to the holidays, and we hope that you’ll be able to focus on enjoying your loved ones while taking care of yourself as best as possible.