Being pregnant often comes with a lot of aches and pains, weird cravings and food aversions and exhaustion.  When you add in all the stress and chaos of the last several weeks of the holiday season you may be feeling a little overwhelmed, a lot tired and uncomfortable.  The holidays can be stressful and exhausting for anyone.   The best thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to take care of yourself, relax and focus on you and that baby growing inside of you.

Here are a few things you can do to help relieve some of the aches, pains and exhaustion brought on by the holidays:

• Drink plenty of water to help keep yourself hydrated.
• Rest.  Take a nap if you need one, don’t worry about what anyone else thinks or what you “should” be doing, just focus on you and rest when you need it.
• Get some exercise (if ok by your doctor), even if it is just walking around the block.  Exercise helps relieve many of the aches and pains of pregnancy and also helps alleviate exhaustion.
• Eat plenty of healthy fruits and veggies and healthy whole grains to keep you body in good health and operating properly.
• Ask your partner for a foot and back massage to help alleviate some of the back pain and leg pain you are no doubt feeling.
• Skip parties and family functions if you aren’t feeling up to it, people will understand.
• Take a warm bath at the end of the day to help you relax and be restful so you can sleep well at night.
• Wear loose-fitting comfortable clothing and shoes to help prevent back and leg pain and unnecessary discomfort.
• Avoid foods that you know bring on uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, indigestion, etc.
• Rest, rest, rest.

The most important thing you can do is pay attention to your body and recognize when you have had enough and need to rest.  Be sure to call your doctor if you have any unusual symptoms or feel anything isn’t right.

Enjoy this time with your partner and your family.  This time next year there will be a new addition to your holiday celebrations.