Advice on How Other Family Handled the Holidays with a Baby Due Around Christmas

My daughter was due last year at Christmas. I wrote out all the cards and left her name off, I guess I was very superticious that if I put her chosen name on something horrible would happen. Well, born by c-section on Nov 30th I just went back and wrote "and Sara" on all the cards!!! Big sister was 4 and was a little concerned that Sara only had a couple gifts while she had so many, but once she started opening everything was fine. This year Sara will be one and will get plenty from Santa!

they told my mom that i was due in jan and i came on dec 20th of dec. my ex was due in jan and he was born on dec 26.

i would go ahead with Christmas as planned and let it be this year. even if the baby is born on Christmas, the baby will be too small to know the difference and daddy can always go buy something small for the baby the day after birth. honestly, the baby won't mind.

also my mother always had my birthday celebration separate from my Christmas gifts - to this day and I will be 34 this year.

I had a baby 3 years ago Nov 13th perfect pregnance perfect delivery she was fine untill she was 5 days old when we found out she was dying. How about not stressing about the small stuff and just enjoying your early or late christmas gift! LOL from a mom who has had her life changed by a very special girl-my miricle baby she actually lived and has brought our family so much joy.
A. in jacksonville

Hi my first child was due 12-31-04. So I know how you feel. My advice would be to get your pictures done before the baby arrives because even if you give birth the day of christmas, you are gonna be too sore and tired to want to go through getting your kids ready to take pics. I wanted pics with my son too but after I had him I was pretty exhausted and didn't exactly want a camera anywhere near me.
K.

My third and fourth babies happened to come around Christmas. The third after and the fourth before. I tend to not stress over it and enjoy my pregnancy. When is your baby due in December? If it's early Dec...I'd say count on him being here for Christmas...mid to late..then who knows? :) I don't think the baby will be sad if he/she doesn't have any gifts. Next year will be way more fun!!

I say, don't stress, enjoy your pregnancy and just take it one day at a time!!! :)

Hi B.,

My son was born on Dec 23 and we actually made it home Christmas morning. I had tow girls 6 and 4 yrs old waiting patiently for us to come home before opening their gifts. They were so wrapped up in their new baby brother that it didn't even matter what they received or when they opened their gifts. We didn't get anything for the baby since we didn't know when he would come. He was our special gift from God. He was born with a cleft lip and palate and has had many corrective surgeries, but is doing great. He will be 18 this yr and mostly complains about his birthday being so close to Christmas. We can't change the day we are born, but just make it a special day as it's a miracle. Good luck.

M.

Hi B.,

My first child was due Jan 8th. It was my turn to host Christmas for my extended family , since we rotate. But, my water broke and I had her on Dec 22. So, big surprise. We did some quick rescheduling for someone else to host Christmas dinner. I left the hospital on Christmas day and my daughter didn't get to come home until 2 days later. (she was jaundice)
Once home, family doted on her and we just put her in my Christmas stocking and took a picture to share with everyone. We actually didn't get her out for porfessional photos until she was 6 weeks old. Having had baby showers prior, there wasn't any need to Christmas gifts for the baby. We were blessed just to have a healthy baby. Best of luck to you and your family.

K.

Dear B.,
My son ended up being born in the middle of January, but I was prepared for either. Everyone bought gifts for the baby anyway and I opened them up as mine (which is what you would do anyway.) My nephew was born on December 26th (he was due Dec 18th) but I still considered that his "first" Christmas because the tree was still up etc. My advice is try to simplify your life as much as possible. Let someone else do Christmas dinner and minimal decorations. Your baby's first Christmas will be special no matter what!!! The last thing you want to do when you have a newborn (and a toddler) is to worry or deal with anything complicated. Good luck!!! K.

hi, well, my daughter was also due. dec. 28.. and she came on her due date as well.. it is hard b/c it is a really special time, the birth of your baby, and you want to be able to share the holidays with your new addition as well. i think i took it on as a christmas present to me if she came on or before christmas. i dont think you should be worried about having presents. b/c i'm sure between a baby shower and everything you already have prepared for the arrival, the baby will have plenty. some ppl actually gave me baby presents as presents on christmas which was nice too. so i would say that as long as you feel like everything neccessary is ready for the baby's birth and all.. i would enjoy that time with your family and your other child before your new baby consumes your world. i too didnt know the sex either. i did have a feeling it was a girl so i had pink things already. and take plenty of pictures of you and your family on xmas even if the baby hasnt come yet. years later, he/she will be able to look and say, hey, that's me in mommy's belly.. then as soon as the baby comes you can get your pictures taken altogether. i thought for sure i would have her before christmas but she held out until her due date. kept us on our toes the whole time.. ppl had a pool going as to when i'd deliver. maybe you and your family can get one going. see who can come closest to the sctual delivery.. anyhow, good luck with everything.. and enjoy the season!!

i would go ahead and buy presents,but make them practical ones.stuff that you need to take care of her with,like blankies and other things you need.so even if the baby is not there yet,you will still be able to use what you bought.or maybe even wait to do christmas til after it comes.i don't think a 17 month old would really care posponing christmas a few days.and if you get pictures immeditaely after it is born you can send them out as new year cards!just take it easy,and go simple this year.

Just because your other child was born on the due date does not signify at all when this one will come. The whole, second child comes sooner and faster theory, just isn't true. This baby will come when he/she is ready. I've got 2 with January birthdays and 1 with November and 1 due in February. I was born Dec. 21st and I came home from the hospital on Christmas eve. My favorite picture is of me that day in a giant stocking. It has nothing to do with gifts or how you choose to celebrate the holiday. Beware of getting caught up in the idea of having Christmas gifts be the focus of your holiday. Each year you'll get more stressed trying to outdo last year and most of the really great memories are ones of what you did with your family. Take it easy this year. Babies don't need gifts. They don't even know if they've gotten anything. Or how to appreciate it.
I'd just go ahead and make the family picture for the Christmas card in mid-December. You will have another family photo to send out after the baby comes in the birth announcement.

~Hi B.

My son was due on Christmas and because of all the stress I just asked my midwife to induce me 5 days early. So he was born on the 20th. Which really worked out well for me. I knew he would be here for Christmas and he has his own birthday :o) We only got a few little things to do with his first Christmas but nothing big because he was a new born and I had so much stuff already from my baby shower so dont worry if you have nothing the baby wont ever know just enjoy your pregnancy. Good Luck

~A.

Hi B.! I had a baby on Dec 23 and we didn't get to come home from the hospital until the night of Christmas Day. We have no christmas-y pictures of her - we were so caught up in the whole having a new baby thing to even think about that. The whole Christmas is a blur in my memory and I don't think that she will mind once she is old enough to understand. The good thing is that next year, your baby will be old enough to enjoy the holiday. My advice would be to not stress and just go with the flow. You never know how it will work out - nothing worked out for me like I thought it would! Good luck!!

Just don't get too stressed.
My son was due Jan. 14 and he came five weeks early with undeveloped lungs. My husband and I just moved into a new house in a rush at the end of Nov. Then I had the baby Dec. 10 after spending five days in the hosptial becasue my water broke and I was leaking. So I do believe that I was stress and that was part of the reason I had my boy early.
Although it did get my out-of-state family down to see their new Grandson born.
So don't forget to destress during the holiday season!!
;)

my daughter was due on christmas and I had a just turned 2year old son at home. I did not know if I was having a boy or girl eaither. I did not want to have her on christmas (did not want to be in the hospital for christmas) and was so happy that she was 3 days late. I would concentrate more on your other child for christmas this year because when the baby comes along the attention will turn (because you have to). Celebrate the baby's 1st christmas next year when it can help open presents. If the baby does come in time for christmas I am sure you will receive gifts from people that you can use as christmas gifts or buy an ornament with date for the tree.

My due date was December 24th and my daugthter was born December 26th. She is our only child so that Christmas was mainly focused on when she was going to come. However, in your situation I would just go on with your Christmas plans. If the baby comes before Christmas and you have already done your Christmas cards then just do a Christmas themed Baby Announcement. Don't worry about buying gifts for the baby, if you are concerned about it then take some of the items that you recieved with your babyshower or some items that you already have for the baby and wrap those.

Basically just if the baby is born right close to Christmas (like the 24th or 26th) then get some really cute pictures and that type of thing. I have always looked at my daughter as my late Christmas present and that is what she was...God's gift to me.

Also, with her birthday being the day after Christmas I also try to do 1/2 year party for her in June or July. That way she can have a birthday party with friends and such since it would be pretty much impossible to have a party on the actual day of her birthday.

Good luck and congratulations on your new baby to be.