Taking your eggnog virgin this year? Feeling like eating a dozen Christmas cookies after just upchucking some fruit cake? Wondering how to tell your family the reason behind your sudden weight gain?
The holidays might look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean they have to be more stressful. Here are some tips to getting through the season with your unexpected pregnancy.
Don’t Let Other People’s Opinions Drive You
You may be scared to tell your family about your pregnancy, or feeling anxious about how they already responded to the news. But don’t let those feelings drive your every move.
Give yourself permission to come out from underneath the burden of trying to please your grandma, father, second cousin Eddy, or whoever it is. You do not have to live your life just to get their approval.
Instead, remember that your life has purpose and value outside of others perception. The reality is that you were made with talents and gifts that go beyond the words that others may speak over you.
Recognize that they may not understand the details of your pregnancy or how you are handling it. Accept the fact that your value is not determined by whether or not they give you a pat on the back for how brave you are through all of the surprise curveballs your life has recently seen.
Find a Support System
If you are feeling a bit lonely, you are in the majority. 55 percent of Americans reported loneliness around the holidays in 2022. And the percentage was even higher for single adults and Gen Z.
If you are going to survive a stressful holiday season with an unplanned pregnancy, you are going to need a wolf pack. At our clinic we can be that for you. We understand what you are going through and would love to be a listening ear and an arm around your shoulder this holiday season.
Allow Yourself Space
It is perfectly normal for you to need time to process your feelings and desires about the future. You may need to step away from family and have some alone time to journal or go for a walk.
It is important that you figure out what you think and feel, rather than just be told by others what you should think or feel. You can really only do that by having time alone.
Investigate all of your options. At our clinic we would be happy to give you all the details about abortion, adoption and parenting. The more you know, the more confident you can be about your choice.
Do Fun Stuff
You are going to be working through a lot of emotions as you navigate your pregnancy in the midst of all the holiday gatherings. It is ok to be sad, scared, angry or uncertain. But if all you do is sit around and process, you may miss out on a lot of good things.
Why sit around feeling scared when you can also go out and enjoy your life? Drive around to see Christmas lights. Use your pregnancy cravings as an excuse for your mom to bake you every baked goody known to mankind. Build a gingerbread house. Watch all the Hallmark movies. Check out a Christmas Eve service at your neighborhood church. Go shopping for all the sales and hunt for maternity clothes or things for your nursery (if you are choosing to parent).
The holidays can still be really fun if you make them that way.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, please reach out to us. We would love to be your wolf pack and support you through this journey. We have access to lots of free resources and can provide you with a listening and caring ear. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.