22/12/2025
THROWBACK to Xavier's first Christmas in 2017. No one prepares you for how much Christmas can feel with a baby. The pressure to show up, dress up, host, wrap, bake, smile and juggle visitors while feeding, healing and barely sleeping. So here's your gentle reminder: you don't have to do it all! Here's what I wish someone had told me...
đ Choose peace over pressure: you don't need to go to every event or say yes to every invite. Pick one or two gatherings that feel meaningful or manageable and give yourself permission to skip the rest.
đ Feed yourself too: it's easy to prioritise baby and forget your own needs but your recovery, energy and mood all need fuel too. Ask someone to hold the baby while you eat with two hands. Trust me, they're dying to help. Snacks you can grab with one hand [hint, hint - lactation bars] are like gold, keep them and your water bottle within arms reach.
đ Set boundaries with visitors : summer and the holidays often brings an influx of well-meaning visitors and that can be both lovely and draining. Let people know when you're up for visitors and when you're not. Try gently setting the tone. It's ok to say no. It's ok to say not yet.
đ Create your own traditions: it doesn't have to be perfect of Pinterest-worthy. You don't have to create childhood magic from scratch, start small. Snap a photo in front of the tree, buy a decoration or write a letter to your pÄpi and email it to them to read when they're older.
đBe gentle with yourself: postpartum isn't paused because it's Christmas. You're still recovering, your hormones are still shifting, and you're still learning this new version of yourself. You'll probably push through because that's what mums do but there's no trophy for doing the most. Even just naming what you need can change everything.
Save or if you know a mama spending her first Christmas with baby send her this reminder. X
https://lilajasmine.co.nz/blogs/blog/5-tips-to-survive-the-christmas-holidays-with-a-newborn-from-your-midwife-bestie
