Top Three Holiday Tips for Pregnant Surrogate Mothers

The holiday season is upon us. It’s a busy time of year for everyone, regardless of who they are. Many have a yearly routine – a schedule or preparation plan – but first-time surrogate mothers may have some questions on how to navigate the holidays this year.

At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma, we want our surrogate mothers to have a healthy and fulfilling holiday season. We don’t want you to drastically change your holiday plans, but we do think you should alter some of your habits to protect yours and the child’s well being.

Here are some holiday tips for pregnant surrogate mothers.

Top Three Holiday Tips for Pregnant Surrogate Mothers

1) Find Ways to Alleviate Stress

Preparing for the holiday season can be stressful, what with all the decorating, shopping and cooking. As a surrogate, it’s important to keep your stress levels low to protect both your health and the child’s health.

Don’t go overboard this year; keep things small so it’s easier to manage and complete tasks. Try to get someone else to help you with the chores. You could ask your partner, spouse, or children to handle the more grueling tasks; they should be very understanding. Find time to relax every day. Find a hobby that makes you feel at ease: reading books, watching movies, listening to music, doing yoga, etc.

2) Stay Healthy

We all know how hard it is to stay healthy during the holiday season, what with all the parties. There’s always a plethora of food available at said parties: appetizers, dinners, desserts, alcohol, etc. While it is important to eat healthy during pregnancy, we don’t want to discourage you from seeing your family and friends. Instead, we advise you to find a balance. Ask your obstetrician for advice or recommendations.

Avoid alcohol; make sure non-alcoholic beverages are available. Drink plenty of water so you’re hydrated, and keep track of how much sugary food you’re eating. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Don’t stay out too late, and don’t stay up late too many nights in a row within a short time frame.

3) Keep the Intended Parents in Your Thoughts

The holiday season is a time for togetherness, a time to strengthen the bonds between families and friends. If you managed to maintain a close relationship with the intended parents, you should include them in your holiday celebrations. If you can’t see the intended parents during the holidays – if they have other commitments, or if you have your own plans – find other ways to keep the intended parents in your thoughts.

If you celebrate Christmas, send them a Christmas card so they know you’re thinking about them. You should also consider buying them a holiday gift. For example, if the intended parents celebrate Christmas, you could buy them an ornament for their tree. If they celebrate Hanukkah, you could buy them a decorative dreidel. The gift doesn’t have to be holiday-themed; you could also purchase cute baby clothes or toys.

Happy Holidays from Adoption Choices of Oklahoma

Happy holidays to all our surrogate mothers and intended parents! We hope you all stay happy and healthy during the upcoming weeks. If you’re a surrogate mother, remember to take some time for yourself this year.

Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma is a surrogacy and adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and leader in the community. We assist both intended parents and gestational carriers (surrogates). Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized experience to all involved in the surrogacy process.

You may visit our website here or call toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777
or Text: 405-310-8790 

Meet the Author: Heather Valenzano is an up-and-coming content creator with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in English. After graduating from Iona College in 2019, she got an internship – and then a part-time job – writing blogs and managing social media accounts for Hip New Jersey, a lifestyle website owned by Long Shot Productions. She has also produced website and social media content for CommonPage, an external collaboration platform.

When she isn’t working, Heather enjoys watching crime shows like Forensic Files or posting book reviews to OnlineBookClub.org under the username “LavenderLiterature2.”