Have Bump Will (Still) Party

So you might not be overdoing the mojitos this year, but there are lots of clever ways to have a good time, with no hangover either

LBDs, doing a smoky eye in the office loos and drinking until 3am, we’re all well-versed on the party season. Except the minute you’re pregnant (never mind once you’ve got a newborn), it’s a whole new ball game. A recent study showed that it takes an average of 18 months for a new mum to feel ‘herself again’—so enjoying a night out might be tricky. How do you face the social whirl when you’re exhausted and know you’ll be up four times in the night, either for a wee or your wee one?

Pregnant in the festive season

Being a social butterfly with a baby on board isn’t easy. You can’t drink and your feet are swollen so you can’t wear your killer heels. But, within reason, it can be good to get out and socialise, says Dr Susan Turner, mother of six. “Seeing other people is good for your mental health,” she says. Pregnancy is an all-consuming time and it can be hard to remember there’s a world still going on out there. “Meeting with friends is a reminder you’re part of it,” says Susan. And although it might feel like an effort to drag yourself out, you might have a great time.

Mum-of-two Rebecca Maberly, who runs advice website doctoranddaughter.co.uk, says, “If you are going to a house party, take a drink you can have with you—there’s nothing worse than drinking tap water all night. Buy or make a fruit-based alcohol-free cocktail that feels like a treat.”