Christmas is an exciting time of year, but when you’re heavily pregnant or welcoming a newborn, the festive season can bring a few unexpected challenges. From navigating maternity services over public holidays to keeping cool in the Australian summer, here’s how to prepare, protect your wellbeing and enjoy this special time with your growing family.

Christmas can be a wonderful time to welcome a new baby, but if you’re counting down the final weeks of pregnancy, or have a newborn in your arms, it can also be a little overwhelming. Between the summer heat, family commitments, Christmas preparations and the possibility of going into labour at any moment, the festive season can look quite different when you’re expecting.

For some women, Christmas brings the excitement of knowing their baby could arrive at any time. For others, it means spending the holidays waiting, wondering and trying to work out whether they’ll be enjoying Christmas lunch, heading to hospital or settling into life with a brand-new little person.

There are also practical considerations. Australian public holidays can mean changes to routine antenatal appointments, reduced opening hours for some community health services and difficulty accessing everyday support. Your regular GP, pregnancy massage therapist or lactation consultant may be taking a well-earned break, while your baby certainly won’t be checking the calendar before deciding it’s time to arrive!

Add Australia’s summer temperatures, and the final weeks of pregnancy can feel particularly demanding. Swollen feet, tiredness, interrupted sleep and the physical discomfort of carrying a growing baby can make even the simplest Christmas activities feel like hard work.

And if your baby has already arrived, the focus shifts to recovering from birth, establishing feeding, getting to know your newborn and adjusting to the demands of parenthood, all while family and friends are celebrating around you.

The good news is that a little preparation can make a considerable difference. Knowing where to access maternity care, organising support before the holidays and understanding how to manage the summer heat can help you feel more confident and less anxious.

Liz Wilkes, Managing Director of My Midwives remembers her own pregnancy journey 23 years ago when she was ‘due’ on 29th of December. “It was tough. There were no midwifery continuity of care services, there was a set schedule of the availability of doctors and hospital appointments and there was nothing in between. I did feel quite lonely. I couldn’t go interstate to my family, and it was hot.”

Fortunately, the array of services available over the Christmas period has improved. “It is important to put in some plans about “what if”. If you think you might need help before or after baby ask around, find out who is available over that period. Our midwifery team is always available to women and families and will definitely support women who need it over the periods where other services may be closed.” Ms Wilkes added.

Her experience highlights something worth remembering: you don’t have to navigate late pregnancy or those first weeks with a newborn on your own. Having a familiar healthcare team, knowing who to contact and arranging practical help can make the festive season feel much more manageable.

The following are great tips for pregnancy and new parenting over the Christmas period:

Birth is only one day

It is important to think about decisions like whether to be induced or not relative to your personal circumstances rather than the day baby may be born. If it is possible or desirable to let nature take its course, then that is best for you and your baby when things are straightforward. Induction or caesareans to avoid certain days or to assist your care providers workload is not best practice.

There is an important distinction between choosing the timing of birth for convenience and making a clinical decision based on the health of you and your baby.

While it can be tempting to consider scheduling a birth to avoid Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or the uncertainty of holiday staffing, decisions about induction and caesarean birth should always be based on individual circumstances, clinical recommendations and informed discussion with your maternity care team.

There are pregnancies where waiting for spontaneous labour is a reasonable option. However, there are also circumstances where continuing the pregnancy carries additional risks, making an induction or planned birth the safer recommendation. Conditions such as pre-eclampsia, concerns about your baby’s wellbeing, some cases of ruptured membranes and prolonged pregnancy may influence the timing of birth.

Induction of labour is not necessarily a straightforward or quick process. Depending on your circumstances, it may involve preparing the cervix, breaking the waters or using medication to encourage contractions. Your baby may also need additional monitoring throughout the process.

In Victoria, Safer Care Victoria’s clinical guidance emphasises that induction should be clinically justified, with the risks of induction weighed against the risks of continuing the pregnancy. Women should have the opportunity to discuss the reasons, benefits, risks and alternatives before making an informed decision.

If your due date falls over Christmas, it is worth discussing the following with your midwife or obstetrician:

• What happens if I go beyond my estimated due date?

• When might induction be recommended in my particular circumstances?

• What are the benefits and potential risks of waiting for spontaneous labour?

• What monitoring might be recommended if I continue my pregnancy?

• What happens if I need to be induced over a public holiday?

• Who will be responsible for my care if my regular obstetrician or midwife is away?

• What happens if my birth plan needs to change?

Remember, your estimated due date is just that: an estimate. Babies don’t work to a Christmas calendar, and labour can begin when you least expect it.

Preparing for labour when your baby is due over Christmas

Even if you’re hoping for spontaneous labour, having a plan can make the experience less stressful.

Pack your hospital bag earlier than you might otherwise have planned. Make sure your partner or support person knows where everything is, how to contact your maternity team and which hospital you will be attending.

It is also worth discussing the early signs of labour so you know what to look for. These can include period-like cramps, lower backache, a change in vaginal discharge, a bloodstained show, regular contractions or your waters breaking.

Braxton Hicks contractions, sometimes called practice contractions, can occur in the weeks before labour. They are generally different from the contractions associated with established labour, but if you’re unsure about what you’re experiencing, contact your maternity team.

If your waters break, contact your midwife or birthing unit for advice. If the fluid is green, brown or blood-stained, seek urgent advice. If your waters break before 37 weeks, you should contact your maternity team and attend hospital for assessment.

For more information, see Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Early signs of labour and Waters breaking.

Know when to seek help during pregnancy

Christmas is not a reason to put off getting checked if something doesn’t feel right. Even if your regular healthcare provider is away, maternity hospitals continue to provide assessment and emergency care.

Contact your maternity team or hospital immediately if you experience:

• Reduced or changed fetal movements. If your baby is moving less than usual or their normal movement pattern changes, seek immediate assessment. Don’t wait until the next day or assume your baby is simply running out of room.

• Vaginal bleeding.

• Severe or persistent abdominal pain.

• Fluid leaking from your vagina, particularly if you suspect your waters have broken.

• Signs of premature labour.

• A severe headache that doesn’t settle.

• Blurred vision, flashing lights or other visual disturbances.

• Sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet.

• Pain beneath your ribs.

• Fever, chills or feeling seriously unwell.

• Shortness of breath, a racing heartbeat or severe vomiting.

Some of these symptoms can indicate complications such as pre-eclampsia, infection or problems affecting your baby. Pre-eclampsia, for example, can develop after 20 weeks of pregnancy and needs prompt medical assessment.

If you feel something isn’t right, trust your instincts and get checked. You are not wasting anyone’s time by asking for help.

For further information, visit Healthdirect – Warning signs during pregnancy and Healthdirect – Pre-eclampsia.

A little more reassurance about Christmas maternity services

One of the biggest concerns for women approaching their due date during the festive season is whether they will still be able to access appropriate care.

It’s worth remembering that hospital maternity and birthing services do not simply close for Christmas. Hospitals continue to provide labour, birth and emergency maternity care, although routine outpatient appointments, community clinics and individual practitioners may operate with reduced availability.

The important thing is knowing how your particular maternity service operates.

Before the holiday period, ask:

• Does my hospital have a dedicated maternity assessment telephone number?

• Where should I go if I have concerns about my pregnancy outside normal business hours?

• Will my usual midwife or obstetrician be available?

• Who provides cover if they are away?

• Are routine antenatal appointments being rescheduled?

• Is there a midwife-led telephone service?

• Where can I access urgent assessment if I am travelling away from home?

Don’t rely solely on a general hospital switchboard number if your maternity team has provided a specific contact number.

It can also be helpful to save these numbers in your phone and give them to your birth partner. When you’re experiencing contractions or feeling unwell, the last thing you want is to be searching through paperwork for a telephone number.

Keep it simple

If you might still be pregnant or alternatively have a brand new baby, make sure your Christmas Day is low key. Options where you can just participate in some of the day, without any additional effort, are really important. You may not want to take a new baby out and that is OK! Do what feels right for you and commit to the bare minimum of events.

There is no need to prove you can manage a full Christmas schedule when you’re heavily pregnant or recovering from birth. Your priorities have changed, and that’s perfectly reasonable.

If you’re still pregnant, sitting for long periods, standing in the kitchen preparing meals or spending hours travelling between family gatherings may be the last things you feel like doing.

If you’ve just given birth, you may be dealing with physical recovery, feeding, interrupted sleep and the emotional adjustment of becoming a parent. Even a short family gathering can feel exhausting when you’re still finding your feet.

Your first Christmas with a newborn doesn’t have to look like Christmases past.

You might decide to spend the day at home, invite only a few people over, enjoy a quiet lunch or simply postpone celebrations until you’re feeling more settled. There is no right or wrong way to approach it.

Managing Christmas visitors and family expectations

Family and friends are often excited to meet a new baby, and their enthusiasm usually comes from a good place. However, that doesn’t mean you need a house full of visitors during the first few days or weeks after birth.

Newborns need frequent feeding, sleep, warmth, comfort and close contact with their parents. Mothers also need time to recover, establish feeding and rest whenever possible.

It is perfectly reasonable to establish some boundaries before the baby arrives.

Consider:

• Asking family to arrange visits rather than dropping in unexpectedly.

• Keeping visits short and allowing plenty of time between guests.

• Asking visitors to wash their hands before touching or holding your baby.

• Requesting that anyone with a cough, cold, fever or other symptoms postpone their visit.

• Avoiding pressure to pass your newborn around a large gathering.

• Making sure you have somewhere quiet to feed and settle your baby.

• Asking visitors to bring a meal or help with something practical rather than expecting you to entertain them.

You don’t need to apologise for protecting your baby’s health or your own recovery.

Protecting your newborn during Christmas gatherings

Christmas often involves crowded shopping centres, family gatherings and close contact with people outside your usual household. While you don’t need to avoid everyone, sensible precautions are important when you have a very young baby.

Newborns are particularly vulnerable to some infections, so hand hygiene and asking unwell visitors to stay away are simple but worthwhile measures.

Talk with your GP, midwife or child health nurse about recommended vaccinations during pregnancy and after birth, including protection against influenza, whooping cough and other infections relevant to your circumstances.

If you’re unsure whether a newborn should attend a particular gathering, consider the baby’s age, health, the size of the gathering and whether anyone attending is unwell.

Remember, you can enjoy Christmas without having to attend every event or accommodate every visitor.

Get support

Book a postnatal midwife, lactation consultant or GP visits between Christmas and New Year “just in case”. If you know you have extra support, you may not need it. Have it in place beforehand so that you feel less anxious about what you might be able to access.

Having support arranged before your baby arrives can be one of the best gifts you give yourself.

The first days after birth involve a considerable amount of adjustment. You are getting to know your baby, learning their feeding cues, recovering physically and working out what your new routine might look like. Some days will feel wonderful, while others may leave you wondering how such a tiny person can create so much washing, feeding and exhaustion!

Postnatal care is just as important as antenatal care.

Depending on your birth and individual needs, you may require support with:

• Recovery following vaginal birth or caesarean birth.

• Perineal discomfort, stitches and healing.

• Caesarean wound care.

• Postpartum bleeding and physical changes.

• Breastfeeding, expressing or formula feeding.

• Engorgement, nipple pain or attachment difficulties.

• Newborn settling and feeding patterns.

• Maternal fatigue, nutrition and rest.

• Emotional wellbeing and adjustment to parenthood.

Don’t assume that because you’ve been discharged from hospital, you no longer need support. If you have questions or concerns, contact your maternity team, GP or postnatal care provider.

Breastfeeding support over Christmas

Breastfeeding can take time to establish, and it is not always as straightforward as parents expect. Some mothers experience difficulties with attachment, nipple pain, engorgement, concerns about milk supply or uncertainty about whether their baby is getting enough milk.

It can be particularly frustrating when these concerns arise during a public holiday and your usual lactation consultant is unavailable.

Before Christmas, find out where you can access breastfeeding assistance. The Australian Breastfeeding Association provides information and support, including advice about feeding in hot weather.

Newborns generally feed frequently, and cluster feeding can be a normal part of early breastfeeding. It doesn’t automatically mean your milk supply is inadequate.

If your baby is feeding poorly, has fewer wet nappies than expected, is unusually sleepy or appears unwell, seek advice promptly rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

For Australian breastfeeding information and support, visit the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

Looking after your emotional wellbeing

There is often an expectation that having a baby should be the happiest time of your life. While there can be extraordinary joy, the reality is that pregnancy, birth and early parenthood can also bring uncertainty, anxiety, exhaustion and emotional ups and downs.

Christmas can amplify those feelings, particularly if family lives interstate, your partner is returning to work, your support network is limited or you’re spending the holidays away from home.

In the first days after birth, some women experience what is commonly called the baby blues. This can involve tearfulness, irritability and feeling unusually emotional. These feelings generally settle within two weeks.

However, ongoing anxiety, persistent sadness, difficulty coping or feeling disconnected from everyday life deserve attention. Postnatal depression and anxiety are not personal failures, and you don’t have to wait until things become unbearable before seeking help.

Partners can also experience emotional difficulties during the transition to parenthood.

If you are struggling, speak with your GP, midwife or child health nurse. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, seek urgent professional help.

Australian support includes:

• PANDA National Helpline: 1300 726 306.

• Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: 1800 882 436.

• Lifeline: 13 11 14.

• Emergency assistance: 000.

You can also visit PANDA – Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia for information and support.

Looking after your body after birth

The arrival of your baby is an enormous milestone, but it’s important not to overlook what your own body has been through.

Whether you’ve experienced a vaginal birth, an assisted birth or a caesarean, recovery takes time. You may be managing bleeding, tenderness, stitches, abdominal discomfort, hormonal changes and significant tiredness.

It’s tempting to put all your attention into your newborn, particularly during the excitement of Christmas, but your recovery matters too.

Allow yourself time to heal. Accept offers of help with cooking, cleaning and caring for older children. Avoid feeling pressured to return to your usual activities before you’re ready, and attend recommended postnatal appointments.

Know the warning signs after birth

Some discomfort and bleeding are expected after birth, but certain symptoms need urgent assessment.

Seek prompt medical attention for:

• Heavy or increasing vaginal bleeding, particularly if you are soaking pads quickly or passing large clots.

• Fever, chills or feeling seriously unwell.

• Severe or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain.

• A red, painful or swollen caesarean wound, or discharge from the wound.

• Severe headache, visual disturbances or sudden swelling.

• Chest pain, difficulty breathing or fainting.

• Pain, redness or swelling in one leg, particularly the calf.

• Severe emotional distress or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

Some serious pregnancy-related conditions, including pre-eclampsia and blood clots, can also occur after birth. Don’t assume that a symptom is simply part of recovery.

Call 000 for a medical emergency.

Plan in advance

Get some food into the house, make sure the shopping for presents is done and that you have anything else that needs to be attended booked in early. It is generally a busy time and jostling with crowds is going to be the last thing you will feel like doing if you are still pregnant. If you have a new baby, you may not have time to attend to shopping and other jobs.

A little organisation before Christmas can take a surprising amount of pressure off those final weeks of pregnancy and the early days of parenting.

Try to complete the jobs that can be done ahead of time. Stock the pantry, organise a few easy meals, prepare the nursery and make sure you have the everyday essentials you will need.

You might also consider freezing some meals before your due date. Having something nutritious ready to heat and eat can be a lifesaver when you’re recovering from birth or spending much of the day feeding a newborn.

Organise your Christmas maternity care contacts

One of the most useful things you can do before the holidays is establish exactly who you should contact if you need medical advice.

Don’t assume your regular GP, obstetrician or midwife will be available throughout the Christmas and New Year period. Ask about their holiday arrangements and make sure you know who provides cover.

Write down:

• The telephone number for your hospital’s maternity assessment or birthing unit.

• Your midwife’s or obstetrician’s after-hours contact arrangements.

• The location of your nearest maternity hospital.

• Your GP’s holiday opening hours and after-hours arrangements.

• Where to access urgent newborn and postnatal care.

• The contact details of your lactation consultant or breastfeeding support service.

A quick reminder about Australian health services

The following services can help you find appropriate advice and support:

• 000: Call for an ambulance in a life-threatening emergency.

• Healthdirect: 1800 022 222 for health advice from a registered nurse.

• Australian Breastfeeding Association: Breastfeeding information and support.

• PANDA: 1300 726 306 for perinatal mental health support.

• Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: 1800 882 436 for pregnancy, birth and parenting information.

• Victorian Maternal and Child Health Line: 13 22 29, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

These services do not replace urgent maternity assessment. If you experience reduced fetal movements, significant bleeding, severe pain or another pregnancy warning sign, contact your maternity unit immediately. In a life-threatening emergency, call 000.

For Victorian families, the Department of Health – Maternal and Child Health Service provides information about local services and the 24-hour MCH Line.

Prepare your support network

It is also worth having a conversation with your partner, family or close friends about the practical help you might need.

Think about who could:

• Drive you to hospital if labour begins.

• Look after older children if you need to attend hospital.

• Prepare meals or do some grocery shopping.

• Help with laundry and household jobs.

• Collect prescriptions or essential supplies.

• Provide company or emotional support.

• Help with the baby while you have a shower or get some rest.

You don’t need to organise every detail, but knowing who you can call can make a big difference.

Travelling while pregnant or with a newborn

Christmas is a popular time for Australian families to travel, whether it’s a trip interstate, a visit to relatives or a few days away at the coast.

If you’re heavily pregnant, consider how far you’ll be from your usual maternity hospital and whether there are appropriate maternity services nearby.

Discuss longer trips with your midwife or doctor, particularly if you have pregnancy complications or are approaching your due date.

For car travel, take regular breaks, move your legs, stay hydrated and avoid sitting in the same position for extended periods. Pregnancy increases the risk of blood clots, and prolonged immobility can add to that risk.

Continue wearing your seatbelt correctly, with the lap section positioned low across your hips, beneath your abdomen.

If you’re travelling with a newborn:

• Make sure the baby has an appropriately fitted, approved child restraint.

• Plan regular stops for feeding and nappy changes.

• Keep the car comfortably cool.

• Never leave your baby unattended in a parked car.

• Avoid allowing your baby to sleep in a car restraint once you’ve arrived at your destination.

• Transfer your baby to a firm, flat and safe sleep surface when you reach your destination.

For more information, see Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Travel and pregnancy and Car travel with babies and children.

Don’t forget Christmas food safety

Christmas meals are often filled with seafood, salads, cold meats, cheeses and leftovers. While there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a lovely Christmas meal during pregnancy, food safety deserves a little extra attention.

Pregnant women have an increased susceptibility to some foodborne infections, including listeriosis, which can have serious consequences for an unborn baby.

Follow Australian pregnancy food safety advice and take particular care with foods that may carry a higher risk of Listeria, including certain soft cheeses, cold deli meats, pâté, smoked seafood and pre-prepared salads.

Make sure meat, seafood and eggs are properly cooked, keep chilled foods refrigerated and avoid leaving perishable dishes sitting out in the summer heat for extended periods.

Be especially careful with Christmas leftovers. Refrigerate food promptly, store it safely and reheat leftovers thoroughly before eating.

For a detailed guide, see the Australian Government’s Nutrition advice during pregnancy.

Your Christmas preparation timeline

Getting organised doesn’t mean having everything perfect. It’s simply about taking a few jobs off your plate before the final weeks of pregnancy or those first exhausting days with a newborn.

Dealing with the heat

If it is hot, make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and resting in a cool place. Having access to a pool or water anywhere can help but if that isn’t possible use cool showers and ice packs, fans or air conditioning to assist. You need to stay hydrated while you are pregnant and when breastfeeding. Installing a reliable system through professional. A good quality air conditioner can make a significant difference in keeping your home comfortable during the hot Christmas period.

Australian summers can be challenging at the best of times, but when you’re pregnant, the heat can make everyday activities feel considerably more uncomfortable.

Pregnancy naturally changes how your body functions. You may feel warmer, sweat more easily and find that hot weather makes fatigue, swelling and disrupted sleep harder to manage.

During periods of extreme heat, it is particularly important to look after yourself. The Australian Government’s pregnancy physical activity recommendations advise pregnant women to stay hydrated and avoid exercising in hot weather, particularly when humidity is high.

Why heat deserves extra attention during pregnancy

Hot weather can place additional demands on your body. Dehydration and heat-related illness can develop when you lose more fluid than you replace or are unable to cool down effectively.

You may notice:

• Increased thirst.

• Headaches.

• Dizziness or light-headedness.

• Muscle cramps.

• Weakness or unusual tiredness.

• Feeling faint or generally unwell.

Heat exhaustion needs attention. Move somewhere cool, rest and follow appropriate medical advice. If you suspect heatstroke, which is a medical emergency, call 000 immediately.

Symptoms of heatstroke can include a very high body temperature, confusion, altered behaviour, rapid breathing, a racing pulse or loss of consciousness.

For more information, see Healthdirect – Hot weather risks and staying cool.

Simple ways to stay comfortable during an Australian summer

You don’t need an elaborate cooling routine. Small changes can make a considerable difference.

• Drink regularly: Keep a water bottle nearby and drink throughout the day.

• Choose cooler activities: Avoid unnecessary outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.

• Wear breathable clothing: Loose-fitting cotton and lightweight fabrics can help you feel more comfortable.

• Take cool showers: A refreshing shower can help lower your body temperature.

• Use fans and air conditioning: Keep your home comfortably cool.

• Put your feet up: Resting with your legs elevated may help ease the discomfort of swollen feet and ankles.

• Take breaks: Don’t feel you need to keep moving or entertaining guests when your body needs rest.

• Find some shade: If you do spend time outdoors, choose shaded areas and limit prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

If you have been advised to restrict fluids or have a medical condition affecting hydration, follow your healthcare professional’s individual advice rather than relying on general recommendations.

Staying hydrated while breastfeeding

Once your baby arrives, keeping up with your own fluid intake remains important, particularly when temperatures rise.

Breastfeeding mothers often notice increased thirst during feeds. Keeping a water bottle beside your favourite feeding chair is a simple way to make drinking regularly easier.

Your breastmilk continues to meet your baby’s changing needs. In hot weather, a breastfed baby may want shorter, more frequent feeds.

Importantly, exclusively breastfed babies under six months do not need additional water, even when the weather is hot. Offer breastfeeds more frequently instead.

For formula-fed babies, continue offering correctly prepared formula. Never dilute formula to provide extra fluid.

If your baby is feeding poorly, has fewer wet nappies than usual or seems unusually sleepy, seek medical advice promptly.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association – Breastfeeding in hot weather provides practical advice for keeping both mother and baby comfortable.

Preparing your home for a newborn during summer

If your baby is due around Christmas, it’s worth thinking about the temperature of your home before they arrive.

Newborns cannot regulate their body temperature as effectively as adults, which means they need a little extra consideration during hot weather.

You don’t need to purchase every cooling product on the market. A comfortable, well-ventilated room, appropriate clothing and safe sleeping arrangements are far more important.

Consider:

• Keeping the baby’s room comfortably cool.

• Using a fan to circulate air without directing strong airflow directly at your baby.

• Using air conditioning at a comfortable setting.

• Dressing your baby in lightweight clothing.

• Avoiding unnecessary layers and heavy blankets.

• Keeping the cot away from direct sunlight.

• Avoiding enclosed, poorly ventilated prams in hot weather.

A baby’s head should remain uncovered during sleep. Beanies and hats can cause overheating indoors, even when parents are trying to keep their newborn warm.

Newborn overheating and safe sleep

Keeping your baby cool is important, but it should never come at the expense of safe sleeping practices.

The safest sleep environment is one that is firm, flat, level, clear, not too hot and smoke-free.

Always place your baby on their back to sleep, using a safe cot or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and fitted sheet.

Avoid pillows, doonas, soft toys, cot bumpers and loose bedding. Keep your baby’s face and head uncovered, and dress them appropriately for the temperature of the room.

If you use air conditioning or a fan, make sure the airflow is not directed straight at your baby and that the room remains comfortably cool rather than excessively cold.

For additional advice, see Red Nose Australia – Safe sleep.

Keeping your baby cool when you’re out and about

Australian Christmas celebrations often involve outdoor lunches, trips to the beach, family visits and time in the garden.

If you take your newborn out, plan ahead.

Keep your baby out of direct sunlight, particularly if they are under six months of age. Use shade and lightweight clothing, and remember that a pram should be shaded without being covered in a way that restricts airflow.

Never leave your baby in a parked car, even for a short time. Temperatures inside vehicles can rise rapidly.

Babies under six months should receive breastmilk or formula rather than additional water. Babies over six months who have started solids can also be offered appropriate amounts of water.

Watch for signs of overheating or dehydration, including unusual sleepiness, poor feeding, fewer wet nappies, dry mouth or appearing unwell.

If your baby is very sleepy, floppy, refusing feeds or showing signs of severe heat-related illness, seek urgent medical attention. Call 000 if you suspect heatstroke or your baby is seriously unwell.

For more information, see Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Babies in hot weather and Keeping babies cool in hot weather.

Enjoy!

Try to think about the good things of having your family around you and use the time to catch up and enjoy either the last days of pregnancy or a new baby in the joyous once-a-year time.

Christmas with a baby on the way or a newborn in your arms may not look quite like it did in previous years, and that’s perfectly OK.

You might find yourself swapping late-night celebrations for an early bedtime, Christmas shopping for a quiet afternoon on the couch or a big family lunch for a relaxed day at home. You may even discover that the best part of Christmas is simply having everyone together, without the usual expectations or pressure.

Give yourself permission to slow down, accept help and enjoy the moments that matter. There will be plenty of Christmases ahead for elaborate celebrations, busy family gatherings and making new traditions.

For now, focus on your wellbeing, your baby’s arrival and the little moments that make this time so special.

Whether you’re waiting for your baby’s first cry or celebrating their first Christmas, you deserve to feel supported, comfortable and cared for.

And if all you manage this Christmas is to keep cool, have a few cuddles, eat something delicious and enjoy a little rest, that’s more than enough.

Australian references and further reading

The following Australian Government, state health and Australian parenting organisations provide additional evidence-based information for expectant parents and families with newborns.

Pregnancy, labour and birth

1. Healthdirect – Warning signs during pregnancy

2. Healthdirect – Pre-eclampsia

3. Safer Care Victoria – Induction of labour

4. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Early signs of labour

5. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Waters breaking

Summer pregnancy and newborn care

6. Australian Government – Recommendations for pregnancy and physical activity

7. Healthdirect – Hot weather risks and staying cool

8. Australian Breastfeeding Association – Breastfeeding in hot weather

9. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Babies in hot weather

10. Red Nose Australia – Safe sleep

11. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – When can babies drink water?

Postnatal health and family support

12. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Your first few days after giving birth

13. PANDA – Perinatal mental health support

14. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Maternity models of care in Australia

15. Victorian Department of Health – Maternal and Child Health Service

16. Australian Breastfeeding Association – National Breastfeeding Helpline

Food safety and travel

17. Australian Government – Nutrition advice during pregnancy

18. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Travel and pregnancy

19. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – Car travel with babies and children

Medical information in this article is general in nature and should not replace individual advice from your midwife, obstetrician, GP or other qualified healthcare professional. Pregnancy and newborn care needs vary, so always seek professional advice about your own circumstances.