Holiday Pregnancy Survival Guide: Tips for Moms-to-Be

Advice from Maddie, NOM’s Head of Business Development, who is due with Baby #3 in February.

30 Weeks. Two Toddlers. Baby #3: Here we go...

At 30 weeks pregnant with my third baby (third boy = send coffee), I’ve officially entered what I’m calling Holiday Pregnancy Survival Mode. The lights are twinkling, the calendar is full, my belly is large and in charge, and I’m trying to savor all the sweetness while also keeping myself and two tiny humans alive, entertained, and ideally asleep past 6 a.m.

Is it magical? Sometimes.
Is it exhausting? Absolutely.
Is my holiday wishlist 50% pajamas, 40% childcare, and 10% cookies? Without question.

So this is my very real, very current guide to surviving, and hopefully enjoying, the holidays as a pregnant woman especially when you’ve already got littles at home.
Not expert advice. Just one mom-to-be (again) doing her best.

1. SLEEP...OR THE PURSUIT OF IT

Let’s be honest: my sleep is nowhere near perfect, and I’m under no delusion that it’s about to improve. But these are the things helping me not feel like a nocturnal, overstuffed raccoon:

Going to bed early: grandma-status.
A giant body pillow that takes up half the bed (sorry to my husband).
Magnesium baths or stretching before bed.
Screens off earlier, even if I just swap TikTok for a book (currently reading My Friends by Fredrik Backman).
Naps when possible (10 minutes count, truly).

What I wear on repeat for sleep + lounging (aka soft, breathable pajamas + knits that move with me):

NOM Heart on My Sleeve Pajama Set paired with the Second Skin Robe.
NOM Heart on My Sleeve Sweatshirt & Wren Lounge Sweats in Bluebell

Being comfortable is officially my personality.

2. COZY FOR THE WIN

Third trimester + December is basically the Super Bowl of coziness. I’m leaning in hard.

On my body at any given hour, you may find:

Stretchy pants that don’t dig anywhere (NOM Seamless Leggings, always).
Thick socks and slippers that make me feel like I live in a chalet (UGG Tasmans and American Trench Socks)
Something soft and cute enough to go from couch → brunch without changing (NOM Thomasine Sweater Cardigan)

We are keeping expectations low and comfort high.

3. PRIORITIZING TIME FOR ME

Five minutes alone feels like a vacation at this stage. I’m trying to carve out little pockets of time that refill me instead of drain me:

A prenatal massage (heaven).
A manicure or a haircut — instant morale boost.
A solo walk outside with a podcast.
Sitting in a coffee shop for 30 minutes without anyone touching me.
Reading before bed instead of scrolling.

If I leave the house alone with a warm chai and walk slowly, it basically counts as a spa day AND a workout.

4. THE REAL STRESSOR: Sleep logistics for the other kids

Listen, I can handle newborn nights. I’ve done it twice. But what I cannot do is nurse a baby at 3 a.m. while my 4-year-old barges in at 5:45 asking for waffles.

So right now we’re:

Tightening bedtime routines
Trying (keyword: trying) to push wake-ups later
Doing earlier baths + books during the holiday chaos
Considering outsourcing advice from someone smarter than me
Tag-teaming mornings where possible (partnership is everything)

I’m not trying to be a hero. I’m trying to survive. But on the topic of waffles, I highly recommend this Belgian Waffle Maker and this Multigrain Pancake/Waffle Mix. The stand up wafflemaker and healthy-ish batter mix will change your mornings and make the whole family happy.

5. MAKE TIME FOR YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE

At this point in pregnancy, connection doesn’t look like a glamorous night out. Seeing the right people at the right moment can unblock a whole week of stress.

What’s saving me lately:

A good mom walk in a warm winter coat (better than therapy, sometimes).
Calling a friend who lives out of state.
A date night with takeout and a movie. If you’re dying to go out, keep it easy and local and don’t stress your outfit (NOM’s Hudson Dress is perfect for feeling put together in seconds without sacrificing that pajama vibe).
A 20-minute check-in with your partner that isn’t about schedules or school snacks.

Connection makes everything feel lighter: belly, holidays, and emotional load included.

6. SIMPLIFY EVERYTHING

This season doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful. In fact, I’m convinced the imperfect moments are the ones I’ll remember most.

My rules right now:

Say no when I need to
Amazon / DoorDash / Instacart are never cop-outs
Matching pajamas = an outfit
Hosting with paper plates is festive and genius (and nobody cares)
Buy yourself the gifts you really want (like this adorable JW Pei Lucia Classic Handbag)
Cozy > complicated

If you’re pregnant right now, especially with toddlers in tow, I hope you feel seen in the chaos and softness of it all. We’re doing great. We’re building humans. We’re showing up (most of the time)! And honestly? That’s more than enough.