• Navigating the abundance of party fare--The principles of healthy eating still hold during the holiday season--but that doesn't mean you have to avoid a lavish spread. Just choose wisely, and think moderation. You need enough calories, ample fluids, fiber, and calcium to get you through the pregnancy. Almost everything else can be gotten from your vitamin pill. When tempted to fill up on cookies and punch, try to choose foods that meet some of these goals, such as raw vegetables and pasteurized cheeses, and control your portion size on things you know contain empty calories.



• A word on weight gain--I always feel cruel having my patients weigh in before each prenatal appointment around the holidays. Once the nausea is gone, food just tastes doubly good! Certainly, no one wants to face the burden of taking off lots of extra weight after childbirth. But believe it or not, the medical risks of substantial weight gain during pregnancy are actually pretty minimal. Too little weight gain is a much more serious problem.
  
  Look at your weight gain over longer intervals, and if you gain a lot over the holiday season, plan to slow it down by substituting lower-fat items for high-calorie fare. Keeping active during this time also can help with weight control.



• Risky foods--There are some food items that you should watch out for and avoid during the holiday season. Unpasteurized soft cheeses like brie, Camembert, and Mexican-style cheese harbor Listeria, a bacterium that can harm the developing fetus. Chocolate has a lot of caffeine, and all caffeinated foods and drinks should be limited in early pregnancy because of the possible connection between caffeine use and miscarriage. Raw or undercooked meat, chicken, and eggs also can carry infection and probably should be avoided. And keep in mind that traditional eggnog is made with raw eggs. For more information, read our article about foods to avoid in pregnancy.

• Fetal effects of alcohol--Alcohol has been shown to cause birth defects with low-level repeated use or occasional binge drinking. This is true throughout pregnancy, but it is particularly damaging in the first trimester. It's probably best not to drink at all--after all, what other proven fetal toxin would you let pass your lips during pregnancy? If you do drink, limit yourself to a minimal amount of alcohol--you should never reach the point of inebriation.



• Protecting your secret--I know of numerous mothers-to-be who gave away their secret early in pregnancy when they were noted to be abstaining from alcohol in a social setting. If you want to avoid snoops, consider arming yourself with a look-alike nonalcoholic drink, like a virgin colada, bloody mary mix, or club soda and lime. Your fellow partygoers will never know the difference!

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