The Festive Season Survival Guide If You're Trying to Conceive

This time of year can be hard for so many people, and not least if you’re trying to conceive.  You may be trying to survive the parties and events whilst eating well and not drinking, or perhaps your friend and family groups are full of children and invasive questions about when you’re going to be starting a family.  There are lots of tricky situations to navigate and making sure you protect your mental and emotional well-being is really important.

This guide has some handy tips you can use to plan how you’ll approach Christmas this year whilst making sure you don’t compromise on what’s important to you. 

Preparing for Social Gatherings & Managing Expectations

Family events can be both a source of joy and stress. Here are some ways to prepare:

• Set boundaries early and communicate them - Decide together what events you want to attend and those you don't and then communicate these boundaries to friends and family. It's perfectly ok if you don't want house guests this year, or you want to swerve events with lots of pregnant friends. Set and hold the boundaries you need to in order to protect your own mental health.

• Think about how to respond to the inevitable thoughtless and intrusive questions - A simple phrase like, “We’re focusing on us right now,” can gently redirect conversations enquiring about when you're going to get pregnant.

• Plan your exit strategy - If a gathering becomes too much, agree on a signal with your partner to leave or take a break. Volunteering to walk the dog can be a great way to get some space and also has the benefit of fresh air and a bit of exercise!

• Bring a supportive friend or family member - Having someone who understands your situation can provide comfort and distraction. If some of your family know what you're going through, use them to deflect the others who may not be acting considerately.

• Focus on the positive - Engage in activities you enjoy during the festive period. Allow yourself time to take a walk / read a book / cook a meal. Whatever it is that brings you joy and allows you to relax

  
  

Making Healthy Choices When TTC

Christmas parties / events often involve alcohol, unhealthy food and late nights, which can be tricky when trying to conceive. Here are some tips:

• Follow an 80:20 rule - Just because you're trying to conceive doesn't mean you can't enjoy Christmas and have a drink and a mince pie if you want to! Your fertility is influenced by what you do most of the time, not what you day 1 or 2 days out of 30.

• If you're not drinking, there are lots of lovely non-alcoholic drinks you can enjoy - The advantage with some of them is also that nobody will know you're drinking a non-alcoholic version so you can go under the radar if you're trying to avoid the intrusive questions. Things like Pentire, Seedlip, Real, Dash water, and non alcoholic versions of your favourite drinks, can make you feel included without compromising your health. Just remember to avoid too many high sugar options.

• Eat before you go - If you do want to limit the high sugar, fatty or inflammatory foods you're having, then try eating before you go to reduce temptation and help you feel more balanced.

• Limit your time - Attend for a short period to enjoy the company without feeling drained.

• Tips for a healthier Christmas:

  • If you know you're eating out later don't be tempted to skip meals to offset it - this can play havoc with your blood sugars. Just try to make choices that focus on protein and veg

  • Eat a protein rich breakfast to set you up for the day - if you get some spinach and eggs in early, you've at least got a few nutrients in before the M&S picky bits buffet!

  • Turkey, cranberries, vegetables (especially sprouts), nuts and oranges/clementines are all great for your health and fertility so load up on these rather than the roast potatoes!

  • Choose nuts over crisps 

  • Dark chocolate rather than a chocolate orange

  • Alternate your alcoholic drinks with soft drinks

  • Prioritise your sleep - if you do have a few late nights, offset them with a nana nap when you can or a lie in

    
    
    
    

Supporting Each Other as a Couple

This can be a tricky time of year for many of us and factor family politics into that and it can be really stressful. Remember to support each other as a couple:

• Communicate openly - Share your feelings, fears, and hopes without judgment.

• Celebrate small wins - Acknowledge each other’s efforts and moments of joy.

• Create new traditions - Setting some of the boundaries we've spoken about, may allow new traditions to develop that you may choose to keep over future years.

This time of year can be hard, but by setting some boundaries, deciding what you’re comfortable with, protecting your non-negotiables and making small changes you can set yourself up for a festive season that preserves your peace and emotional well-being.

Don't forget, if you're trying to conceive in 2026, planning and preparation are key to success (as with most things in life) and acupuncture is a fantastic tool to support you in preparing for pregnancy. I work with couples to identify challenges, guide and support you on your journey, whether that's with IVF or natural conception. It really can make a big difference! If you want to discuss how acupuncture could support you, please get in touch and be sure to look out for our guide on Optimising Your Fertility in 2026.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas and I wish you the very best for your fertility journey in the new year!