- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- dads today articles
- dads today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Keep Mom-to-be Smiling!
10 Creative Ways to Pamper Your Pregnant Wife By I.J. Schecter
You've given her the shoulder massages and back rubs. You've bought her a cute pair of pajamas with a flexible waistband. You've taken her out to dinner half a dozen times. But it's only the fourth month and you feel like you're out of ideas. Take heart. There are plenty of fun, simple ways to keep your wife smiling from the first month to the last and none of them have to break the bank!
1. Read to the Tummy and Its Owner
Over the course of the pregnancy it may become increasingly difficult for her to find a comfortable sleeping position. Buy an anthology of stories or poems, and read her something each night before bed. It will distract her from being uncomfortable and prepare you for becoming a nightly storyteller. Select your material logically. Amy Tan's latest is probably a good choice. Stephen King's is probably not. 2. Apply Some Pressure
Buy her a good professional shampoo and conditioner (this doesn't mean Pert Plus). Wait until she steps into the shower, and then join her. Shampoo her hair for her, making sure to include a long, luxurious temple massage. If you're not confident in your technique, get a massage with your next haircut and pay close attention. Your wife will be the beneficiary of your newfound skills. 3. Clean Up
Wait until she's out one afternoon, and give the house a serious once-over. This doesn't mean sweeping dirt into corner piles or wiping tables using the helicopter method you learned at camp. It means vacuuming along the edges, scouring the oven and, yes, mopping the floors. If you think this amounts to pampering the house instead of her, watch the reaction on her face. 4. A Little Pillow Talk Goes a Long Way
Pregnant women are advised to sleep on their sides. Many find it more comfortable while in this position to hold a pillow against their stomachs. Go out and buy her a nice down-filled pillow from a local department store (it shouldn't cost more than $50). Write "Pregnancy Sleep Aid" on the package, and leave it on the bed for her to find. Just understand that you'll have farther to reach in the spoon position.
