Hey Dad-to-be! Pregnancy isn't just for women. If your woman is pregnant there is a lot you can do. I know you have been reading a bunch of articles on Prenatal development, baby stimulation and fetal development. You have seen everything there is about Critical period in prenatal development, having a smart baby and fetal brain development.
But what do you know about taking care of your new mom-to-be? Let me tell you that a happy mom-to-be = a healthy mom-to-be = a healthy baby. And you can do something about it. In the next several blogs I will tell you how you can pamper the mom-to-be in your life.
The Pampering Dad-To-Be Massage
The healthiest and safest time to begin having pregnancy massages is in your second trimester. Lying on your back is not a good idea after the 20th week of pregnancy, so the position that works best is to have your mom-to-be straddle a chair, with the back facing her front. This works especially well if you place the chair in front of a table, and then stack one or two pillows over the back, allowing them to spill out on to the tabletop. This will enable her to lean forward during the massage and rest her head.
Now, lubricate your hands with either high-quality commercial massage oil, or one you make yourself. This can be done by combining a few drops of a relaxing essential oil, such as lavender or chamomile, with a carrier oil 
such as sweet almond or jojoba. Be sure to warm the oil by pouring a small amount into your hands and rubbing them together. This is an important step, since cold oil causes muscles to tense, causing her to feel stressed.
Now, place your hands on her lower back just below the waistline, and slowly begin sliding up her back on either side of her spine. Never massage directly on the backbone, or over the spinal column. As you reach her shoulders your hands should slowly move across the upper back, then down the opposite side of the spine, to the starting point. This up-and down motion should continue for at least several minutes, until the muscles of her back start to warm and relaxed.
Your can then begin applying gentle pressure to any area of her back where she is feeling pain -- using the heel of your hand or the pads of your fingers, bearing down slightly and continuing to move in a circular motion. The operative word here, however, is "gentle." The point of massage is to relax and soothe muscles, so a rubdown should never hurt. If it does, you are is pressing too hard -- so ask her if she experiencing discomfort.
Your massage finishes with a repeat of the up-and-down motion that started the back rub, done for a several more minutes. You should then wrap her body in a soft blanket or beach towel, to keep muscles warm. Have her remain in her massage position for five to 10 minutes.
The massage can be as short as 10 minutes, or as long as 60 minutes; it's not a good idea to go beyond that time limit, no matter how great it feels. During her second trimester, you can give her a massage once a week; during the third trimester, you can increase massages to twice weekly or more if needed. Again, never give her a massage during the first trimester, even by a professional therapist
You want to make sure that your BabyPlus system is in working condition for your prenatal care curriculum. If you encounter any issues, there are several things you may want to try. 
Runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes--all signs of seasonal allergies. Day by day pregnancy has enough going on to have to worry about these annoying symptoms. The question of whether or not you should take allergy medication during pregnancy is one between you and your doctor. However, there are several non-drug options such as using a humidifier, using Saline nasal spray and making sure you are drinking plenty of fluids. Talk to your doctor about other options to help alleviate allergy symptoms. You can both work out a prenatal plan that will be safe during all stages of pregnancy.
For a brown-bag lunch, spread flour tortilla with canned refried beans and sprinkle with shredded Jack or cheddar cheese and some chopped green onion. Roll and wrap in plastic wrap. Heat for 30 seconds in microwave. Serve with salsa and lowfat sour cream.
If this is your first pregnancy, I know that you are concerned about your infant's development. Prenatal care is so important to not only your baby's infancy but to his health and welfare throughout his life. One element of prenatal care should be the use of BabyPlus. One mother of a BabyPlus child wrote recently on BabyCenter.com about her child's early benefits and her baby's development after birth.
