It’s that time of the year again. This time, ditch the boring old roses and chocolates and get something unique for your expectant partner. Here are five gift ideas that may keep her from wanting to kill you during labour.
Food. There are few things my wife loves more at the moment. Dinner out at her favourite restaurant or cook a romantic meal at home. Not much more to say here. Definitely a winner at any time during a pregnancy, but at Valentine’s Day it’s just a little more romantic.
Prenatal Massage. Unlike a Swedish massage, a prenatal massage specifically targets the parts of the body that cause her the most distress: the lower back, the shoulders, and the area around the stomach.
Note: Be very picky about the qualifications of the masseuse, as you want someone with a Prenatal Massage Certification and lots of experience. Additionally, if she suffers from cramping, nausea, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, or just generally does not want anyone touching her right now (aside from you, of course), then you should probably avoid this one. Other than that, the gift of a massage is a great gesture and almost never fails.
Shopping Spree at Her Favourite Maternity Store. Unless she is due in February, she probably hasn’t stopped growing. And as she gets closer to the end and fewer of her “before” clothes no longer fit, she may want to pick up a few new shirts or sweaters. Plus, most maternity stores carry nursing-friendly clothing, which she can wear for at least the first six to eight months after the baby is born. And who doesn’t want new clothes?
3D Ultrasound. This is an ultrasound to the max. Ultrasound technology is amazing these days. 3D Ultrasound centers are not medical clinics, per say, but their technicians should be properly certified. It will run you about $100-200, but between weeks 18 and 24, you can get a clear 3D video of your baby on DVD. The other big advantage of these clinics is that they can often identify the baby’s gender when the old-fashioned hospital ultrasound can’t.
Maternity Photo Session. My wife is a huge photo nut. Not just taking pictures, but having them taken. Most wedding photography businesses are now getting smarter and have realized that the couples they photograph getting married also get pregnant. Thus the maternity photo session was born. If your wife is anything like mine, she’ll be up for it.
If you have any other Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your pregnant special someone, I’d love to hear about it.
