Strange Bedfellow

For the past month, I've had a new sleeping partner. It's big and white and fluffy...
and shaped like this:
And takes up one-third of the bed...
It's a Body Pillow!
Actual size:
(That's an adult in that picture, by the way.)

Why would anyone need a pillow that big you ask? Because it helps to support the fifteen extra pounds protruding out of anyone's pregnant belly. A common question for pregnant people: What's the best sleeping position? The answer from BabyCenter.com:

Although there's no real harm in sleeping on your right side, lying on your left side is actually good for you and your baby: It improves the flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta and it helps your kidneys efficiently eliminate waste products and fluids from your body.

During the second half of pregnancy, avoid sleeping on your back, a position that puts the full weight of your uterus on your spine, back muscles, intestines, and the inferior vena cava (the vein that transports blood from your lower body to the heart).

Wifey's used to sleeping on her back, so sleeping on her side took some getting used to. Strangely enough, when she lies on her right side, the baby starts to kick and prevents her from sleeping. When she shifts to her left side, he calms down. The little guy must be reading articles from BabyCenter too.

Growing Pains

A few days ago, wifey was getting some abdominal pains. Pains usually come and go, but this one was lasting for quite a while. Pain relief can't come in a bottle for pregnant women, so we had to open up a book for some advice. The answer in this case came from the essential "What to Expect When You're Expecting."

"I'm very worried about the abdominal pains I've been getting on the sides of my pelvis.

"What you are feeling is probably the stretching of muscles and ligaments supporting the uterus - something most pregnant women experience.The discomfort may be crampy or sharp and stabbing... may be brief or may last for several hours. As long as the pain is occasional and not persistent there's no cause for concern. Getting off your feet and resting in a comfortable position should bring some relief."

At the sixth month, it's good to know that pain wasn't anything serious. If you're the male half in this situation, do what you can to prop her up with pillows to find the ideal position for her, that minimizes stretching of her abdominal area. Sitting up in bed was helpful, in this case. But don't say "I know what you're going through." She probably won't buy that.

Happy Baby New Year

Happy New Year!

Since this blog is about babies, and it's the New Year, it's only appropriate that we explore that phenomenon known as "Baby New Year."

In modern times, you'll hear the first baby born past the stroke of midnight to be the Baby New Year. In ancient Greece, a baby was paraded around in a basket during the New Year in festival devoted to the god of wine. The Germans upheld the image of a diapered baby New Year and brought it over to America in the 14th Century. In the 70's, a giant-eared Baby New Year, named "Happy," was captured in glorious stop-motion, chased by a vulture and rescued by Rudolph:And just last year, Baby New Year became a hoax virus.

I foresee 2008 to be a year of much learning and new experiences. I hope it brings for you as many new surprises as it does for us! But with less drool and poo.