Advice to expectant fathers #3: it was all in her head
Actually, that’s not scientifically accurate during pregnancy. It looks like it’s all in her belly.
Another trivia item from The Expectant Father by Armin A. Brott:
According to Anita Holdcroft, an English anesthesiologist, women’s brains actually get 2 to 5 percent smaller during pregnancy. Explains a lot, doesn’t it. Of course, sleep deprivation after birth takes its toll too. Husbands, now that you know this, it’s probably better to keep it to yourself. After all, there’s really no nice way to tell someone that her brain is shrinking.
Okay, seriously now. Actually, what’s really happening is that the brain cells are being compressed more efficiently. There’s no actual loss of brain cells. The brain expands back again within a few months after the birth.
Food cravings:
During pregnancy, odd food cravings are perfectly normal: pickles and ice cream at two in the morning, or strawberries and garlic for breakfast. However, cravings for laundry starch, paraffin wax, or play-dough are NOT normal. So, if your wife wakes you up in the middle of the night asking for a candle to chew on, offer her a whole-grain snack, get her to sleep, and call her doctor first thing in the morning.
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