A pregnant lady’s nightstand, annotated
1. Water glass, for pill-taking and nighttime dry-mouth.
2. Bedside lamp, hopefully unobtrusive enough not to wake your sleeping husband when you turn it on at 3am with insomnia.
3. Prenatal vitamins that smell gross (to be taken before bed).
4. Fish oil capsules that, surprisingly, don’t smell gross (to be taken before bed and upon waking).
5. Clock to remind you that you were awake at 1am, 3:30am, 6:30am and then 9am.
6. Box of tissues. This should last you about two nights of pregnancy rhinitis.
7. Chapstick to reapply several times during the night because your mouth feels SO DRY.
8. Tums. Take one before bed, then at 3:30 when heartburn kicks in again.
9. Empty box of tissues you have hastily discarded from your nightstand.
10. A giant slew of pregnancy and child-rearing books that may or may not keep you awake at night (or, if you are lucky, they may put you to sleep).
11. A heating pad hidden under giant slew of books, to be used all night long on aching hips and upperback.
