You've given her the shoulder massages and back rubs. You've bought her a cute pair of pajamas with a flexible waistband. You've taken her out to dinner half a dozen times. But it's only the fourth month and you feel like you're out of ideas. Take heart. There are plenty of fun, simple ways to keep your wife smiling from the first month to the last – and none of them have to break the bank!

Over the course of the pregnancy it may become increasingly difficult for her to find a comfortable sleeping position. Buy an anthology of stories or poems, and read her something each night before bed. It will distract her from being uncomfortable and prepare you for becoming a nightly storyteller. Select your material logically. Amy Tan's latest is probably a good choice. Stephen King's is probably not.

Buy her a good professional shampoo and conditioner (this doesn't mean Pert Plus). Wait until she steps into the shower, and then join her. Shampoo her hair for her, making sure to include a long, luxurious temple massage. If you're not confident in your technique, get a massage with your next haircut and pay close attention. Your wife will be the beneficiary of your newfound skills.

Wait until she's out one afternoon, and give the house a serious once-over. This doesn't mean sweeping dirt into corner piles or wiping tables using the helicopter method you learned at camp. It means vacuuming along the edges, scouring the oven and, yes, mopping the floors. If you think this amounts to pampering the house instead of her, watch the reaction on her face.

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