Pregnant Movie Night

It's the time of year that brings cocoa or hot apple cider to mind. A fire is burning in the fireplace and temperatures outside have dropped. For expectant mothers – where proper rest is essential to the development of a growing baby – an evening like this can be completed with a warm and cozy pair of pajamas, a few good snacks, your partner and the perfect movie.

Now is the time to relish evenings like these. Once your little one arrives it will be harder to carve out time for yourself or watch a movie with your spouse without interruptions.

Begin your evening of relaxation with a movie delivered right to your door. With the convenience of online DVD rental services such as Netflix and Blockbuster, you don't have to worry about fighting traffic and crowds at the movie rental store. Simply browse the company Web sites, make your selections online and have them delivered to your door with the click of a button. Or if you have TiVo or a DVR option through your local cable service, record some choice movies ahead of time. Below are a few suggestions for whatever fits your mood:

Some good movies that deal with the roller coaster of emotions during pregnancy are Nine Months with Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore, Riding in Cars with Boys with Drew Barrymore, Father of the Bride II with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, Three Men and a Baby with Ted Danson, Tom Selleck and Steve Guttenberg and She's Having a Baby with Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern.

"I find that when I'm pregnant, I don't watch baby movies so much as baby shows, such as Birth Day on the Discovery Health Channel and any program about the development of the fetus," says Melanie Nilles, a mom from North Dakota. "I get tears in my eyes watching them, but it's so marvelous to see what's going on inside."

Or, if you'd rather take a mental break from your pregnancy, you can always choose a classic romantic comedy like When Harry Met Sally with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal – which is a good wintertime movie since many scenes take place during Christmas and New Year's Eve – or The Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. Bed of Roses with Christian Slater and Mary Stuart Masterson and While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock are also good choices in the romance department.

If you're looking for a comedy that involves humor mixed with the bittersweet aspects of parenting, Parenthood with Steve Martin is a good choice, as well as The Family Stone with Sarah Jessica Parker and Diane Keaton or Click with Adam Sandler.

Stephanie Nixdorf from Huntersville, N.C., who is expecting her second child, lists Meet the Fockers as one of her favorite movies to watch during pregnancy. "I loved the baby sign language stuff and breastfeeding jokes too," she says.

Be careful not to let your relaxing night get cut short by choosing the wrong type of movie. If there are certain movies that are quick to bring you to tears (can we say Terms of Endearment, anyone?) it's probably best to avoid them this time around.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.