I don't own Star Trek, nor the canon characters, nor do I make any profit. However, I do observe the Ritual Of The Sacred Disclaimer.
Ritual
"I'm not listening to anymore arguments from the two of you. I'm still the captain of this vessel, which entitles me to make certain decisions. I believe this one is in everyone's best interests. Spock and Nyota, effective immediately, I am putting both of you on Beta shift. Uhura, you can sleep a little later and hopefully be over your "morning sickness" by the beginning of shift. Spock, if you're on the same shift, you can keep an eye on her most of the time. And don't go blaming Bones. He merely expressed some concerns."
Spock was standing behind Nyota, who was sitting opposite Jim in his quarters.
Nyota was steamed! She was not some delicate china doll that needed to be handled with care. Women have been having babies for millenia! They did not need men to tell them how to do it or how to take care of themselves and their babies.
Spock could feel her anger and disappointment.
"Nyota, Jim is our friend. He has done this out of concern for you and our child. Also, you will be able to work more efficiently at a time of day when you are not ill. This is a gift for us and our child, not a punishment for you."
"I know that you are right, Spock, but I still resent it a bit. It feels like he's trying to run our lives."
"Captains are entitled to do that to a certain extent. He has to consider what is best for everyone. Let us try to be gracious and thank Jim, please?"
"Captain, thank you. I know that you have the baby's best interests at heart. And mine."
"You're welcome, even if Spock did make you say that."
Spock looked at Jim questioningly.
"How did..."
"Because you always look at her with your right eyebrow raised. I've observed it for a couple of years.
Take you wife to dinner now. I'll see you two at change of shift tomorrow. "
Nyota was still annoyed when they reached their quarters after dinner, almost too annoyed to have her picture taken. She and Spock had agreed that he would snap an image of her full-body profile every two weeks for the family album. When they felt secure enough about the pregnancy to share it with their families, they could also share the photos.
Nyota rifled the closet and dressers for the perfect photo outfit, one that would fit for a long time through several "growth spurts." None of her clothes were quite right, so she started looking through Spock's.
"Ooh, these are perfect."
"My pajamas, Nyota?"
"Yep, they should fit me for quite a while. Besides, you did this to me, so why shouldn't I wear your clothes?"
"I thought it was by mutual consent..."
Nyota got a quick shower and then put on Spock's pajamas, a novelty set he had received as a gag gift from Nyota's siblings at Christmas. The pants were covered in an all-over flame print and the top was a black t-shirt which read "The Last Of The Red-Hot Lovers." A bedroom window had been left open on their wedding night, resulting in many of the couple's family and friends getting an earful.
She had to tighten the string at the waist and roll up the bottoms about 15 centimeters to keep them from dragging the floor. They looked absolutely ridiculous, but Spock thought it wise not to mention that fact. Nyota stood with her back against the archway, with her face turned toward him. She smiled and pointed to her still flat belly. Spock took the picture and put the camera away in his top desk drawer. Nyota came up behind him and nibbled his left ear.
"Nyota, perhaps this is not wise. Our concern should be for the child. We do not wish to injure him..."
"Oh, you don't think I'm sexy any more, now that I'm pregnant!"
Nyota sounded as if she might cry.
"On the contrary, that fact that you are carrying my child makes you more attractive than ever. However, I am concerned that sexual activity might harm our child."
"So you'd be willing to go most of a year without sex?"
"Nyota, it is not a prospect I relish, but I believe that it might be in our child's best interest."
"Pregnant Human women have sex all the time, Spock!" Nyota stopped stroking Spock's ears and pulled his t-shirt up, tickling his belly until he raised his arms.
"Truly?"
"Yes. Now, come to bed, Commander."
"Aye, Lieutenant."
Nyota was sleeping with a contented smile on her face. Spock was finding it very difficult to settle down and meditate. Finally, he abandoned the attempt and headed to the Officers' Lounge. He did not wish to disturb Nyota's rest.
There was only one other person in the lounge, Leonard McCoy, who was having a late-night snack.
"May I join you, Leonard?"
"Sure thing. What's got you up so late? Not a nightmare, I hope?"
Spock sat down the Doctor's table.
"No, nothing of that sort. I..."
"Oh, woman troubles. I can't help you there, kid. I'm divorced!"
"Actually, it is more of a medical issue....I..." Spock's ears and cheeks had a green tinge to them.
"A sexual medical issue."
"Yes."
"Spit it out, kid. With Jim as a friend, I've heard it all."
"Perhaps not this, I think."
"Try me."
"Nyota wanted to.... be intimate and so we were. However, I am concerned that such "activity" might injure our child."
"Spock, I'm gonna give a bit of wisdom my daddy, an old country doctor shared with me. He delivered more than 11,000 babies in his time, so I think he knew what he was talking about."
"Pregnancies are like apples. It's hard to shake a good one off a tree and there's not much you can do to keep a bad one on it. As long as you are gentle, you're not going to harm the baby. One of the benefits of pregnancy is that it makes many women "friskier" than usual. They also need reassurance that their husbands still find them attractive as their bodies are changing. If you let Nyota choose the "activities," she's not likely to do anything too risky or uncomfortable. Do yourself a favor and enjoy this time with your wife. Once the baby comes, you two are gonna have to plan ahead to make sex happen. That is, if you have the energy for it!"
"Thank you, Leonard. You are a good friend."
"Any time, kid. Glad to help."
Spock took Bones' advice to heart. He catered to Nyota's every need, physical and emotional. He helped her through her morning sickness, even researching acupressure points on the inside of the wrist that helped prevent nausea. He made sure that she had crackers and ginger ale by the bed in the morning and he also learned how to administer her anti-rejection meds so that she wouldn't have to go to sickbay.
Every other Friday, they took a picture of Nyota in Spock's "Red-Hot Lover" pajamas.
Every night, whether Spock was planning on sleeping or just meditating, he would place a hand on Nyota's belly and talk to his son. Then Spock would kiss him goodnight, just as he had done the first night they had learned of the pregnancy.
On the Friday of the twelfth week, Nyota giggled when he kissed her belly.
"What do you find so amusing, beloved?"
Nyota ran her fingers through her husband's silky black hair.
"Only you, my husband. You say that you aren't religious, but this has become a ritual for you, almost like a prayer. It's become a ritual for me, too, a reminder that we've made it one more day. I find it very comforting."
"Then I shall continue the practice."