Today we are featuring guest blogger, Michael. Michael and his wife, Brittany are expecting their first child a little bit later in October. Here are three things he’s learned over the last nine months.
“Pregnancy is an exciting time for a couple, but it can also be stressful because there is a lot that can be required to prepare for a baby. In addition, your partner’s body goes through many physical and hormonal changes in preparation for the birth that may affect her mood or disposition. If she is a first-time mother, she may not even be aware of all the things that are happening inside her. During these times she will need your loving support and positivity more than ever. In today’s blog, I will give you three ways you can provide your pregnant partner support.
Educate Yourself
It is difficult to provide your pregnant partner support if you don’t know what she is going through. Be intentional in learning about what she is experiencing and what changes are likely to occur throughout the pregnancy. Ask her questions about how she’s doing or what new things she is experiencing, good or bad, as she progresses in pregnancy. Additionally, learning together can be a great way to strengthen your bond while building excitement and anticipation about the arrival of your child. Being present for and active with your partner during pregnancy helps to affirm that you will be a present and active father and husband after the baby arrives. Attending childbirth classes, parenting classes, and hospital tours together are great practical ways to educate yourselves. As an added bonus, these events will teach you the signs of labor, when to go to the hospital, where to go when you get there, and what to do during labor.
Show Appreciation
Your partner is sacrificing a lot of herself for the two of you to have a child and that should not be taken for granted. A great way to acknowledge that sacrifice and show your pregnant partner support is to sacrifice in return by going out of your way to make her feel comfortable and loved. Knowing the ways in which your partner receives love and engaging her in those areas is an excellent way to show your appreciation. Similarly, if you have the opportunity to do something special for her, take advantage of it! It doesn’t need to be anything fancy or expensive but make sure it is something that she would appreciate or enjoy. As an example, earlier in my wife’s pregnancy, the nursery furniture my wife wanted was on sale but she didn’t feel like she could buy it because there was nowhere to put it. At the time, the nursery was serving as our guest bedroom, so she was becoming worried that we were going to miss out on the sale. As a result, while she was away on business, I moved the guest bedroom into the basement and got the nursery cleaned up and painted. When she got home, she felt extremely loved, and all it cost me was time and a bucket of paint.
Show Patience
As her pregnancy progresses, your partner will need more help to achieve even simple tasks such as getting out of bed. Her back may hurt, she may not be able to stand for long periods of time or walk as quickly as she did before pregnancy. Put yourself in her shoes and think about how you would want to be treated. Showing her patient compassion through these times is a wonderful way to show your pregnant partner support. In addition to the physical discomforts and changes, she may also have trouble remembering things. Dr. Louann Brizendine, MD, director of the Women’s Mood and Hormone Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco said in a WebMD article, “There is 15 to 40 times more progesterone and estrogen marinating the brain during pregnancy, and these hormones affect all kinds of neurons in the brain.” So remember to be patient with her if she asks you the same question multiple times or seems to be constantly misplacing items around the house.”
Thank you, Michael, for sharing your wisdom with other new dads and partners!