A Guide Through Pregnancy for Dad - Make The Mother-to-be's Pregnancy More Bearable

I have observed many things along the way that have helped my wife go through pregnancy with a little more peace in mind, and have given her the confidence that I will make a good father. During this time, women are most sensitive and vulnerable, wanting to have in their minds that the father-to-be will be caring for the child with her, even before he or she is born. The good news for you worried future fathers is that I have some advice for you that will help you prove to her that you were a right choice for her to have a child with.

Take a Deep Breath and Relax!

No lady out there wants to be around a man that is constantly worried while she is pregnant. This just brings anxiety into her environment. Try your best to relax and speak softly with her. Remember that she is going through a lot of changes in her body at a rapid rate. Consequently, she will not be in the mood for constant worry. You must realize one thing: women's bodies are designed to endure the demanding task of bearing a child, making them much stronger than even you at this time. You may not believe it, but women are indeed stronger than men in this aspect.

She can Handle Herself

Unless she asks for help, do not hover over her trying to do everything she normally does. She needs space sometimes. When you see her struggling, it would be a good time to offer her some help, but if (and I stress the "if") you see her getting along well with something she is doing (and she did not ask you for any help), let her do what she must. It is good to carry on as much daily activities as possible during pregnancy without overworking oneself. If you keep on butting in and trying to help her at the inappropriate times, she will most likely feel like you are trying to prove to her that you are superior. In pregnancy, there is such a thing as caring too much.

Make sure She Eats Enough

Her eating patterns will get a little odd during the extent of her pregnancy. You will notice that she will eat more and more as the days pass. This is absolutely fine. Her child needs nourishment, and the best way to do this is by getting plenty of the right food to do so. Make sure that she eats many small meals, instead of few big meals in the day. Also, ensure that the food she eats is well-nourishing (in other words, no junk food, or snack food). However, do not flood her with advice on how to eat. Otherwise, you will just annoy her.

Go to the Doctor with Her

You should consider taking time off to go to her doctor appointments with her. First, ask her if she wants this, because sometimes she might just want to go alone. Other times, she would greatly appreciate having company. My wife was particularly nervous every time she had to go to the doctor, and I always went out of my way to make time to go with her and have a little lunch somewhere after that. Of course, not all of us have flexible schedules, but when you can, take time off for her. She will really appreciate this.

Be Mindful of Your Character

I don't know about you, but my wife got very sensitive especially in the later months of her pregnancy (like right after the first trimester). You really have to watch what you say around your lady, because she gets very sensitive at this time, and more sad than offended if you say something that would hurt her. Even if you were joking, she might take it the wrong way. For these months, just meditate on being loving company for her, and remind her with your actions, not with mere words, that you love her and you will be there for her.

Massage Her Often

As more weight starts appearing on her, she will start to get tired more often, and pains will emerge in places like her back frequently. Even if she does not ask for a massage, go ahead and offer to massage her after every long day. You should massage places like her back, her neck, her shoulders, and her feet, as these are the most affected during pregnancy. Not only that, but if she asks you to massage her somewhere else, do it! After the massage, have her lay down and caress her belly softly and kiss the baby good night.

Remind Her How Beautiful She is

Women during pregnancy sometimes feel fat or ugly because of obvious reasons. My wife's self esteem took a plunge when she approached the fifth and sixth months. It always took a little convincing to get her to go out with me. The best thing to do when a woman feels like this is tell her that in your eyes she is still the gorgeous girl she always was, and mean it! Make love to her tenderly at night when she feels up to it, and hold her in your arms after you finish. Making love will make her feel like she still is the lovely girl she always was, and she is. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, but society has taught women that it is ugly. Prove them wrong and treat her like she is beautiful.

Ultimately, women want to feel loved and in company during pregnancy. It is a natural part of life that she wants to share with you, and wants to know that you will share with her. What kind of a dad will you be if you cannot take time off for the child even before it is born? It is time you show her how responsible, caring, loving, and sensitive you are.

One more piece of advice: Do not EVER think about letting her go to the ultrasound alone. In my experience, it was worth every struggle to make time to see my own child live. I was touched by the experience greatly, and I am in peace knowing that I saw my healthy little girl right there, moving her little feet and her little hands. My wife is glad I came with her, and we are totally excited about it. It was one of the experiences that touched us before the moment that she will deliver. We expect our child to be born around mid-November. I hope my advice was helpful to all you future dads out there, making the experience easier for both young and old couples alike.