How dads can help during pregnancy

Many dads feel a little bit helpless while waiting for the baby to be born. We don’t have a uterus—so what exactly can we do to help our partners?

A lot, actually. Our partner need us now, more than ever. Here are some tips on how to give emotional support, plus little gestures that make a huge difference in making pregnancy more enjoyable and comfortable for her.

Help relieve the aches and pains

A backrub, hand massage or a foot massage can feel like heaven to a pregnant woman! Not only will it help relieve the swelling and the muscle ache (try walking around with a belly the size of a sack of rice!) but it can also help relax her when she’s worried or tired.

Take over some household chores

It can be very difficult to move around when you’ve got a big belly and the coordination of a drunk elephant. So take over the chores that require a lot of bending or squatting, like cleaning the bathroom or vacuuming under the carpet. Besides, growing a baby takes a lot of energy—saying, ‘Take a nap, sweetie, and let me clean up instead!’ sounds sweeter than any love poem you can write.

Other chores that pregnant women are more than happy to give up? Anything that involves strong smells (like filling up the gas tank) and dangerous chemicals in household cleansers. If you have a cat, take over cleaning out the litter box too, because of the risk for toxoplasmosis.

Be involved</h5.

Join the doctor’s appointments, or at least attend the important ones where you get ultrasounds. And, if you can’t go, show interest. Ask how it went, listen attentively. Go with her when she shops for baby things, or volunteer to do research on baby gadgets or furniture (like the cribs or the stroller). Be part of the birthing classes, and sign up for parenting websites or get books that will help you understand what happens during pregnancy (and what your partner may be going through).

Make her feel beautiful

Pregnancy can make many women feel fat, frumpy and uncoordinated. Woo her. Take her out to dinner, give cards and flowers, and thank her a million times for being the mother of your child.

Photo from myhealthnewsdaily.com