Introduction
Pregnancy is an exciting and transformative journey for both the parents-to-be. But it can also be stressful, especially for the mother, with morning sickness, a rollercoaster of emotions, and a fear of labor.
If the husband is involved and supports his wife throughout, pregnancy can be managed well.
In this article, let us discuss in brief the husband responsibilities during pregnancy.
12 Important Husband Responsibilities during Pregnancy
Husband responsibilities during pregnancy include:
1. Emotional Support
The pregnancy hormones can make the mother feel a roller coaster of emotions, along with extreme mood swings and anxiety.
The husband responsibilities during pregnancy is to support his wife emotionally and listen to her without judging her.
Try to be a little more patient and sensitive to her emotions than usual. Even if she shouts out, calm her down and talk to her gently.
She already has a lot on her plate, and if she is a working woman, the stress she has is huge.
She might be stressed and overwhelmed by other factors including attending to calls, running errands, people commenting about her body and dealing with unsolicited advice.
Although you can’t be with her at all times, ensure that she is doing okay, both physically and mentally. It is the husband’s responsibility during pregnancy to take care of the wife and not let anyone else hurt her.
2. Stay Calm
As a father-to-be, handling all of this along with your job can be difficult.
But the husband responsibilities during pregnancy are also to stay calm and avoid any fights and miscommunications with her, even if she throws a tantrum.
It is easier said than done, but she is also new to pregnancy, and with the acting hormones, she definitely needs your help.
3. Household chores
Doing household chores is a huge responsibility, especially during pregnancy.
If you already have a child, help her with the chores of the child, such as getting the child ready, putting the child to bed, and preparing food for the child.
The husband can lend extra help in doing other household chores, such as washing the dishes after cooking and cleaning the house while she rests.
4. Health
The husband responsibilities during pregnancy also includes monitoring what she eats and how well she sleeps.
Pregnancy cravings are real, make sure that she eats healthy, home-cooked food most of the time.
Take extra care with the food that you order from outside, and ensure that the restaurant you order from is clean and hygienic.
You can keep track of her diet chart and prepare some healthy snacks, such as fruits, nuts, and some salad.
5. Spending time together
Spending quality time with the wife while she is pregnant is something that she will remember throughout her life.
Talk to her about her day: With your busy schedule, even if you just spend 10 minutes a day talking to her about each other’s day, it is a good idea to spend some quality time with her.
Watch a movie together: If you and your wife are both movie buffs, watching her favourite movie with some snacks on the side can brighten up her day.
Bonding with the baby: The baby can hear noises around them from about 24 weeks of gestation. So the baby’s bond with the parents begins while it is still in the womb.
You can spend a few minutes every day talking to the baby. This is one of the best ideas to spend quality time with your wife and your soon-to-be born baby.
Talking about the baby is one of the most exciting things for a couple. Discuss the baby’s names and other things about the baby, such as the theme of the nursery, guessing the baby’s gender, and so on.
Cook with her: Cooking can be a hectic chore sometimes. Preparing meals together can be a great bonding activity too.
Insist on going shopping with her: With her growing belly, most of her clothes wouldn’t fit well. So taking her shopping and buying stuff for her will, for sure, make her feel better.
6. Talk about your concerns
It is understandable that you, as a father-to-be, might not know everything about how she would feel and might have certain concerns and questions.
The mental health of both partners is equally important, so it is necessary to express your concerns to her as well.
Talking to her and asking questions is also a good idea to get to know how she feels.
But do not make this an argument, as stress can only cause more harm than good to the mother and the baby.
7. Prepare yourself to be a dad
While she is pregnant, take the time to learn more about parenting. Prepare yourself for how to be a good dad and how you can support your wife postpartum.
Once the baby is born, you will not have time for this. So talk to your friends or family who have kids and get ideas from them.
8. Decision Making
While labor is one of the most difficult things, it is important to be prepared for making decisions.
For example, in emergency situations during labor, you may have to opt for a certain type of delivery, which can be a shock for her.
So talk to her beforehand and discuss it with her. While she is in labor, taking decisions for her and the baby is in your hands. So be bold and make the required decisions that are good for your family.
9. Be present for doctor visits
It is the responsibility of the husband during pregnancy to be present for all her routine checkups and ultrasounds, which really matters a lot to her.
Going to checkups can be stressful for her, especially if she has some complications.
When you accompany her to all the doctor visits, it gives her a sense of support and a feeling that she isn’t alone.
10. Educate yourself
Educate yourself about pregnancy and keep track of her medical updates. Ensure that she takes all her medicines and supplements on time.
When you get to read more about pregnancy, you can understand how she feels, which can end a lot of misunderstandings and fights between you both.
11. Walk together
Another important husband responsibilities during pregnancy is to have some sort of physical exercise during pregnancy, as long as the gynecologist approves of it.
While she is taking a walk, accompany her. If she is doing yoga or other forms of physical exercise, do it along with her. This way, you can build a bond as a couple and also with the baby.
12. Appreciate her
Give her compliments whenever you can. She might not have the time and energy to take care of herself and perform her day-to-day routine like before.
Instead of complaining, compliment and appreciate her even for her minimal efforts. It can make her feel so valued and induce a positive emotion within her.
It the one of the top husband responsibilities during pregnancy to appreciate her even for the smallest things she does.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is an important journey for not just the mother-to-be but also for the father-to-be.
While it is understandable that there are a lot of things on the father’s plate, it is still important for him to be there for the mother, support her throughout the journey, and welcome their baby with happiness and love.
The mother-to-be is already going through a lot of emotions and pain, and husband responsibilities during pregnancy are crucial.
For an appointment with the best gynecologist and fetal medicine specialist in Chennai Dr. Deepthi Jammi, contact Jammi Scans at 7338771733.
Chennai women’s clinic is now Jammi Scans.
FAQ:
1. Can anger affect a baby in the womb?
Too much anger and stress can affect the mother’s eating and sleeping habits, which in turn can affect the baby. So, control your anger and stress as much as you can. Try doing yoga and meditation to control stress.
2. How do I take care of my pregnant wife?
- Talk to her and ask about how she feels.
- Reassure her that you are there with her and that she is not alone in this.
- Cook with her and help with the household chores.
- Be present for all the hospital visits.
- Monitor her water and food intake.
- Make her feel special.
- Stand up for herself.
3. Why am I so angry at my husband while pregnant?
Pregnancy is a time when their emotions are all over the place. Due to hormonal changes, many women experience anxiety and mood swings, which might result in you getting angry at your husband. Try talking with him about the things that are bothering you and asking for his help.
4. Can babies feel when mom is sad?
Yes, the mother’s stress and anger release certain stress hormones, such as cortisol, which the baby can sense.
