13 Ways a Husband Can Take Care of His Wife During Pregnancy

Expecting a child is one of the most exciting experiences of a married couple's life. It can also be extremely stressful. The physical, hormonal and emotional changes that come with pregnancy can be quite overwhelming. In the olden times, there used to be a joint family, where elders would take care of their daughter-in-law or their daughter, so the husband need not worry much for his wife’s health, but now in this modern age, the family pattern has changed; emphasis is now on nuclear families.

For a pregnant wife, carrying and giving birth to a baby is very exciting. However, it is the time where more care and support is needed because being a pregnant wife is tough. Seeing what your wife goes through certainly should make you appreciate her better and womanhood in general. Being a would-be dad, it is essential to give love, affection and care to your pregnant wife starting from conception to delivery. As a wife wishes her husband to share every incident that occurs during pregnancy, it is your responsibility to play a supportive role during this high-stress period and try your best to make her free from stress and troubles. Guiding and encouraging your pregnant wife during pregnancy is one of your main duties as a husband. Below are some of things you can do to help:

1. At the outset of the pregnant, talk to your wife about how she envisions her pregnancy. She would be going through lot of emotions –encourage her to talk to you about it because some women may regard it as challenging nine months of their lives while others regard it as nine months of bliss. Ask her how she is feeling or what she’s experiencing.
2. Pregnancy is a difficult phase in a woman’s life, but can be made less tough if you are there to look after her needs, and be there emotionally as well as physically to make this time a bit easier for her. Make sure you are there for your wife for all nine months. Ask your wife what you can do to help. Listen to what she says and take notes. Since she will feel differently every month during the pregnancy, it is good to check in each month with the same question. Her needs will change over time and so will your duties.
3. Educate Yourself. Read some books on pregnancy. A lot of men find the pregnancy process a little bewildering. Not knowing what to do, some husbands end up nervously backing away instead of stepping up the support when their women need them the most. When your wife is expecting her first child, buy some books on pregnancy for both of you to read. Try to read it together so you can discuss things and make decisions. The more you know about what she’s going through, the better you can anticipate her needs. Watch videotapes, listen to audiotapes, check out the Internet, or read books about prenatal development, and becoming a parent. Go to classes that will teach you and your partner about childbirth. The more you know about what she’s going through, the better equipped you are to empathize and know how to help.
4. Pay attention to her sleep patterns. Whenever possible, be sure to allow her to get additional sleep. She may be sleeping longer than normal because she needs as much sleep as possible. Pregnancy is physically and emotionally demanding, so don’t burden your pregnant wife with any unneeded pressure. Take on more of the household chores so your wife can rest. However, sleeping will become a more and more uncomfortable as your wife gets further along in her pregnancy because it becomes difficult falling asleep when you’re getting punched and kicked from the inside.
5. Reassure Her. If she is scared of upcoming labor and childbirth, let her know that you know she is capable and will have no problems. If she worries about impending motherhood, let her know you have absolute confidence that she is going to be a wonderful mother and that the two of you will figure it out together.
6. Accompany her to doctor appointments. Even if you are busy at work –make the time to attend at least some if not all her doctor appointments. First, it shows your pregnant wife that you’re with her all the way in the pregnancy. While you may not love the idea of sitting in a waiting room for forty five minutes and then sitting through the appointment –your wife will love that you did. Second, you’ll know exactly what’s going on with her pregnancy and will be better prepared to help her. Pay close attention to what the doctor says at these visits. Limited sleep, sore muscles, and worrying about something the doctor said will try anyone’s patience.
7. Encourage your pregnant wife to take any prescribed medicines on time and have a balanced diet. Picking up a few of the chores is a simple thing to do, but it means a lot to a woman who has spent the whole day feeling nauseated and tired. As a husband, spend more time with your wife by playing an active role in the kitchen or in other duties, especially at the end of the working week when she’s likely to be exhausted. Keep the kitchen well-stocked with lot of food items, as she may have cravings to eat a particular food item that she loves. Learn to cook and surprise her by preparing some favorite dishes for her. The diet for a pregnant should include a variety of nutritious foods such as vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and lots of water. Focus on eating calcium, iron and folic acid foods, as they help prevent birth defects and provides healthy environment for the baby. Everyone knows food is important to pregnant women. Encourage her to have milk twice in a day to overcome possible calcium deficiency, and see to it that she eats more proteins than the normal women; she should not suffer from iron deficiency as it can lead to being anemic when childbirth arrives. Encourage her to drink plenty of water, as it will benefit a lot of both mother and baby.
8. Try to be sensitive about her new lifestyle, and encourage her to drop some habits that may be detrimental to her and her baby. Explain to her about the dangers that arise with smoking, alcohol consumption and unnecessary usage of drugs during pregnancy. Never smoke in the presence of your wife, as the health of your baby depends on your wife’s health, too.
9. Be Affectionate. Draw her bath every night and give her a foot rub. No matter what, shower her with hugs and kisses whenever she needs them. When she worries about gaining weight, getting rounder, getting stretch marks, or other body changes, remind her that she still looks beautiful to you. Over the course of her pregnancy you can shower your wife with gifts that will help her cope with pregnancy. Give her flowers often. Tell your wife how beautiful she is and how much you love her. Affirm your unwavering dedication to her each and every day.
10. Help your partner stay healthy during pregnancy. Encourage her to implement a simple exercise routine. Walk or swim together. Both are safe exercises and provide time together and direct her to practice regularly, so that your pregnant wife may feel more healthy and energetic all the day. Exercising regularly helps tone muscles and provides a healthy baby with safe delivery.
11. Help her get your house ready for your little one's arrival. Go with your wife to shop for baby clothes, choose a crib and pick the colors for the nursery. Preparing is fun for moms-to-be; enjoy the experience with her.
12. Be understanding. Try to cheer her up when depressed, calm her down when irritated, and be affectionate when she feels insecure. Stress can be very harmful to both mother and baby. Try to spend quality time with her and keep her happy. Your wife will be going through a lot of emotional exhaustion and she may cry for silly reasons. Instead of losing temper at this time, be extra nice to her.
13. Maintain personal hygiene. Pregnant women become hypersensitive to smells. Even scents she once enjoyed can now start her stomach churning and could lead to vomiting. So brush your teeth and shower daily, or she may not be able to stand having you around.