Ways to Involve Your Partner in Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a rollercoaster of an experience, with highs, lows, hormones, strain on the physical body, and mood swings. If you have a partner, it’s a good idea to get them involved in your pregnancy now as much as practically possible so they can share the good times and then do their bit when the going gets tough. From shop for birth plans to choosing the nursery wallpaper, there are due dates many ways to incorporate your partner during these all-important nine months and their love, care and support can ease a lot of the burden that many women feel about being pregnant. Here are a few ways to include your partner in your pregnancy.

Talk about your feelings

Pregnancy is one hell of a ride, and one that besets you both with challenges. It’s vital to communicate right from the very start of the journey, sharing fears, excitement, and all sorts of other things.  Encourage your partner to talk about their thoughts or concerns, even if they don’t directly relate to the pregnancy. Many people worry about finances, career adjustments, or their future role as a parent. Keeping the lines of communication open can help you stay connected and supportive of each other throughout the journey.

Share your News Together

Ok, so the woman in the partnership does the heavy lifting, but the man also plays a central role in the pregnancy and future childhood. It’s important to tell family, friends, and loved ones about your happy news together — some like to get creative, printing T-shirts or balloons. Whatever you choose to do, do it together, and if you’re posting online be sure to tag your partner in the post. You could even plan a baby shower for Dad — this is traditionally for expectant mothers, but why not rock the boat?

Attend Birth Classes Together

Preparing for childbirth education classes are an excellent education and power opportunity for both you and your partner. These sessions tend to include the progression of labor, breathing exercises, pain relief and what to expect upon arrival at the hospital. Some classes also offer partner-specific tips, like how to be supportive during labor and what to pack in the hospital bag. When you participate in a class with your partner, she will learn hands-on techniques for helping you and become actively involved in giving birth. In addition to classes, attending appointments with your gynecologist together can also be a powerful bonding experience. These visits give both of you a chance to ask questions, understand the baby’s development, and feel more connected to the pregnancy journey through trusted medical guidance.

Share Physical Tasks

Pregnancy is incredibly exhausting on women’s bodies and the can really struggle to do anything strenuous. It is probably important then to divide and conquer and have the male bear the brunt of the physical work but give the woman independence of action. Another thing you should do together is, make meals often times a mom can get sick of the smell of food being cooked, usually the parent-to-be will need the partner to step in and get food cooked for them.

Plan for the Future Together

Spend time imagining what your life as a new mom or dad will look like — it’s a huge difference. Discuss your philosophy of parenting, your preferences for child care, your financial and work-life balance planning. If you both feel like you can barely keep up, look into taking parenting classes, or going to counseling together and don’t be concerned, lots of couples go through this. Creating shared vision from the outset also serves to ease and connect new parents together.

Prepare the nursery 

One of the most enjoyable and creative times of pregnancy is setting up the nursery for the little arrival. Planning can be done together, although heavy lifting should be left to the partner. However, details such as colour schemes, cots, decor and other factors are fun to share in, and can bring you closer together as partners and bring a dose of colour into proceedings. 

Bond with the Baby Together

There are plenty of easy and effective ways for your partner to bond with the baby when you’re still pregnant. You can tell your younger kids and/or your partner to talk or sing or read to your belly — babies can hear and get to know voices while in utero. Give them the opportunity to feel their baby’s movements and be a part of the anticipation of important events like a kick for the first time. These rituals create early connections between baby and both parents and are cool milestones along the way.

Pregnancy is a stressful time, but that kind of stress is easier to manage when shared by two people. Don’t forget to share not just the burden, but the joy and adventure of creating a new life.