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Jason & Cami
We were on ParentProfiles.com for TWO DAYS when we were contacted. We have a great birth mom and the baby is due in January. We would have never guessed that things would happen so quickly. We are so grateful! more ...
Pregnancy According to Dad
Pregnancy according to dad is a time of intense changes, as it is for mom. Just as every system in your partner's body is affected by her pregnancy, every area of your lives will be touched by the impending arrival. First and most obvious are the physical changes. You may think your partner is the only one whose body will change, but don't bet the bank on that. Many fathers-to-be experience some of the same symptoms as mom: nausea, cramping, backache, cravings, weight gain. These sympathy syndromes can have a number of causes, but are completely normal and will disappear soon after birth.
As mom watches her diet to ensure the baby is receiving optimum nutrition, many dads will share the experience. Try new foods, skip that wine with dinner, focus on healthy foods that are good for baby, mom, and you. The effort goes beyond food. If you smoke, pregnancy is an ideal time to stop. You don't want to expose your partner and unborn baby to second-hand smoke, and with a little one on the way, you want to be as healthy as possible. Better health for your partner, and better health for you - a bonus of pregnancy, according to dad.
One of the most frequent concerns about pregnancy according to dad is the changes in your sex life. That expanding belly poses an obstacle in more ways than one, from the physical challenge to the changes in your partner's feelings about her body. This is the time for tenderness and understanding. Rub her back when it hurts. Remind her that she's still gorgeous in your eyes. Realize that if she's exhausted, emotional, and constantly battling nausea, the last thing she may want is more physical demands.
Above all, expect your partner to need you in ways you never anticipated. She'll want you to be as absorbed by the experience as she is. Plan to be with her. Hold her hand at doctor appointments, pay attention when she talks about her concerns, share in the decisions about names and diapers and nursing and cribs. It's okay if you have to force that enthusiasm at times. Pregnancy according to dad may not always be as captivating as it is for mom - but it can be a great training ground for the not-so-distant future when you'll be called to share enthusiasm for dolls, worms, or Sesame Street.
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