While everyone is busy preparing for the arrival of his or her little bundle of joy, the one person who should not be forgotten is the husband. Yes, he will no longer be able to do what he used to do with ease because there will be another human being in this world whose needs need to be taken care of first before they can take care of anyone else’s. However, if you are a soon-to-be daddy and want to know some things that might happen during pregnancy that you should prepare for, read on: Five pregnancy-related issues husbands should get prepared for.
She may have bizarre cravings
One of the most common pregnancy symptoms is a new and unusual appetite. A wife may suddenly develop cravings she has never had before, or she may start craving foods that are unhealthy or expensive, or hard to find or prepare. If you’re lucky enough to have a partner who never went through this phase herself, it will be helpful for her to understand how important it is for you not to judge her for these cravings—especially if one of them happens to be deep-fried lard balls.
If you’re married to someone who has been a pregnant mom before, though, there’s no need for you two to panic: she knows what’s going on and what kind of support she needs from you during this time. She just needs some extra reassurance from time to time (and maybe an occasional hug). As a husband, you will try to respond to her needs, but the truth is that you will not be able to answer everything. In this case, it is important to be gentle and understanding. This is what a woman needs most when she is pregnant because she feels that no one understands her.
She may experience sexual changes
Sex, or lack thereof, is one of the most common pregnancy struggles. Conflicting hormones and a body that feels foreign to you can make sex feel uncomfortable at best, and painful at worst.
- You should be prepared for this change and not take it personally if she doesn’t want to be intimate with you (or does so very little). You might think this would be easier if your wife was having twins or triplets; but even then, sex may not be on her mind all that much.
- If the two of you are interested in working on your relationship during this time period, consider scheduling some time together where no kids are around (this could mean taking a night off from parenting responsibilities or making sure everyone’s asleep for an hour). That way it’s just about connecting as husband and wife.
Your wife may have to spend a lot of time resting in the early months
Of the many things your wife may be feeling during her pregnancy, rest will probably be one of them. Rest is essential to a healthy pregnancy and can help prevent complications from developing.
During the first trimester, she might need to take it easy more often than usual—and even avoid physical activity altogether if her doctor recommends doing so. She may also need to give up on any stressful activity or situation that could prompt a miscarriage (like carrying heavy objects). However, it is absolutely essential that pregnant women stay fit as extra fat stored in the body may cause various problems for the baby. It’s also important not to eat anything that has been linked with food poisoning. So stay away from raw eggs, undercooked meat, and shellfish during this time period.
One should have understanding for the woman and help her in the jobs she used to do. You may need to clean the house more often, cook, or do the repairs she used to do. Maybe your wife won’t even be able to work during this period, so the financial responsibility will be entirely yours. That is why we always say that it is important to prepare for pregnancy.
Her body will change, but so will her habits during the day
You’ve probably noticed that your wife’s skin has become more elastic. Stretch marks are very common and they’re not a sign of poor health, but a natural result of pregnancy. They can appear anywhere on the body but are most common around the abdomen and breasts.
They’re also not permanent; stretch marks will fade after pregnancy as your wife’s body returns to its normal shape and size. There is no evidence that stretch marks are contagious or caused by weight gain or lack thereof—so even if your wife has gained some weight since becoming pregnant, don’t worry about the stretch marks too much (if at all).
Also, due to excess weight, sleep problems can be expected. Sleeping can be complicated, with frequent awakenings. Snoring is also very common in pregnancy. You may decide to sleep separately for a while so that your wife can really rest. When snoring, customized mouth guards that are worn to enable easier breathing help a lot.
There’s no telling what mood she will be in from day to day
You’re going to have to get used to your wife’s moods changing day by day. The pregnancy hormones that are running through her body will also be affecting her mood. It can be hard to predict what kind of person she’ll be when you wake up in the morning.
She could feel great and ready for the day. But then a phone call from her mom will set off an hour-long crying jag fueled by hormones. You don’t know what’s going on. But when she comes back from their conversation, she’ll tell you about how upset she was about something that happened. 20 years ago at camp when she was eight years old—a story that your wife has never told anyone else in the world before this moment (and probably won’t again). You don’t really understand why this makes her so sad. But there’s nothing left for you to do other than hold her hand until she stops crying and goes back into the bathroom where she puts on makeup because apparently “it just makes me feel better”.
We hope you found this article helpful and are excited to see your wife through her pregnancy journey. As we said before, the most important thing for you as a husband is to be patient and understanding throughout all of these stages. It’s not easy for any man–but if you love her enough, it will get easier as time goes on!