How to Be an Involved Father During Pregnancy
Being an involved father during your partner's pregnancy is one of the most important things you can do. Staying involved allows your partner to feel safe, loved and cared about. She will be delighted at how involved you are and it will make you a unique part of the pregnancy and bonding experience from the very beginning. The following steps should help get you on your way.
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Instructions
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Be open about your feelings and concerns with your partner. Your partner isn't the only one allowed to say how she feels. Keep the communication open and share what is on your mind too.
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Talk to your partner honestly about sex. Find out if there are any positions that are extremely uncomfortable for her or that she wants to try differently. Pregnancy alters hormones and can also put a lot of pressure on her cervix, so she may not find the old positions comfortable any longer.
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Massage your partner's belly. Using light touch over her skin, called "effleurage," will probably encourage the baby to shift around and roll right beneath your fingers.
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Talk to and play with your baby. Babies love to hear voices and the amniotic fluid that your baby is in acts as a conducer to sound. Your baby will not only recognize your voice, but will respond to it after he is born.
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Go with your partner to her doctor visits and ultrasound appointments. The doctor will use a doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat and it will be audible to you too. Attending the ultrasound appointment will be a special time for you and your partner as you get to see your baby moving around.
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Attend prenatal classes together. No matter which type of class you attend, you will learn lots of great information about pregnancy and birth. You will learn about different positions, coping techniques, medicinal varieties and newborn care. It will help you and your partner create a stronger bond and help you to become a solid support for her during labor.
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Throw your partner a blessingway party. A blessingway is a party specifically designed for the mother, unlike a baby shower. A blessingway honors the mother and respects her journey to motherhood. Family and friends bring gifts and blessings during this time of "motherhood" celebration.
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Plan to do a bellycast one evening. Bellycasts are a great way for you and your partner to bond with the baby while creating a lifetime memory of how her belly looked with baby inside. It's a fun activity and is very easy to do.
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Read and share books about pregnancy and parenting. Sharing the books will ensure that you are able to discuss with her different styles and ideas. She will appreciate the fact that you are learning with her.
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Create a birth plan together. Birth plans are a unique way to figure out what you would like to do during the labor and delivery if no complications arise. This can also be a fun activity to plan together and decide how you want to work together as a team.
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Talk to other fathers. There are lots of new fathers who are looking for companion dads. It is a good idea to share male bonding time, and you may even be able to learn or teach something new. You can also plan daddy outings after the baby arrives to give Mom some much needed rest.
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Tips & Warnings
Be kind, gentle and compassionate with your partner.
Expect mood swings as the hormones balance in her pregnancy.
Be involved and aware of what is going on with her and baby.
