what dads need to know about pregnancy?

(July 7, 2010)

Pregnancy For Dads

It is important for fathers to be part of the pregnancy as it will help better the father-child bond when the baby is born and it will help the prospective mother through an extremely difficult phase. It helps to be well informed about the different tests that she has to undergo and make it a point to go with her for her doctor’s appointments and if possible for the Lamaze classes as well. One of the most troublesome things young mothers suffer from is morning sickness that can leave them irritable throughout the day. It would help to keep plastic bags, bottles of cool water and mint at hand to help her during this difficult phase. Make sure she has a protein snack by her bedside table at night or a light breakfast to battle the morning nausea. Toast and orange juice form an ideal breakfast and you may want to avoid creating smells that make her nauseous. This can vary from the smell of onions to even smoking and you may want to quit completely in the light of the child’s health. Keep alcohol out of the way and focus on making the house as safe as possible for your partner to move around as well as for the child as she or he grows.

Help your partner eat a healthy diet and this involves fruits, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, milk and milk products, lean meat, fish, and whole grains. Don’t force her to eat if she’s nauseous, but keep the food for later and give it to her when she feels better. Since the mother’s body is preparing for delivery, she may go through a lot of physical changes that she may not be comfortable with such as swollen ankles and increasing body mass. Be supportive and do not point out the obvious to her. Her sleeping hours may go haywire and she may feel excessively tired. It would help to take care of work around the house and look after the older children if any. If all the ultra sounds are in order and there are no complications, there is nothing to be worried about. But if the mother complains about abdominal or pelvic pain and severe back pain, you must mention this to your doctor immediately. These could sometimes be a symptom of a premature delivery or even an ectopic pregnancy and will require medical intervention as soon as possible.

Submitted by P T on July 7, 2010 at 04:21