So you’ve just shouted “my wife is pregnant!” from your living room window but nobody’s turned up with some smelling salts and a chair yet. Fear not, for help is at hand in the form of this handy guide for dads-to-be.
First things first, congratulations! Welcoming a whole new person into the world is a huge deal, and if this is to be your first child, your life is about to be turned upside down.
If this isn’t your first child, then get outta here! You already know the drill. Your new child will just keep you suspended in this upside down world for a little bit longer.
My Wife is Pregnant! What Do I Do Now?
Count Your Bedrooms
I don’t want to panic you, but if you count the number of your house’s bedrooms on your fingers, but don’t get past your first thumb, you’ve got some work on your hands.
Babies all differ in how comfortable they are in their own room, but on average, you’ve only really got a maximum of 12 months from birth before they really need to be looking at their own bedroom. Beyond that, and you’ll struggle to get them out of your bedroom further down the line.
If you need to move to a bigger place, you’d better get looking on Rightmove now! Moving home is a chore, but it’s ten times harder with a baby in tow.
Brush Up On Your Culinary Skills
Baby eats whatever Mummy eats, so you’ll want to ensure that they’re both getting the most nutritional and healthy meals that they can. Problem is that women often find that their tastes can change considerably during pregnancy, meaning that your signature spag bol might be the last thing she wants to eat, even if she previously loved it.
Now’s the time to expand your culinary repertoire. Your significant other may well fancy some meals that you’ve never cooked before. Head to Google or dust off those old cookery books!
Healthy Supplements for Pregnant Women
Pregnancy causes plenty of changes in the body. Some of them make women feel more uncomfortable than others. If there are solutions to reduce the discomfort, don’t let your wife suffer. Probiotic supplements for women, for example, can aid with digestion, vaginal pH regulation, and urinary tract health. Consult your doctor if these or other nutritional supplements will help your wife feel more comfortable throughout the pregnancy without jeopardizing her or the baby’s safety.
Go Zen
Your wife is about to have a surge of hormones racing around her body. It’s possible (although not definite, don’t @ me), that your other half might be a little spikier than usual at some point. Try not to get her back up by arguing with her though.
Stress is bad for the baby. Just let whatever it is go, find a quiet spot and meditate or something.
Step Back From Your Hobbies
Us men all have things that make us quirky, and while your wife might love those things, it’s not just about you anymore. Gaga for Fornite battles with your buddies? Reign them in. Hop in the campervan every now and then for a spontaneous boys weekend? Sell the campervan. Your wife is about to give you the greatest gift of all. Plus, you might actually make some money!
Eye Tests
Women’s eyesight can change significantly when they’re pregnant. When I used to work in optics, I routinely advised pregnant women to hold off getting new glasses until after their baby was born. It’s just a waste of money. Your wife’s prescription could be quite different after the birth compared to when she’s carrying the baby.
See the section above though; if you’ve got the money and her vision has altered enough for it to become a problem, it may be worth plumping for a temporary pair to avoid any stress.
Disclaimer: I’m no medical professional. If you’re worried about your peepers, it’s still best to see your optician or GP.
Related: Things New Dads Can Do to Help Out Mum
Make Time for Appointments
Your wife is about to get several appointments for medical checks along her pregnancy. If this is your wife’s first baby, then she’s probably pretty nervous. I know I was, and I wasn’t even having to push anything out!
Try to get time off work or rearrange other commitments if you can. You’ll want to be there anyway, especially for the gender scan and any other ultrasounds that allow you a sneak peek of your little one. These are moments that should be shared with one another.
Of course, some mums may not want you anywhere near the appointments. When in doubt, always revert to the ‘no stress’ rule.
Decorate
Since it is to welcome the birth of your baby then your decoration must be more exquisite to express your love for your baby, children are always curious about something special, custom neon signs can not only add atmosphere and beauty to your bedroom, but also attract the attention of small children to stimulate the desire of exploration and curiosity, you can light up the bedroom with rich colors. Neon lights are ideal for bedroom decorations, home decorations, any style you can think of, any light color that meets your design needs, custom neon lights, can give full play to your creativity.
Stay Sober!
You may like a wee tipple on the weekends, but as you get closer to the due date, you might want to rein that in.
If your wife goes into labour on a Saturday night, the last thing she needs is having to drive because you’ve had one too many Guinnesses. Your wife has had to stay dry for the whole of her pregnancy, you can last a few weekends.
Quit Smoking!
C’mon man, it’s a filthy habit anyway. No amount of smoking in the garden will stop the dangerous toxins attaching to the fabric of your clothes. Once you hold your baby, your little one is exposed to any smoke stuck to your top.
Nope, don’t think that you’ll be alright. Your sense of smell and taste are already shot, you filthy smoker; you can’t tell when you stink of cigarettes anyway. Begone foul weed!
Prepare some gifts
An expectant-mum gift is the perfect way to show your partner how much you love and appreciate her during pregnancy. Look for personalisation services that allow you to customise some small gifts for your partner and kids, such as a lapel pin or custom coins. These can be designed with any idea you may have, be that your partner’s name, or even a photo of you together. The pin can be used to decorate bags or hats to announce to everyone that you’re expecting a baby. Little gifts such as these are a symbolic token of the bond between the father and mother. Check out ViVipins website to create your own challenge coin.
My Wife is Pregnant! Hold the Smelling Salts
Now instead of yelling “my wife is pregnant !” in a panic, you can now shout it from the rooftops with pride, as you hopefully now know a little bit more about what’s expected of you. Enjoy it. It’s an exciting time, and it’s about to get a whole lot crazier!
Great post. “Count your bedrooms” hit home for me. When my wife was pregnant with our second child, we had to decide whether to turn the home office into a bedroom (not a good option in pandemic times) or add a room by finishing the basement. After several months of DIY-ing and spending entirely too much money, the basement is finished.
I’d add “Take a Vacation” to the list. Before our first child, I think I under-anticipated how LONG it was going to be until we had time away with each other again.
Very true! We were only just starting to get some time to ourselves again after having my son, when my daughter came along to put us straight back to square one!