10 Ways You Can Support Your Wife During Pregnancy

Especially when you get into the third trimester, your wife will need all the help she can get! Don't mention if you have little children around... husband, it will be time for you to step up your game, put your selfishness to the side, and help your wife out. There's enough things going on with her physically to give her valid reason to just sit on the sidelines and deal with the pregnancy alone... but most wives want to take care of their families, make sure you have food to eat, give you sex if they're able, take care of the children while you're at work (if they're not working themselves), help you run your errands, etc.

Men, during these nine months make it an effort to assist your wife wherever you can. She's doing plenty carrying around this life inside of her. Your help will also need to go past the nine month period, but you must also consider she'll need your help during the recovery phase, and during the time she's adjusting to the newborn child... balancing a new baby into an already existing family, and yet still needing to be mom, wife, and whatever other roles she plays.

Having gone through this before (and going through this now) I have compiled some ways that you can help your wife during this transitional time of her life:

1. Give her massages regularly.

As her womb gets bigger, she'll need more and more massages to help relieve the pressure and to give her relaxation. It's not too much to ask to give her five to ten messages a day of belly rubs, or longer massages for any other area she may need massaging on.

2. Pick up the slack in the household chores, or delegate more to the children if they're of age to handle the responsibility.

If you have children that are older than six or seven, then they're old enough to handle more responsibility. It may cut into their playtime some, but they'll be alright. Just let them know that this helping mommy through the pregnancy and they may be receptive to it. If you have children that are under three it may be a little harder because more of the responsibility falls on you, husband. Not only will you have to manage the house, but also the child who may be accustomed to being around mommy a lot. Now he/she will have to be the independent child they try to be in other situations at times.

3. Treat her every once in a while to things she desires.

Your wife may ask you for small things. If it's in the budget, or not a huge inconvenience, then provide it if you can. Some have experienced their wives having extraordinary cravings during this season of their life, and that may be the case for you. My advice - ride it out.

4. Solicit help from family and friends to take care of little things if they don't mind.

If it gets to be too much for you, ask for help from family and friends. You're only a man, you're not Superman. Neither you nor your wife can handle it all, so ask for help and receive help if it is offered to you. Sometimes you may not want to impose, but if they insist on helping you, bring them up to speed on how you like things done, and then let them get to it. It's either this or pay for outsiders to come in and help you. I'd rather have people I know come and help than pay strangers.

5. Give her money to put her hair in a style she won't have to maintain very much.

Most women get their hair done at least once a month. When that woman is pregnant she isn't too interested about what style is in, she just wants something that's easy to maintain and that ideally she won't have to touch for a while. For some that's braids, for others it may be weave, and for others it may be a wig. Whatever it is, help her out by putting some money towards the style of her choice if you can. I understand if you can't as situations occur and funds aren't always what we'd like them to be. Just do the best you can.

6. Always answer her call.

Help her not to worry about you by taking her call. When she gets towards month 8 and month 9... you really need to have that phone attached to your hip ready to answer if she calls. Your new baby won't check your schedule when he/she is ready to enter the world. Your wife's water won't break when you set the alarm for it to break... these things just happen when the time is right for them to happen. Adjust your schedule accordingly. Do the same when she calls! Adjust your schedule accordingly.

7. Take care of the things you said you would so she won't have to keep reminding you.

I really believe that most wives don't mean to nag... they just want stuff to be done. You don't want your pregnant wife trying to do a job that you promised her you would do. After a point tasks such as bending over may be a challenge for her. Help her (and you) out by doing the things she asked you to do, or even doing things you see that need to get done before she mentions them to you.

8. You may have to give her occasional staycations by taking the children out for a day so she can relax.

Sleep becomes a precious commodity during the latter stages of a pregnancy, especially with infants or toddlers already in the house. She may need some days to herself where she can relax and catch up on that precious sleep. Take one for the team and take the young ones out to the park or to family or wherever you can occupy them for a good length of time.

9. Upgrade the bedroom for her.

For some women the bedroom is the sanctuary. It is where they can relax, get rest, read a book, watch television, or whatever. Not to mention, the type of material on the bed means the world. Your wife may like Egyptian cotton or organic cotton, 1000-thread count, double-thick pillows... whatever it is... if your budget permits, get her the bed of her dreams. She's the one carrying the person growing inside of her, not you man! That trumps anything you may have to deal with. Guys, to be honest, we couldn't imagine what it's like to have a person growing inside of us.

10. Forgive the swings.

If you find your wife deals with mood swings during her pregnancy, forgive them immediately. Realize that 1) not everyone deals with pregnancy the same way; 2) for her every day may be an adventure; 3) not everyone cares that she's pregnant... in other words, life still goes on. Bills still come in the mail, people still call her, children still need her, etc. So if she takes it out on you accidentally, love her through it. If you get angry, leave for a short time, come back and proceed with the day. Whatever happens, don't contribute to the ball of emotions she may be dealing with. Someone needs to be the stable one and husband it might have to be you... deal with it.