5 Tips for Keeping Dad Involved in Your Pregnancy

Sometimes pregnant women are lucky and have partners who know all the right things to say and do during pregnancy. Most dads-to-be are clueless about the changes they see before them and in some cases they may be terrified. Here are a few tips to keep your partner involved.

Prenatal visits

Ask Dad to come to prenatal visits with you if possible. If he can't take the time off work for the standard prenatal visits, make sure to include him on the special visits, such as the first time you will hear baby's heartbeat (around 10-12 weeks), and the first ultrasound. Toward the end of pregnancy, it's fun to let the midwife or doctor explain the baby's position and show Dad how to feel the baby's head, bottom and other parts by touching your abdomen.

Prenatal Classes

Take prenatal classes early in pregnancy and choose classes that focus on the entire process, not just labor and birth. The Bradley method is an excellent example and teaches about the baby's development, nutrition and ways to stay healthy during pregnancy. This method is also well known for teaching the partner to be the labor coach and will equip him with several methods for helping with pain relief during labor.

Speak to Him

It may seem obvious, but it's important to speak to your partner about your feelings, cravings, and needs during this precious time in your life. Let him know when your feet hurt and ask for a foot rub. Ask him his opinion on your birth plan and discuss the pros and cons of various childbirth methods you are considering. Don't expect him to read your mind. If you need something, let him know. If things aren't going well and you need him to step up, be specific and let him know what you need him to do.

Don't expect too much

If your partner hates shopping and decorating, don't expect him to change during pregnancy. It's okay to leave him out of unimportant decisions such as nursery decor and layette colors. The same goes for reading pregnancy books. If he's not normally a bookworm then don't be offended when he doesn't want to read books about pregnancy. Instead, choose videos or just discuss with him what you've read.

Keep the Romance Alive

Many expectant fathers are upset by the changes in their partners body and fear that once the baby arrives the romance will be gone forever. It's true that with the aches and pains pregnant women experience, sex is difficult sometimes. It's also true that once the baby arrives, it's hard to find time for romance. However, it's important to be creative and make time for intimacy with your partner often. There are many sexual positions that work well for pregnancy even in the later stages.

Sources:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/1/T010505.asp
http://pregnancy.about.com/od/forfathersonly/a/gettinginvolved.htm