How to Help Your Pregnant Wife

Helping your pregnant wife is an important process while she proceeds through a trying time during pregnancy. It's about being supportive and letting her know how excited you are and how involved you want to be after the little one arrives. The following provides some tips on how to help your pregnant wife during this process.

A Leading Spouse

Help your pregnant wife by taking the lead around the home. It could mean hauling the basket of dirty and clean clothes up and down stairs, folding laundry, and doing other chores that require a little more physical work like cleaning floors and bathrooms. Your wife probably notices the bathrooms need to be cleaned more than you do, so throw those caveman instincts aside for the time being.

Compliments

Pregnancy may develop various kinds of emotions and mood swings, so compliments can go a long way to promote a positive well-being. For instance, help your pregnant wife with some positive reinforcement and letting her know how good she looks.

Read to Your Baby

In 2003, Dr. Barbara Kisilevsky, a nursing professor of Queens University led a team of researchers and found that fetuses are capable of learning in the womb and can identify with their mother's voice prior to birth. The Queen's group also investigated whether the father's voice can be recognized. The study indicated that if prospective dads try a little vocalizing during the pregnancy, the newborn will later identify the father's voice. So, it's good to read to your baby while in the mother's womb. What's more, it creates a foundation of bonding between you, mom, and the new addition.

Excitement

It's encouraging to show some excitement about your future addition. Soon, it will no longer be just the two of you. Make an effort by telling your wife how much you're looking forward to your newborn. Show excitement by taking action. You can take the lead in preparations for the nursery and assist with shopping for the registry list.

Massage

Reducing stress can minimize mood swings, so help your pregnant wife by massaging her back and feet. Feet tend to swell during pregnancy.

Childbirth Classes

Accompanying your spouse to childbirth classes is a great way to help your wife during pregnancy. The more prevalent types of childbirth classes are Lamaze, Bradley, and Hypnobirthing. Depending on the class, each will delve into the signs of labor and how to cope with pain management. Most of all, classes will provide tips on how you can help your pregnant wife during labor.

Exercise

During pregnancy, exercise can improve sleep and help her self-image, diminish body aches and pains, and boost energy according to the experts at babycenter.com. Help your pregnant wife by taking advantage of exercising together. Go for a walk, head to the gym, or do an activity that stretches the muscles. Interestingly, the experts are also proponents of swimming for its physical and cardiovascular benefits. With the additional pregnancy weight, expecting moms will have the feeling of being weightless. Check out the following link at Best Kinds of Exercise for Pregnancy for some additional ideas. Remember to consult your treating physician if you have any questions about exercising during pregnancy.

Sources:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_seven-great-benefits-of-pregnancy-exercise_7864.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-best-kinds-of-exercise-for-pregnancy_7880.bc

http://yurimassage.com/how-to-massage-your-pregnant-wife

http://www.zju.edu.cn/english/news/2003(1-9)/news030516.htm

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/16/fetuses-found-to-have-memories/

http://www.babycenter.com/0_childbirth-classes_161.bc