Dos for dads during pregnancy

09:19 (GMT+2), Thu, 30 August 2012

Offer assistance with tasks such as carrying grocery bags, and do some of the household chores your wife/partner previously used to do. Pregnancy is physically exhausting and the more you can do to help lighten the load, the better.
Get involved in the development of your baby; you don’t need an invitation to be a part of the process. Take an interest in and start reading up on pregnancy as well. Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, you can never stop educating yourself. When you can, go with your wife/partner to doctor’s visits to view the ultrasound scans, so that you too can have that physical reality and intellectual appreciation of your child’s identity.
For second- or third-time dads, you’ll need to almost take on the role of being both mother and father, especially as the expected due date approaches. Spend more time with your older children, offer to make their school lunches, and do the lift schemes now and then if you can. Not only will your wife/partner really appreciate it, the kids will love having you to themselves, too.
Give your wife/partner a little more tender loving care than usual. Make her a cup of tea on a Saturday morning or do something that you never used to do, so that she feels special.

By Hayley Alexander

Don'ts for dads during pregnancy

fatherhood, pregnancy, birth, Hayley Alexander