My wife has a strong personality. Actually, this would be an understatement. She has never taken anything lying down. She also has a great sense of humour. People who know her well know that she can laugh at herself. Paired with her fierce independence, she ends up being a role model for young girls.
But all of this changed when we saw the two pink lines on the pregnancy stick, announcing her pregnancy. The era of careless remarks was about to end! That said, this new phase was great, and both of us have some good memories of pregnancy.
I have compiled a list of ‘potential danger zones’ you should be aware of as a husband.
# 1 Never ever pass a comment on her size
She is pregnant. The woman is going to have cravings or nausea. She may eat more than you or she may eat as much as a five-year-old So the weight gain is not going to go as you anticipate. A woman would typically put on 8-18 kilos of weight during those nine months. That is what roughly you may have put on since you left the college!
Keep a tab on the health and growth of the baby, and the rest is alright. If there is an excessive weight gain, your doctor will alert you. Otherwise, remember that she knows about the changes, you need not point them out.
# 2 Be careful what you joke about
You may have some private jokes going on, but test them first like the doctor tests your allergies. Start with a small test dose and then proceed. That said, stay away from joking about nausea and weight.
If she is emotional about things, don’t call her hormonal. Small things may tick her off and make her angry and agitated. Instead of playing the blame game, try to sooth her and reason it out with her.
# 3 Don’t blame her if she forgets stuff.
You may be used to dividing the chores among yourselves. She may be responsible for paying the bills on time, but the chances are that she may forget.
Pregnancy brain is a real thing. However, labelling the condition out loud is a strict no-no.
With all the exhaustion in her body, it is only natural that she would forget things. The hormones also play havoc on her memory. You may have to repeat stuff, but that’s okay. Send emails and text reminders for critical stuff.
For the rest, an easy way out is to reshuffle the responsibilities and let her rest.
Read on for more tips
# 4 Don't overburden her
The first and the third trimesters are exhausting. There is no such thing as a wife who does not work. If she has a day job in addition, she is going to be as exhausted as you would be after playing a 50 overs cricket match.
She may be excessively tired or sleepy. So don’t ask her what she did all day to be so tired.
Pregnancy is tiring. Man up or seek help!
# 5 Avoid getting on her wrong side
If you have played Sims, you know how hard it is to initially maintain the mood of your character. Pregnancy is a real life test of your ability to keep the mood green if not platinum!
If there is a thing she wants to do which you may not like, try to compromise and agree to it. She is preparing herself for a big change in her life. Her body is going through a lot of changes. Do things that please her, take her out on dates, cook for her. If you can't at least give her some backrubs.
Pregnancy is a beautiful phase, but it can cause a considerable strain due to the unpredictable changes in her temperament. These are just temporary and you have to brave the storm not by putting up a front but by resisting an urge to react.
Trust me when I say, all of this wouldn't matter once you hold the baby in your arms. Then, you would be facing some new challenges!
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