Waiting for your bundle of joy to come into this world and finally hold it in your arms can be both exciting and stressful. While men can also experience mental health issues during pregnancy, it’s the moms-to-be who are under the most stress, both physically and mentally. To help her and the baby stay healthy, the future dad should do his best to assist his partner in any way possible during this period. If you too are a soon-to-be dad, here are some ways how you can take an active role while expecting a child.

Educate yourself

If this is your first child, you should make an effort to be involved from the moment you find out about the pregnancy. Start by doing a lot of research as that will allow you to help your partner in the best possible way. You can look for useful baby books and learn about what you can expect, how things usually go, some common complication and so much more. Furthermore, you can also watch various documentaries and join online groups where you can talk to other parents. Find a great childbirth class and go together to be prepared for the delivery. Being well informed is vital for staying calm, collected and confident during labor.

Go to doctor’s appointments with her

In addition to reading various books and attending childbirth classes, you should also be present for as many doctors’ appointments as possible. Sure, sometimes your work might get in the way, but try to go as many times as you can. Something you definitely do not want to miss is hearing the heartbeat of your child as you will remember it for the rest of your life. Moreover, getting an ultrasound will not only be the first time you get to see your little bundle of joy but it can also help detect any illnesses and conditions. It’s essential to be there for your partner while the doctors run various tests to determine how the pregnancy is going.

Listen to your partner

Even though you can never really experience what your spouse is going through, what you can do is listen to her and be empathetic. Her body is changing and she will feel a lot of new things, so it’s only natural that she’ll want to share with you. While there is usually nothing you can do to help, just being there and listening is enough. Your emotional and physical presence might be all she needs to get through the feet pain and constant hunger.

Make her feel good

Sure, there are things you can do nothing about, like nausea or some dietary restrictions, but there are some ways to make your partner feel good. For instance, when you notice she is more tired than usual, you can give her a massage. Whether it’s her back or her feet, she is bound to appreciate it. On the other hand, sometimes all a woman needs is some encouragement. Tell her she’s beautiful and show her you don’t mind the changes her body is going through.

Do various chores

Another way to make her feel better is to take off the pressure of having to do various chores in and outside of the home. Take care of paying the bills, getting groceries and running other errands when you see your wife is tired. You should also do some work around the house. Load the dishwasher, make lunch, clean up after yourself, etc. Try to do these things before she asks you to do them, and if you’re really not sure how something should be done, ask her for advice.

Change your lifestyle

Once you do some research, you will see how many things pregnant women cannot eat, drink or do. To show your support, you should change your lifestyle and diet as that will make your partner feel much better. For example, if you’re a smoker, do your best to give it up or at least smoke less. Decrease your coffee and alcohol intake as well. Last but not least, adopt a healthier diet and try to make meals at home on your own. Your spouse will definitely appreciate the effort you put into this.

Pregnancy can be hard for women and their spouses should do their best to support them by attending classes and going to the doctor’s appointments together as well as make them feel better by simply listening and taking care of the chores. Most importantly, dads-to-be should communicate with their partners as then they will know exactly how to help.