| Partners In Pregnancy |
| Written by James Black | |
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Pregnancy is exciting news for most of the couples. It opens the doors to the new plans, worries and joy. Many couples do not feel fully prepared when it comes to pregnancy, especially if it is their first child. Having doubts about the entire situation and how the future will be, is quite normal for the new parents. It is perfectly natural to have your doubts and insecurities when it comes to the money and providing for your child, if you will be a good parent or not, etc. The best solution to solve your worries and doubts is to become well informed and prepared. The more you read about pregnancy, talk about it with people that already had some experience with it, consult the health care professionals, and spread your interest across all the aspects of pregnancy, the more secure you will feel. Feeling secure about it will also make you feel more prepared. It is not only that the mother is responsible for a baby while pregnant. It is a shared responsibility between both partners. The male partner needs to support the mother because she is the one going through all the pregnancy process and hormonal imbalances. These hormonal changes make the pregnant women more sensitive and easily irritable. The partners should be supportive and understand the situation since having the partner’s support is essential. During the pregnancy women should avoid stress by all means. Avoiding stress can be achieved through many relaxation techniques such as yoga or some light exercises. Being in a joyful company can help greatly as well. Keep in mind that consistent stress can transfer the effects to the baby. This can make the baby more vulnerable to diseases after the birth and can develop a stress prone personality. Stress has direct effect on the baby so the couples should support each other to avoid stress as much as possible. Studies show that the main cause of stress in pregnant women is a non supportive and difficult partner. Both partners should understand that if they want their baby to be healthy, active and safe they should try to be as relaxed and calm as possible, especially the mother. Like mentioned before, during pregnancy a woman goes through numerous hormonal, psychological and physical changes and it is quite normal that she doesn’t feel as comfortable as she felt before. These changes have a large impact on her mood. If you see that your partner isn’t feeling well, try asking her if there is anything that you can do for her, to help her or to cheer her up. It can be anything, from simple things such as running to the store to get her favorite snack or juice, doing the dishes or keeping an eye on other children while she rests for a couple of minutes. This will do a world of good to her mood. A partner’s thoughtful support is essential and it will help greatly in making the pregnancy a very positive period filled with joy and happiness. The assignment of a birth partner or a labor coach is both rewarding and hard. Every mother needs support while giving birth and a caring person can only help her during this process and make her feel more confident and relaxed. The birth of a baby is truly an unforgettable and wonderful experience for those that are present, so don’t forget that. A labor coach/birth partner can be any person the woman chooses and trusts, in example her husband or a partner, sister, mother, or a best friend even. The task of a labor coach is to go through the learning process together with the future mom. This includes learning more about birth and the course of birth, attending special childbirth classes, practicing breathing techniques, etc. For a first time parent, the birth of a child may feel as an unfamiliar situation and this is why it is important to practice and attend childbirth classes together with a partner. A partner being present through this whole learning process will be a great support when the birth actually takes place. As a birth coach do not be afraid if you get a bit worried about the process of birth and what surprises it may have in store for you. General concerns many coaches tend to express are whether or not they will be capable of giving the needed assistance to their partners during the labor. By learning all the techniques needed and knowing what exactly to expect, you will be on a good path to calm your nervousness. Keep in mind that one of the most important things that matters to your pregnant partner is your actual presence at the labor. Having someone at her side will mean a lot to every future mother and will give her a feeling of security that all is going to be great. |
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