Pregnancy changes everything. Your body, your mind, and even how you connect with your partner. And while that change is natural, it can also be confusing. Knowing how to handle it together makes all the difference.
Prioritise Open Communication
Talk to each other: one seemingly obvious piece of advice, but you can’t imagine how hard it can be for a pregnant woman to express her feelings and thoughts. There’s so much going on physically and emotionally during pregnancy. Many just choose not to verbalise that to avoid being misunderstood or even causing a fight.
That’s when the real problem arises. Not saying what bothers you leads to acting distant, passive-aggressive, and disconnected. You’ll measure your partner’s every move. Each gesture, word, everything they did and particularly didn’t do when you needed it, could make you question whether you can rely on them for the rest of your pregnancy (and once you become parents).
Of course, keeping your relationship strong is a two-way street. When partners know each other well, they can communicate, even with nonverbal cues. The key is approaching issues with kindness and understanding. If one partner seems worried, the other one should encourage them to open up.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is ask, “Do you need me to listen, or help you solve it?” More often than not, pregnant women just need their partners to hear them out. No advice, no over-analysing, just being there and hugging them at the end of the conversation.
Do the Things That Bring You Joy
When health and energy levels allow, pregnancy can be a good opportunity to reconnect with the activities you love. Over the course of nine months, you’ll have the time to tackle all those DIY projects, piles of books, and the list of shows and movies that you have been postponing for so long.
Doing things independently can be fulfilling. Still, doing them in a pair can be fun, too. A movie night with homemade popcorn is a simple yet precious way to spend quality time together.
Outdoor activities, besides keeping you active, also have a positive impact on your mental health during pregnancy. Long walks with your partner are a healthy routine that benefits your body. They can also bring back memories of the early days of your relationship. Of holding hands with your partner and talking for hours, remembering what first made you fall in love.
Ideally, the list of activities should meet both of your interests, but must be pregnancy-appropriate. Staying in and making a delicious meal, or going out to grab a bite (and dress up for it), or seeing a play. These are just suggestions, but they can come in handy if you run out of ideas.
Learn from Others
While every pregnancy is unique, as well as the relationship that created it, some familiar patterns exist. People tend to believe some things happen only to them, while everyone else has figured it out. The truth is, no one knows what to do at the beginning.
You can read every parenting book and attend every antenatal class, but pregnancy still takes you on an emotional roller coaster. It’s a huge life shift that can shake your sense of balance at times.
For most people, these shifts pass on their own, but if they don’t, seeking professional help is paramount for your and your baby’s wellbeing. Alternatively, finding people who have already gone through all of that and hearing their experiences could help you prepare for the upcoming period.
Remember, pregnancy and parenthood are never black and white. They’re filled with countless shades of joy, fear, and discovery. When you hear someone say, “We’ve been there, and we got through it together,” the road ahead suddenly feels a little less daunting.
Pregnancy can be a period of loneliness for some, both for expectant mothers and their partners. Both parties can feel isolated at times. The sooner you talk about those feelings, the easier it becomes to face them together. Pregnancy and parenthood should bring you closer, not push you apart.