A Father's Guide to Understanding Pregnancy

For most couples, pregnancy is an exciting and joyous time. It is important for the father to understand what is happening during the pregnancy, why it is happening, and what can be done to make this experience more enjoyable for the father and the expectant mother. The following explanation briefly describes each stage of a pregnancy, which includes the physical changes the expectant mother will experience as well as how the baby is developing in the mother's womb. There are three main stages of pregnancy, which are broken-down into trimesters. Altogether, a pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks.

• First Trimester (First 12 Weeks of the Pregnancy) - Until the end of the first trimester, it is not advisable to tell any family or friends of the pregnancy. This stage of the pregnancy is the most susceptible to a miscarriage. During this stage, the expectant mother may experience some of the following changes: extreme tiredness, sensitivity and tenderness, emotional swings, morning sickness, swelling, weight gain, and cravings for certain foods. As the father, you should be prepared for the mother-to-be to have moods swings, possible crying for unknown reasons, and requests for foods such as pickles and ice cream. By the end of this stage of the pregnancy, all your baby's major organs have begun to form, the baby will develop a regular heartbeat, and your baby's eyelids will close to protect their eyes for the next five months.

• Second Trimester (Includes the 13th through the 28th Week of the Pregnancy) - Often during this stage of the pregnancy, expectant mothers start to physically feel better. Sometimes morning sickness and fatigue go away and they feel energized. Even though, the expectant mother may start to feel better, she will likely notice changes to her body caused from the baby growing and her expanding stomach. Due to the changes in the expectant mother's body during this stage of the pregnancy, she may experience: stretch marks, an itchy stomach, swelling, and an overall achy feeling. By the end of this stage, your baby can hear, swallow, has footprints and fingerprints, and sleeps and wakes up regularly.

• Third Trimester (Includes the 29th through the 40th Week of the Pregnancy) - At this point of the pregnancy, the baby is growing at a rapid pace and many expectant mothers may have to use the restroom more often as well as find it more difficult to breathe. The following changes during this stage of the pregnancy include: trouble sleeping, swelling, heartburn, shortness of breath, and contractions. At this stage, the baby's bones become fully formed, the baby kicks and punches, and they will open and close their eyes. Near the end of this stage, the baby's organs become fully formed and are ready to function.

Throughout the pregnancy, if you or the expectant mother notices any extreme or sudden changes to the mother's body, you should contact your pediatrician right away and explain your concerns. It is important that you talk to the pediatrician regularly and that they are informed of any concerns or issues that you or the expectant mother may have during the pregnancy or birth. When any major event in life occurs, it is always better to be informed and knowledgeable. Talk to your pediatrician and stay informed of upcoming changes and how you can prepare for your new bundle of joy.

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