Larger breasts and mood swings are only a few of the changes you’ll go through during pregnancy. Future mothers should also acknowledge that the relationship with their partners will alter.
The last thing you need during those nine months is extra relationship stress. Read this article so you and your partner can prepare for these changes and make the pregnancy as wonderful as possible.
Love and Pregnancy Are a Tricky Combination
Women go through a lot during pregnancy. The idea that you’re carrying another living being inside your womb is shocking enough. There will be times when mixed feelings and emotions get the best of your judgment. You will want to be extremely close to your partner — or you’ll want to be alone.
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It is important to understand your emotions. Don’t take things personally and don’t blame the person sitting next to you for wanting to take care of you. The sooner you can acknowledge your mixed emotions, the more chances you have to bond with your loved one on a deeper level.
Pregnancy Makes Women Feel Less Attractive
Women experience intense hormonal changes during pregnancy. They can feel happy, excited and beautiful for five minutes, and then switch to feeling unattractive, angry, and moody for the next hour. All this is normal, but it doesn’t mean pregnancy makes you unattractive in the eyes of your partner.
You may have days when you feel cranky and bloated, but this doesn’t need to stop you from wanting to be with your husband. Pregnancy is a life-altering experience meant to solidify your marriage and make you feel complete as a person. You’re not going to stay pregnant forever, so it’s best to make the most of these moments as they are unique.
Embrace your growing belly and find a way to feel attractive on an emotional level (if you can’t on a physical). Think positive and remember: your body will go back to the way it used to be.
Your Partner Might Feel Ignored
When a couple “gets pregnant,” we have to admit the attention is pointed at the future mother. Partners get their fair share of “congratulations,” but that’s it. For nine months you will be the center of attention, which could make him or her feel ignored.
It is important to be supportive. Encourage them to participate and involve them in your daily, baby-related activities. Allow them to “talk” to the baby, play him/her music, and so on.
This will have a great effect on the whole relationship. Make time for non-baby time, too. Go out on a romantic dinner or surprise your partner with a movie date. All this should remind both of you the love is there, in spite of all the changes happening in your lives.
Find a Way to Reconnect on a Physical Level
It can be tricky to find romance when you’re exhausted and nauseous all day long. In the first trimester, most women feel queasy, moody and icky. Their belly becomes bigger and bigger, which we must admit is an impediment between the sheets.
Nonetheless, being pregnant doesn’t mean you and your partner can’t enjoy sex. It can be done, but you have to talk about it so you can make it work.
Be ready to go through some pretty embarrassing moments, but don’t take things the wrong way. Laugh about it and find a way to move past them.
Communication is Bliss
Relationships don’t last if there’s miscommunication or no communication between couples. Now that you’ve decided to have a baby, you and your partner have to sit down and have a really long chat about the upcoming changes in your lives.
Pregnancy changes the way relationships work, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It could change them for the better. Those nine months waiting for the baby to come will be tough. The end result, however, will be worth it.
Sylvia Smith is a relationship expert with years of experience in training and helping couples in therapy. She is currently associated with Marriage.com, a reliable resource assisting millions of couples to resolve their marital issues.
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