09/2021
Nicole McCarthy
Area Partner Minot AFB, ND
When it comes to being pregnant, you are the star of the show. You are getting all the attention, all the questions, all the gifts, all the advice (oh the advice), and your significant other often gets left in the dark. Sometimes, it is like they are all but forgotten. I mean let’s face it, you are the one growing that baby. Here at Military Mommies, we want to take a dive into the role of your significant other when it comes to pregnancy.
Let’s take a step back for a second and put ourselves in our partners’ shoes. They will be the parent to this child too, so how can we get them involved in a time that is so focused on the pregnant individual? Foot rubs. Need I say more? No no, let’s be serious now. The biggest role for your significant other is to support you to the best of their ability. They are your cheerleader, your confidant, sometimes even your therapist (thank you hormones!). They will be there to pick you up when you are down, literally. They will stand up for you when you are receiving that advice you did not ask for from your beloved Aunt Karen. Most importantly, they will be your calm when things feel crazy. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Being in the military and having family thousands of miles away, you need your significant other to be the rock in that village. You also need to let them help you. Remember, you do not have to do this all on your own.
As you both creep closer and closer to the birth day, your significant other can start to become more involved in the “baby things.” They can help you interview and hire a doula, decorate the nursery, pick out clothes for the baby, and even help you choose which breast pump to get! Now I just want to take a moment and say, when I got my breast pump in the mail, I did not have a Military Mommies Area Partner to help answer my questions about my pump. Instead, I gave my pump to my husband and made him try it first! Looking back, I really wish I had the support from a Military Mommies Area Partner who could help explain the features as well as answer any questions, and I think my husband does too.
The third trimester is such an exciting time for your significant other. I know you have this vision in your head of what exactly you want for baby gear, outfits, the nursery, etc, but let your significant other pick some things out too. I promise you can still keep your Pinterest board vision if you let them pick out some decor or onesies. Plus, seeing their face when your baby is in that outfit they picked out, or showing the baby that picture they bought for the nursery, is absolutely priceless.
Now back to those foot rubs. All jokes aside, you are going to need them! You’re also going to need lots of snacks, water, and help putting on your shoes. Your significant other may feel like they are more of a personal assistant than your partner, so make sure to let them know how much you appreciate everything they are doing for you and that sweet little baby of yours.
Take time to cherish these moments, these 9 months are ones you will look back on forever. And don’t forget to reach out to your local Military Mommies Area Partner so your significant other isn’t left trying to figure out how to work your breast pump with you. You will both thank me later!