At its best, the pregnancy period can strengthen your relationship, but the physical strain of pregnancy and worry about the future can also challenge you as a couple.
Show each other support during pregnancy and be empathetic towards each other’s experiences. Be open about your expectations and agree on responsibilities so that neither of you are left alone.
Nausea, sleep problems, mood swings and body changes often take their toll on a pregnant individual. The other parent, on the other hand, may feel pressure over their supporter role.
You can nurture your relationship by attending examinations and maternity and child health clinic appointments together, getting to know the baby growing in the womb, shopping together and planning for the future.
Clearly agreed upon responsibilities can alleviate concerns about the future.
Talk with each other about any fears and uncertainties that you may have. Discussing difficult subjects will help you understand each other. It will also prepare you for the approaching baby year – with sleep deprivation, responsibilities and intense everyday life, the need for mutual understanding is highlighted even further.
Sexuality during pregnancy
Perhaps surprisingly, for some, pregnancy is a golden age of sex: for some expectant individuals, early pregnancy is a time of heightened sex drive, and for many, sexual desire is at its peak particularly in mid-pregnancy.
However, your sex life may also understandably diminish due to pregnancy. Nausea, fatigue and breast tenderness during early pregnancy can reduce a pregnant individual’s sex drive. Many people feel clumsy and unsexual due to their growing pregnancy belly. In turn, their partner may be afraid of harming the foetus or hurting the expectant individual.
A normally progressing pregnancy does not prevent sex even in the last trimester, and some people have sex right up to labour.
If sex does not feel natural to you or your partner during pregnancy, you can show affection and intimacy through words and touch. You can try to find new ways to maintain your sexual connection.
