Pregnancy
A trimester-by-trimester guide for partners — what she's going through, what helps, and what to avoid.
She's Spotting in Early Pregnancy — How to Help Without Panicking
Spotting in the first trimester happens in 15-25% of pregnancies and is usually harmless — often caused by implantation bleeding or cervical sensitivity. Your job isn't to diagnose it, but to stay calm, help her track symptoms, and know the emergency signs: heavy bleeding, severe one-sided pain, or dizziness. Those mean ER, not wait-and-see.
5 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
Third Trimester Surprises — What Partners Aren't Told
The final stretch of pregnancy is physically brutal in ways nobody warns partners about. Lightning crotch, rib pain, constant peeing, pregnancy brain, and breathlessness are all normal — but deeply uncomfortable. You can't fix any of it, but understanding what's happening and showing up with patience makes an enormous difference.
5 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
Braxton Hicks vs Real Labor — A Partner's Decision Guide
Braxton Hicks are practice contractions — irregular, painless to mildly uncomfortable, and they stop with rest or hydration. Real labor contractions are regular, get closer together, intensify over time, and don't stop no matter what she does. If contractions are consistent at 5 minutes apart for 1 hour, it's time to call the provider or head in.
5 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
Pregnancy Food Rules — What Partners Actually Need to Know
The real dangers are listeria (deli meats, soft cheeses, raw sprouts), mercury (certain fish), raw or undercooked meat/eggs, and alcohol. Most other food "rules" are exaggerated or outdated. Your job isn't to police her plate — it's to make safe food accessible and let her make informed choices.
6 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
5 Pregnancy Red Flags Every Partner Must Know
Five emergencies every partner must recognize: (1) severe headache with vision changes (preeclampsia), (2) heavy vaginal bleeding, (3) decreased fetal movement after 28 weeks, (4) high fever, and (5) thoughts of self-harm. In these moments, you are her advocate. Don't wait for permission. Act.
6 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
First Trimester — A Partner's Survival Guide
The first trimester is the hardest one nobody sees. She's dealing with crushing fatigue, constant nausea, hormonal upheaval, and the fear of miscarriage — all while looking completely normal to the outside world. Your job is to believe what she's feeling even when you can't see it, handle more than your share at home, and be the calm in what feels like chaos.
6 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
Second Trimester — What Partners Should Know
The second trimester often brings relief from nausea and fatigue, but it introduces new complexities: her body is visibly changing, the anatomy scan carries real emotional weight, and she's navigating a shifting identity. This is the trimester where partners often disengage because she 'seems fine' — don't make that mistake. She needs you differently now, not less.
5 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
Third Trimester — How Partners Can Prepare
The third trimester is physically brutal and emotionally intense. She's carrying 25-35 extra pounds, sleeping terribly, and dealing with a body that's preparing for labor in ways that are uncomfortable, alarming, and exhausting. Your job is to handle the logistics of preparation, support her through the discomfort, and be genuinely ready — not just packed — for delivery day.
5 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
Prenatal Appointments — When Partners Should Be There
She'll have 12-15 prenatal appointments over the course of pregnancy. You don't need to attend all of them — but some are genuinely important for partners: the first ultrasound, the anatomy scan, glucose screening, and any appointment where results are being discussed. Showing up communicates investment. Not showing up communicates something too.
5 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
Labor Prep — A Partner's Role in the Delivery Room
Your role in labor is not to coach, fix, or manage — it's to be a steady, calm presence who advocates for her wishes, provides physical comfort, and stays engaged through every stage. Learn the stages of labor beforehand, know her birth preferences, and understand that your job is to support her decisions, not make them.
5 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16
Her Pregnancy Mental Health — How Partners Can Help
Pregnancy mood changes are more than 'being hormonal.' Up to 20% of pregnant women experience clinically significant anxiety or depression. Partners who understand the difference between normal emotional shifts and warning signs — and who respond with empathy rather than dismissal — can dramatically improve outcomes. You're not her therapist, but you are her first line of support.
5 questions covered · Updated 2026-02-16