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partner support

  • Your Partner Thinks Breastfeeding Sucks

    What's a girl to do when her partner thinks that breastfeeding just plain sucks? Try a gentle hand, a bit of finesse and these proven rebuttals!

  • How Can Military Dads Stay Involved With Their Families?

    QUESTION

    Dear Mr. Dad,
    My wife and I are expecting our first child. The problem is that I'm in the US Marine Corps on tour in Iraq. I have been here since the beginning of the pregnancy and I might not be there for the birth of our child.

    My wife is having a hard time doing this on her own and I feel that there's nothing I can do to support her. I'm reading your book, The Expectant Father, which I find very helpful. But do you know of any resources that are specifically aimed at military dads and/or their families?

  • Dad's Role in Breastfeeding: How to Help Mom

    Fathers are powerful allies contributing to breastfeeding success. Do not allow yourself to be excluded from this time in your child's life. Study and learn, roll up your sleeves and get in the game. Your family stands a much better chance of success if you actively support breastfeeding and actually help your wife breastfeed.

  • Guys, Empathy and the First Trimester

    QUESTION

    We are nine weeks pregnant and I feel like @#$#@. My husband doesn't get it. His attitude is that since I don't "look" pregnant then I shouldn't be complaining.

    I'll be honest. Right now I AM a grouch after feeling exhausted, nauseous 24/7, and then trying to juggle my normal routine (at work and home.)

    I don't expect him to make it better but can't a guy have SOME sympathy?

    Grouchy in Maryland

  • Wanting to Start a Family Now

    QUESTION

    We've been married for three years. Before marriage my husband and I did discuss wanting to have a family someday (at least three kids).

    Now each time now that I try to talk about trying it seems that he has an excuse of why "now" isn't a good time. I'm in my thirties and am concerned about running into problems conceiving.

    I feel resentful as his reasons are selfish. It would interfere with our travel plans, (those I'd give up easily), wanting to buy a bigger house (we have 3 bedrooms), and now even citing "the economy."

    Any advice to help me understand?

  • Husband is Scared of Our Newborn

    QUESTION

    My husband is scared of our newborn!

    Good grief! I cannot get him to hold the baby unless I go get her and bring her to him while he's sitting down first.

    Giving a bath, dressing, or even changing a diaper? OUT of the question. He's afraid he’ll hurt her even when I've offered to show him how multiple times.

    I want/need him to be a parent. If I wanted to be a single mom I could have been!
    Cindy

  • Partner Afraid to Attend the Birth

    My husband doesn't think he can handle being in the room when I have the baby. Pain is not something that he does well with and the sight of blood makes him freak. Is it hopeless to think that he can overcome this?

    My family and friends all are giving us both a hard time about this as otherwise they view him being "unsupportive." I’d like to give him the benefit of a doubt as this is the way he's been as long as I've known him (10 years!)

    Thanks for the help!
    Mandy

  • Miscarriage: How Men Can Deal with It

    Loss of an unborn baby often affects men and women in a very different way especially if the loss is in the early staa woman knows she is pregnant she will start thinking about the embryo as a real person -- one with a face, fingers, toes and a name. Guys on the other hand...

  • A Five Second Guide to Birth

    If you have just found this website, your wife is giving birth today and you are looking for some quick advice, here is a last minute guide to birth courtesy of guys from the Being Dad DVDs.

  • Morning Sickness: Making Him Understand Your Pain

    Morning Sickness is a lot like back pain. If you've never experienced it you'll never appreciate how debilitating it can be. Do men understand morning sickness? No. Do men under estimate how bad it can be? Yes. How can you get your man to be more supportive and sympathetic toward your morning sickness?

  • Partner Support During Pregnancy

    During pregnancy, the most important thing is having support. Anai Rhoads shares ideas for partner support both during and after pregnancy.

  • Mother's Day With Empty Arms

    There is no simple solution for decreasing the emotional pain of child loss, especially during a holiday such as Mother's Day that is specifically designed to honor mothers. A mother can, however, make some preparations for that day in an attempt to work through her grief rather than facing this holiday with an anticipated dread.

  • Isn't Morning Sickness Supposed to be in the Morning?

    QUESTION

    Dear Mr. Dad,

    My wife is two months pregnant and is queasy pretty much all the time. Isn't morning sickness supposed to be in the morning? And is there anything I can do to help her?

  • Dad's Role in Breastfeeding: How to Help Mom

    Fathers are powerful allies contributing to breastfeeding success. Do not allow yourself to be excluded from this time in your child's life. Study and learn, roll up your sleeves and get in the game. Your family stands a much better chance of success if you actively support breastfeeding and actually help your wife breastfeed.

  • Dads and Breastfeeding

    QUESTION

    Dear Mr. Dad,

    Everyone says that new mothers should breastfeed their babies but I've never really know why. And, I know this sounds nuts, but is there anything I can to do to stay involved while my wife is nursing? I feel so left out.

  • C-sections

    QUESTION

    Dear Mr. Dad,
    It seems that every one of my wife's friends have had c-section deliveries. She's about a month away from her due date and we're both worried that she's going to have a c-section too. The childbirth preparation class we took didn't spend a lot of time on c-sections. In case it happens, what can I expect and what can I do to stay involved?

  • Considerations Before Having a Baby

    His attitude driving you nuts? She knocks your parenting ideas? You often wonder, "Why didn't I see this before?" The answer is twofold -- you didn't see it because: a) you never looked, you never discussed, you never shared ideas and expectations; and b) you were blinded by your fantasies and assumptions so...What can new parents do?

  • What Childbirth Classes Don't Teach

    QUESTION

    Dear Mr. Dad,I'm taking a childbirth class with my wife but it really seems geared toward the perfect birth. I know they can't cover every single unexpected thing that could happen, but how can we prepare for contingencies?

  • How Can Military Dads Stay Involved With Their Families?

    QUESTION

    Dear Mr. Dad,
    My wife and I are expecting our first child. The problem is that I'm in the US Marine Corps on tour in Iraq. I have been here since the beginning of the pregnancy and I might not be there for the birth of our child.

    My wife is having a hard time doing this on her own and I feel that there's nothing I can do to support her. I'm reading your book, The Expectant Father, which I find very helpful. But do you know of any resources that are specifically aimed at military dads and/or their families?

  • Husband Doesn't Want Baby

    Do not wait for depression to clear before seeking help. Your husband may need medical attention and a counselor can advise you. You should see improvement after 2 weeks of counseling.