How do first-time fathers support their wives?

- help with taking care of your baby & with housework as much as you can
- NB babies are so cute that you just want to look at yours all the time.

- during her pregnancy, your wife will get to know a lot about baby care.
- being first-time fathers, you may not be able to do the same, but there are things you can do
- do your best and enjoy raising your child with your wife

- remember that when this is your first child, your wife will also be anxious about many things
- baby has to be fed and his diapers changed every 2-3 hrs
- she won’t be able to get enough sleep & will always be exhausted. The father can do to help the mother:

1. Helping with housework and child-rearing
- with a newborn baby, the mother is constantly feeding the baby, changing diapers, bathing the baby & performing innumerable other tasks
- try to help out by doing the cleaning and the laundry & by tidying things up a little
- just taking over some of the night-time feedings & diaper changes will lighten your wife’s load considerably
- by asking your wife “Is there anything I can do?” will surely lighten her mood :)

2. Communicate with your wife frequently
- your wife no doubt has many things to tell you about your baby, whose expressions and abilities change daily.
- but she’s not used to taking care of a baby either, and may be feeling tired or irritated
- although you can’t be with her during work days, ask her about her day, and reassure her that your heart is always with her
- when you also explain to her your own feelings, and tell her about the growth and changes you observe in your baby, the two of you will be true partners in raising your child

3. Together, enjoy watching your baby grow up
- you see primitive reflexes of your baby day by day. He’ll grow larger as you watch, and will begin to be able to hold his head up
- his arms and legs will develop, and so will his range of facial expressions
- he’ll start to be able to express his own wishes using sounds, movements & even words
- from the day he’s born and over the next few years, your baby will change in many & astonishing ways.
- connect with your baby, and enjoy his growing years together with his mother!

Last, but not least,
- understand how your wife’s body changes from conception to the time after birth
- a woman’s body changes drastically during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postpartum period
- she may be bewildered by all of these changes in her own body and feelings

- after giving birth, she has to begin caring for her baby before her own body even has time to recover
- Learn what’s going on in her body, and as a husband, work to get and stay close to her
- the most important thing is to understand & accept the physical changes that your wife's body undergoes during this period