News to me — pregnancy is no joke. Between the mood swings, cravings, and constantly needing to nap, it’s a roller coaster of emotions and physical changes. But what truly helped me navigate it all was the incredible support from my partner. There were times I felt isolated, but his support always pulled me through.
Now, some might think, ‘That’s just what partners are supposed to do!’ But I think most partners want to be there even more than they are—they just don’t always know how.
With that in mind, I hope this inspires expecting parents with ideas on how to support each other or simply serves as a reminder of the power of small, thoughtful gestures that can make a challenging time feel easier.
Shoutout to my husband Gal for being the absolute best.
1. Listening to What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Early in my pregnancy, my husband listened to the entire audiobook of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Since we share an Audible account and couldn’t both listen at the same time, he actually finished it quite a bit before I did—which might sound a bit backwards, but it led to some really fun conversations. Each day, he’d check in and ask how I was feeling, and when I’d tell him, he’d often say, ‘Oh yeah, I heard about that in What to Expect—that’s totally normal.’ Having him already informed was such a relief because, rather than carrying the extra burden of explaining what I was experiencing, I felt like he was right there, holding my hand through it all.
2. Signed Up for the What to Expect Emails
Not only did he dive into the audiobook, but he also signed up for the weekly emails. Talk about staying in the loop! It showed me just how much he wanted to understand what I was going through, making the experience feel so much less isolating. What I loved about these emails is that they provided recaps and additional info tailored to each week of pregnancy. For me, my symptoms were right on time—which meant he’d get a heads-up about what I was going to experience just days before it actually happened. When I’d come to him with strange physical or emotional feelings, he’d reassure me I wasn’t losing it and that everything was progressing perfectly.
3. Weekly Updates on the App – Together!
Every week, we watched the weekly update videos on the What To Expect app together. Yes, those adorable animations that show how big the baby is (“A poppy seed?! Crazy to think how small they start out"). Watching those updates together became a fun ritual, adding even more joy to the journey we were already sharing.
4. The Little Things Matter
Whether it was making grocery runs on days when I just couldn’t muster the energy, or carrying everything when we went together, he made sure I never had to do the heavy lifting—literally. Sure, helping a pregnant partner carry things isn’t exactly revolutionary. But what stood out was that he did this from so early on, even when I didn’t necessarily need it, which made pregnancy feel like it came with a few extra perks. And trust me, those little things? They really add up.
5. Respecting Boundaries (No Pressure for Sex)
Hormones can make your sex drive go wild or take a total nosedive. Either way, he never once pressured me or made me feel weird about it. He totally respected my boundaries without making a fuss. During weeks when it didn’t even cross my mind because I was wrapped up in so many other physical changes, or times when I wanted to but felt awkward and far from sexy, he was patient and understanding. He never once made it about him or added it to the list of pregnancy worries. While pregnancy requires sacrifices on our part, our partners make their own as well—and those moments deserve recognition, too.
6. Letting Me Nap, No Judgement
We’re a pretty productive couple, and one of my favorite things about us is how we always encourage each other to aim higher and do more. So when those first trimester symptoms hit, and it took everything in me just to move from the bed to the couch, I felt so guilty. I’d always heard about the fatigue, but I never imagined it could be this intense—I ended up wrestling with a lot of self-doubt. Thankfully, my partner never once made me feel lazy or unproductive, even when I napped away an entire weekend. He just let me ride the pregnancy wave and fully validated how I was feeling. In fact, he pulled me out of those critical thoughts and reminded me how beautiful it was that I was carrying our baby.
7. Always Curious and Supportive
Every time I mentioned a new symptom or random pregnancy feeling, instead of brushing it off, he’d ask more questions. “What does it feel like?” or “How can I help?” became regular phrases. With so many changes happening every single day, it’s natural that much of my attention is on my body, and as we’d share our days with each other, pregnancy often became the main topic. I’d understand if it got stale, but his curiosity made me feel truly heard and understood.
8. Talking to the Tummy = Instant Heart Melter
He started talking to my belly early on, which melted my heart every time. He’d tell me he hated being away from the baby, and when he first said it, I was floored—not only because it was so sweet, but also because I’d never thought of it that way. Since I’m with the baby all day, it hadn’t occurred to me what it might feel like to miss them. In those moments, he helped me see how lucky I am to carry our little one everywhere, and his way of building his own bond with the baby made me fall in love with him all over again.
9. Living the Healthy Example
Even though I was living off berries and anything involving cream cheese (thank you, cravings), he kept up with his healthy routine—working out and eating well. It was subtle encouragement that motivated me to at least try to keep up with my own health. I think we’re all influenced by the routines around us, and just by continuing his own, he kept the spark alive for me without a single nudge.
10. Attending Every Appointment
He came to every single appointment, not just the big ones but also the routine check-ups. Even when I thought some weren’t worth rearranging his work schedule, he was there. It was his way of saying, “I’m here with you every step of the way,” and it meant the world to me. Our partners can’t physically carry it all with us, but the effort they make in moments like these speaks volumes.
11. Trusting My Intuition
Despite the flood of well-meaning advice from friends, family, and strangers, he always trusted that I knew what was best in the moment. Advice is shared with good intentions, and I appreciate that, but sometimes it can add to the confusion of new parenthood rather than easing it. My husband never pressured me to follow anyone else’s opinion unless I felt it was right. Initially, I thought, Of course, it’s my body, but I also realized it’s his baby too, and that level of trust in me is truly priceless.
12. Never Pushing Me to Do Too Much
We’re a very social couple—we love supporting our friends and saying “yes” to as many invitations as we can. Even when I became pregnant, I think we had an unspoken agreement to keep this up as much as possible. We both wanted to be good friends and give it our all, and then, in those moments when my body couldn’t keep up, he’d just roll with whatever I needed. That flexibility made all the difference.
In Conclusion: The MVP of Pregnancy Support
Pregnancy is a wild ride, but with a supportive partner by your side, it’s a whole lot easier—and a lot more fun! My partner’s thoughtful actions—from listening to books, signing up for updates, and being there for every moment—made me feel like we were creating this baby together, start to finish, and it strengthened our unity in an incredible way. If your partner is stepping up like this, let them know they’re the absolute best.
Such wonderful pabulum! I can apply some of these insights in my relationship. Gal must be the best!