So We Now Know That Our Baby Is on the Way… Now What?!

Finding out we were expecting was a moment of pure joy — mixed with a little shock and a whole lot of “what do we do now?” We celebrated, of course, but once the initial excitement settled, reality hit. There’s a tiny human growing inside her, and suddenly, everything felt more real, more serious, and, to be honest, a little overwhelming.

That’s when we both dove headfirst into research mode — like students cramming for the most important exam of our lives.

For Her: Preparing Body and Mind for the Journey Ahead

Naturally, she started looking into everything related to taking care of herself and the baby. We’re talking vitamins, nutrition, hydration, and rest. She was reading about what foods to avoid (bye-bye sushi and deli meats), how much exercise was safe, and how to deal with those not-so-fun symptoms like morning sickness, fatigue, and mood swings.

She also got serious about understanding the warning signs — things like severe cramping, unusual bleeding, or high blood pressure. It wasn’t about being paranoid, but about being empowered. The more she knew, the more confident she felt navigating this new chapter.

For Me: Becoming the Best Support System I Could Be

While she was focused on her body and the baby, I took a different route — I started researching how I could support her. What did she need from me emotionally? What could I do to help her feel less stressed? How could I contribute to making this pregnancy as smooth as possible?

I quickly realized that being a supportive partner wasn’t just about rubbing her feet (though I do a lot of that too). It meant listening — really listening — when she needed to vent. It meant stepping up more around the house, taking things off her plate, going to appointments, and learning the medical stuff so I wasn’t just nodding along when the doctor talked.

I also spent time reading about what to expect during each trimester — both for her and for the baby’s development. Understanding what was happening inside her body made me feel more connected to the pregnancy, even though I’m not the one physically carrying our child.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far, it’s that pregnancy is a team effort. It’s not just about one person carrying the baby — it’s about both of us growing into our roles as parents, learning, adapting, and supporting each other every step of the way.

Some Useful Tools Along The Way

Of course we scrolled on our phones and spoke with our families. Grandmothers and Mothers have some really great advice! I mean, who better to ask then those with experience right? Also, we found some great reading material. There is a ton of books out there for expecting parents, but not just for what to expect during the pregnancy, but what to expect during Postpartum and the first few months after. Apparently that is called the Fourth Trimester.

A few books that helped me out are “We’re Pregnant! First Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook” and “You Will Rock As A Dad”. Both of these books not only told me what to expect, but are great advice from dads that have gone through the scary and beautiful journey that is pregnancy. I am grateful that have had both of these books at my disposal.