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High-risk Pregnancies

Why Dads Are a Crucial Part of the Support

By Teri Brown

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

The Role of the Father
Fathers often feel helpless in the face of a high-risk pregnancy. It is very important for men to realize just how much their wives need them and how many things they can actually do. The role of the father during a high-risk pregnancy is as varied as it is crucial.

Dr. Joyce King, assistant professor for the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., believes there are many ways fathers can help their wives cope with a high-risk pregnancy. Women can often feel overwhelmed with what they can and cannot do. One way dads can make it easier on them is by tracking all of the medical information.

"Dads can go to each OB visit with her," says Dr. King. "Keeping a visit diary with recommendations of the health care provider is very helpful. Frequently, the patient is so overwhelmed with all the changes going on in her body as well as the high-risk problems that she doesn't even hear what her health care provider is telling her."

If your wife is put on bed rest it is important to ask the following questions:

  • Can she get up to go to the bathroom?
  • What kind of bed rest is she on? Is it complete bed rest? Or can she sit at the computer or at a table?
  • Can she make herself lunch or should I pack lunch in a cooler for her to keep by her bedside?
  • What can she do to keep her muscles from becoming weak from lack of use?
  • Dr. King suggests that if the mom-to-be is put on complete bed rest, the dad-to-be may want to find out if it's possible for him to get family leave so he can be hoe to care for her.


    Pages:  1  2  3  4  

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    High-risk Pregnancies by Kelly on 08/07/2009 04:08AM

    I have a question, I am a 38 year old woman and I would like to get pregnant within the next 4 months-I have been on medications for quite awhile-clonazepam-for 10 years, tylenol with codeine for 8 years and ephedrine for 7 years-if I get pregnant by accident- will I carry a baby with major birth defects?

    High-risk Pregnancies by Anonymous on 07/14/2009 06:15PM

    i had 3 miscarriages and have not had trouble getting pregnant. my first miscarriage was painful because i was 12 weeks and the fetus had no heart beat that was painful for me. my second and third pregnacies were 7 weeks. i am now pregnant and i thank god that everything is going good i am 13 weeks and i have heard my babys heart beat twice. i thank god every day for giving me another chance to be pregnant and for letting me get to where im at now. i also believe i have a guarden angel who is my dad watching over me. i lost him three months ago its been so hard.

    High-risk Pregnancies by Maria from LA, California on 06/21/2009 08:27PM

    Hello ladies I had three miscarriages and believe me My husband and I have struggled for quite sometime to get pregnant again.. The most painful miscarriage was 3 years ago when I was 20 weeks.. I had to bury my son and previous to that I was driving when I had it.. It did take me a long time to survive from this trauma... That same day a friend went into labor and her baby lived and mine died.. Everytime I would see her daughter my heart used to shatter now I have learned to surrender those negative emotions to God. I have learned to cope and pray.. Last year I had another miscarriage I was 2 months.. Now I am pregnant and I am really excited, nervous and happy.. I am very thankful everyday that God has blessed my family and me one more time.. Believe me the fear is in the back of my mind.. But luckliy I am seeing my Ob every 2 weeks and checks my baby and cervix everytime.. So far so Good.. I just pray that women do not go through what I went through... Believe me it has been a traumatic roller coaster ride.. But I know that God will help along the way!!!! Thank you ladies for giving me a chance to take this load of fear out of my chest!!! Thanks Maria from LA, California

    High-risk Pregnancies by Anonymous on 06/11/2009 05:07PM

    i had lost a son last year in october that was 2 pounds it was a really bad timing for me for a couple of months but god really looked out for me and gave another son now i am 15 weeks preganet im really happy i would love to have alot of support from anyone to help this one be it for me and pray im so scared that something might happened but im not gonna worry im gonna keep praying that god take care of me and my kids and watch over this one in my belly.

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