Your baby is now officially an embryo and is about the size of a poppy seed.
Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/4-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.
Here you can find information that you may find useful if you are the partner of someone expecting a baby.
Having a baby can be a very happy experience, but can also be very stressful. Whether you have had a baby before or not, your midwife and health professionals are there to help support you and your family.
You are likely to have many questions about what comes next, so we have tried to include an overview of the most useful information but this is by no means an exhaustive list. There are a number of ways that you, as her partner, can share the load, too.
Make sure your partner knows she can talk to you about all the changes she is experiencing: nerves about having tests, anxiety about what kind of mum she’ll be, annoyance at her swollen feet. Even if you think her concerns are trivial, keep the thought to yourself. Don’t tell her to 'stop worrying' or 'chill out.' Instead, listen to her, offer to help her find information, go to midwife appointments with her, or take an afternoon off to have some fun together. And since you’re a team, don’t hold back on sharing your fears, too. Speak up, and things will go a lot more smoothly for both of you. You may not know what to do in every situation, just being there to listen helps her out a lot. Find out what you need to know to get through the 40-odd weeks, month by month by visiting the other areas of this website, and see below for some helpful links.
Go with her to her midwife/doctor visits when you can and attend antenatal classes together. Learn about the changes taking place to your partners’ body and your baby’s development. The more information you have, the more relaxed you’ll feel.
Research shows new mothers have a better overall pregnancy experience when partners are actively involved. In your role as your partner's number one pregnancy partner, you’ll enjoy the experience more and give her some much-appreciated relief by sending the message that you’ll be a reliable partner in childcare.
Your partner may be tired and emotionally vulnerable too. So try to help whenever you can, and think about ways to lighten her load. Consider stocking up the freezer with nutritious meals during pregnancy, so if you are too tired to cook after the baby arrives you will be prepared. If you can save extra money, this may help relieve some anxiety.
