Photo by: Patrick A Wilson/Flickr
Being Shut Out
She's got kicks. She's got appointments. She's got a pile of books on what she's going through. You're squished in the corner of a tiny obstetrician's office wondering if you should sit, stand, lean, talk, or keep quiet. It can feel isolating when you're both having a child - but only one of you is, literally, having the baby. It's not so much that men wish they could be pregnant - though some do-...
more Photo by: Patrick A Wilson/Flickr
Being Shut Out
She's got kicks. She's got appointments. She's got a pile of books on what she's going through. You're squished in the corner of a tiny obstetrician's office wondering if you should sit, stand, lean, talk, or keep quiet. It can feel isolating when you're both having a child - but only one of you is, literally, having the baby. It's not so much that men wish they could be pregnant - though some do- it's more that they can feel like a third wheel sometimes. This is unfortunate because dads are absolutely going through a huge life change, too. It can be reassuring to know that feeling alienated (at times) is normal and most definitely not a sign that you're no longer relevant. You'll be much more tangibly involved once the baby is born. Be open about your thoughts and worries. Women take on a special status during pregnancy, but that doesn't mean you have to disappear.
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