Pregnancy happens to be one of the most exciting and most tender periods in a couple's life. It is a mixture of mood swings, morning sickness, food cravings, routine checkups, anxiety and excitement over the impending arrival of your bundle of joy. Gone are the days when pregnancy was just a woman's business. Husbands can now play a crucial role in making the nine months long gestation period a lot smoother for their better halves. Here are some excellent suggestions for husbands with pregnant wives. As You Await the Stork It is a difficult to put in words the joy of holding your very own baby, your own flesh and blood, and your future. But until this exciting moment arrives, husbands or would-be-fathers have to go through an eventful roller coaster ride along with their partners. It is in fact the gestation period that actually prepares a man to handle fatherhood. Here is what husbands can do to help their pregnant wives. Handle Mood Swings As pregnancy sets in your wife experiences a lot of mood swings on account of secretion of hormones. At the same time, she feels general anxiety over safely passing through the pregnancy period. One of the chief causes of anxiety for first time moms-to-be happen to be fear of labor pain, a fear of putting on excessive weight and losing the body shape. Your wives may get anger bouts at such times and husbands happen to be on the receiving end of their frustration most of the time. It is important for husbands to stop feeling like punching bags. Instead they need to understand that it is just a phase that will pass. Be a Good Companion As the pregnancy advances, wives feel the insecurity of looking less attractive to their husbands. At such times, husbands need to give constant reassurance to their wives that they look beautiful even as the pregnancy advances. Your wives may experience morning sickness for the first trimester or a bit longer than that. Be supportive and helpful during these difficult times, by avoiding smoking and consumption of foods that can cause nausea to your wives. You can avoid going out with your friends for a few days and instead spend some quality time with your wife. Make her laugh and forget her anxiety. You may even feel her belly and speak to your baby. It is proven that speaking to babies while they are still in the womb help create some of the best father-child relationships. Respect Privacy Getting pregnant is a completely different experience for young girls, especially if it happens to be their first pregnancy. Watch out for the way your wife breaks the good news to friends and family. Some expectant women love to ask for advice about pregnancy from experienced mothers while others decide to keep the news private. It is essential to respect your wife's decision as it is she who is going through the physical changes. It is common to announce a pregnancy after the first trimester is over. Satisfy Food Cravings Food cravings usually arise from the very first month of pregnancy and may last for just the first trimester or through the entire gestation period. A woman usually craves for foods that are essential for nourishing the baby in her womb. You will have to keep a cool head and try to satisfy her food cravings as much as possible. Your wife may crave for foods that are likely to add to her weight during pregnancy, but you need to stop thinking about that for the time being. Help Decorate Nursery Dreaming and planning for a beautiful baby nursery is a natural instinct amongst pregnant women. Do not discourage such feelings if your wife expresses them. You may start by helping her plan the new nursery. If you happen to know the sex of the baby that you are expecting, then you might start by choosing appropriate colors for paints or wall papers. Buy all the baby furniture, toys and curtains needed to make the nursery perfect. Go Shopping Your wife may start planning a shopping spree for things like maternity gowns, post pregnancy garments and baby clothes. Make sure to accompany your wife during shopping visits to the mall. Your company is not just a feel good factor for your wife but she will appreciate your participation in helping her choose the best clothing. Relieve Physical Stress Pregnancy is a time of physical stress for women. Imagine carrying an additional weight of 6 to 8 pounds for an entire period of nine months! Pregnancy can cause pain in your wife's shoulders, lower back and feet. The sheer mass of the baby and the amniotic fluids can lead to painfully swollen feet. It is therefore essential to use some stress relieving techniques like a gentle massage or some acupressure to relieve physical stress. Another option is to exercise along with you wife. This helps her know that you want to be part of the whole pregnancy experience. Women often say, that pregnancies can be some of best times of marriage and companionship. Routine Checkups Care to schedule your office work in such a way that you can fit in time to make routine visits to your wife's gynecologist. It will not only makes your wife happy, but it can also help you get first hand updates about the progress and development of your baby. The session can be made interactive by asking questions and getting suggestions to make the pregnancy smoother. Take initiative to help your wife follow the routine of medication intake. One of the best moments of routine checkups happen to be the time when you get to see your baby on the ultrasound and hear it's heartbeats. These moments are something to die for. Help Choose Baby Names One of the most exciting activity is to choose a name for your baby along with your wife. You can start by ascertaining the sex of your child first and then proceeding to browse on the Internet for some really cute names. If you wish to name your child after some grandparents or uncles, then go ahead and suggest it. Prepare a cute little list of baby names for your wife to ponder. Attend Lamaze Class Lamaze classes or childbirth classes are recommended for both partners during pregnancy. It helps the would-be parents understand methods of handling childbirth. These sessions are highly interactive and are really helpful for first time parents. You get a chance to understand the breathing exercises that might help curb your wife's labor pain. As a husband, you get a chance to learn about handling the stress of the D-day. Plan a Baby Shower You might want to surprise your wife by planning a secret baby shower party in the 6th or 7th month of her pregnancy. Choose an appropriate theme for the baby shower. Send out invites to all friends and family. Make the event unforgettable by getting some beautiful baby shower gifts for your wife. Plan a Short Vacation It is virtually impossible for couples to plan a good vacation once the baby is born. It takes a good two years time before your baby starts becoming a little independent and your wife gets a chance to think about some exciting family vacation. So why not plan a short vacation during the pregnancy itself? Some of the best vacation ideas include a short cruise trip or a relaxing leisure holiday in Hawaii or the Caribbean islands. Avoid planning any stressful hiking or sightseeing activities during such a vacation. Multitasking I am sure that most of you are already taking extra pains to finish your work early at the office and rush home to spend some quality time with your pregnant wife. However, as the pregnancy advances, a woman's movements and work capacity might get restricted. In such cases, when there are no options of inviting help from your family and friends, you might need to multitask and pay some attention towards domestic responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning besides your regular professional work. Apply for Paternity Leave Your wife will always be happy and thankful if you apply for a paternity leave well in advance. If both the partners have their respective careers, then paternity leave is usually planned just as the maternity leave is coming towards the end. This helps your wife feel assured that you will be watching over the baby as she starts working after a long sabbatical. In such a case, plan the leave in such a way that it coincides with the maternity leave for at least 10 days, so that the baby will get used to your presence as a caregiver. If it is just you who is working and your wife is a homemaker, then plan the paternity leave to begin immediately after your baby is born. With all said and done, make sure that your wife feels as little mental stress as possible. Put a smile on her face each day and stay alert to face any unforeseen health problems. Your efforts will definitely bear you a healthy and happy baby.