Week 8 - Community Service Project

On March 13, our class will present our maternal health PowerPoint. I did research on the role of partners when carrying for their pregnant wives. This is an important topic as pregnancy can be emotionally over-bearing as well as physically demanding. Therefore, it is the partners role to ease the burden of their pregnant wife in order for the pregnant wife to remain calm, with hormone levels in safe fluctuations, and to easily follow with bed-rest when needed. To accomplish this, partners must have good communication with their wife--listening to her emotional and physical concerns and providing verbal and physical comfort. It is important for them to be patient with her. It would be helpful for the partner to research the effects of pregnancy on the wife such as mood swings and other behavioral changes in order for partners to anticipate and expect such changes to occur. Researching the aftermath of birth is also crucial for the parent to prepare for the coming of the newborn into the home as well as for the potential of the wife being inflicted with post-partum depression. Absorbing the wife's daily tasks such as chores will be appreciated by the partner's wife and will give her more time to rest as well as ease her stress. The partner will strive to be a physical comfort to their wife by accompanying her to medical appointments or parenting classes and being an active participant. Finally, it is important, in order for the partner not to succumb to emotional strife themselves, to remember to practice self-care. The partner should also worry about their own needs--remembering to eat regularly, rest as much as possible, following their daily routines, cherishing their hobbies, etc. This is important as seeing their partner in emotional strife will cause a further increase in the stress levels of the pregnant wife. Also, being a healthier will allow the partner to be a better support to their wife.

I look foward to our presentation and hope the audience will benefit from the information we share.