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Going the Full Nine
How to be a Model Dad-to-be
By I.J. Schecter
Your role:
Affirm her emerging motherness by agreeing with everything she senses. If she thinks she's starting to show, grant her the fact, whether or not you really think she is. When she shows your buddies her tummy and they continue to stare past her toward the sports highlights, tell her they just aren't in that place right now.
Fifth InningShe's settled into a rhythm and has regained some pep.
Your role:
Continue to agree with her rather than playing the realist, as men instinctively do. If she thinks she feels the baby moving, get excited with her instead of suggesting it's probably something else. If she's concerned that the watermelon seeds she swallowed might affect the baby, ask if she'd like you to call her doctor instead of questioning her logic. She isn't logical right now, and because she's nurturing a fragile human life inside her, she has every right not to be.
As her body begins its gradual preparation for delivery, her shape is continuing to change. Chances are she's less than thrilled about it.
Your role:
Remind her often that she's doing great, looks terrific, has the stamina and perseverance to go all the way and that you're proud of her just for having come this far. Let her know how wonderful a nursery she is by taking out a recent ultrasound snapshot and showing her how content your baby is swimming around in there.
She may be wilting and telling you she'd just like to finish the game already. You're confused, since a) just a month ago she was describing to her friends the exhilaratio of the whole experience; b) you never get tired of feeling those kicks and movements on her belly; and c) you thought this was the easy part.
