Pregnancy is a one-of-a-kind time in your life as well as in your partner's. This long, strange trip — from “My boys can swim!” to “Breathe, honey, breathe!” — brings elation, anxiety, anticipation, and much more.

It also gives you the opportunity to see your partner in a whole new light: to watch her grow physically and personally as she makes the amazing transformation to motherhood. Her strength and sheer stamina in this nine-month marathon can have you feeling both proud and protective.

A Brand New-Lifestyle

Yes, life will change significantly once your child arrives. No running out to catch a late movie and dinner at your favorite Mexican spot. You've got Disney matinees and Happy Meals on your dance card. Barney and his smiling minions will eventually muscle out your Monty Python video collection for shelf space. Going to work out will mean a trip to Gymboree. But the first time your daughter smiles at you, says your name, or laughs out loud at jokes that no one else would, it will all be so very worth it. And before you know it, you'll actually start to enjoy this second edition of your childhood, from the parenting perspective.

Dads Should Enjoy Pregnancy Too

Unfortunately, even though we're well past the waiting room-pacing dads of the 1950s, fathers often get shut out of the pregnancy experience. The result can be frustration and anxiety. Many fathers-to-be experience significant stress related to the upcoming pressures of parenthood, but everyone's focus on mom and baby can minimize your concerns and leave you feeling excluded.

Planning on taking her out for a nice romantic dinner? Pick a restaurant that is completely smoke free, and make reservations so she won't be waiting on her feet for too long. Be sure to request a booth to give her more room to spread out. With her sometimes-fickle stomach, now is probably not the time to get adventurous with new cuisines.

It isn't just a matter of the “What about me?” syndrome. Dads who do try to connect with the pregnancy on a deeper level are sometimes ridiculed for their efforts. Ever get laughed at when you tell others “We're pregnant”? Or perhaps you're the type who snickers when the other guy announces his pregnancy (come on, you know who you are). Either way, you might end up internalizing your questions and fears due to a misguided sense of stoicism, consequently distancing yourself from the pregnancy experience.

Obviously, you'll never be able to fully experience pregnancy in a physical sense (nor will you probably want to after watching the woman you love live through it), but you can increase your emotional investment in this pregnancy by communicating with your spouse or partner about your hopes, dreams, and anxieties. Feeling stressed about your ability to parent, about how your relationship with your partner can change, or about possible financial changes affecting your family is completely normal. Talking about these issues as a couple can bring you closer together and help alleviate your worries.