As a first-time father, I have to admit that I wasn’t ready for some of the side effects my wife would be experiencing. They don’t make a lot of sense to me, honestly, but they’re very real. Some are taste related while others seem completely arbitrary.

Aversion to Quilting

My wife is an amazing quilter. She has the distinction of winning 1st place in a Texas county fair for her quilting and has produced some of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve personally seen someone make. One of my most prized possessions is an anniversary quilt she poured her heart and soul into. The amazing part is she was able to keep it completely hidden from me as it was being assembled until it was presented to me on our anniversary.

That being said, a short time into her pregnancy, she developed a severe aversion to the art she loves. She couldn’t even look at her quilting space without having a physical reaction reminiscent of disgust.

Over time, this aversion faded and she’s now been able to pick back up where she left off. However, the important lesson I took from this is that things will change even before Baby Lone Star arrives. Her quilting is her passion. It’s part of what makes my wife unique and lovely.

Aversion to Foods

This aversion probably won’t come as a surprise to many as I’ve heard about it several times throughout my life. Experiencing it first hand is another story. There were foods that my wife loved before the pregnancy and absolutely could not tolerate after the pregnancy began.

As any man that’s dated, married and/or lived with a woman would know, shared food interests are often common. You enjoy the same types of food, otherwise it’s difficult to settle on a menu at a restaurant or even preparing meals in the home.

The biggest food aversion my wife experienced early in pregnancy was to meat in general, but red meat specifically. We were forced to find other things that we could both enjoy and that wasn’t always easy.

As her pregnancy has progressed, the aversion to meat has subsided, but a new related aversion has revealed itself. She can’t stand the sight of raw meat. The only effect this has had is that she can’t have a hot meal ready for us when I get home from work. To be clear, this isn’t an expectation I have of my wife, but it’s how she liked to do things. Now, I’ll cook the meat when I get home, at least to the point where it doesn’t appear raw, then she’ll take over. I have to admit this isn’t a bad thing. It’s forced me to take the time when I get home from work to do something constructive with her and it presents another opportunity to talk about our days together.

What I’ve Learned

Fellas, be there for your wife. This is a temporary situation that requires small sacrifices on our end to make our wife’s pregnancy experience slightly less stressful. Look for the positives in the face of these new challenges and use them to strengthen your relationship. I’m sure far more challenging situations lay in wait for us down the road. Don’t allow this to put a damper on your day or your marriage.

– The Lone Star Dad