What is Hilary Erickson's approach to addressing husbands' needs during pregnancy?

Hilary Erickson believes that it's important to acknowledge the emotional journey that husbands go through during pregnancy. She suggests that husbands can often feel overwhelmed by the significant life changes that are happening, without having any control or firsthand experience of it.

Hilary encourages open communication between partners. She advises pregnant women to be explicit about their needs and to form a team with their partners, sharing both the good and the bad. She also recommends taking a prenatal class together to foster understanding and communication.

Hilary also emphasizes the importance of husbands learning about pregnancy and childbirth, to show their commitment to being there every step of the way. This can help alleviate a lot of the fear and stress that pregnant women may feel.

Finally, Hilary suggests that husbands can be physically supportive, helping with tasks that become more difficult as the pregnancy progresses. This can include simple things like helping their partner get up from the couch or out of bed, or even helping with household chores.

Would you like to know more about any specific aspect of this approach?