--- title: "What to Expect When Your Wife is Expecting" description: "Finding out your wife is expecting is one of life's greatest joys. Here are three practical encouragements for dads while waiting for the baby to arrive." date: 2026-11-11 authors: Addison Hagberg category: Parenting tags: Fatherhood, Marriage, Serving, Family Planning, Love, Thanksgiving url: https://www.growingfathers.com/what-to-expect-when-your-wife-is-expecting/ --- # What to Expect When Your Wife is Expecting July 26, 2023, seemed like an ordinary day. My wife and I had recently returned from a trip to the East Coast and were now settling back into our little apartment just outside of Denver, Colorado. That *normal* day became one of the best days of my life. After months of waiting and prayerful anticipation, joy flooded our hearts when we saw two lines on a pregnancy test. I was a father, and we were now expecting parents–life was about to change forever. One of the greatest joys in life is finding out you and your wife are expecting a baby. Most fathers can recount their own climactic moment of entering parenthood, sometimes after years of prayer. As new fathers, we experience the emotional high of finding out she's pregnant and the excitement of telling family, but then we are left with 40 weeks to…wait. I've now had the privilege of experiencing this joy twice in my life, and as I reflect on both pregnancies, I've realized that no one ever told me how to handle the waiting period in between learning my wife was pregnant and when the baby actually came. The Bible has a lot to say about waiting: Abraham and Sarah had to wait for Isaac, Joseph had to wait for God to fulfill his dreams, and David had to wait to become king. In all of these cases, waiting was active. Biblical waiting isn't passive. Waiting includes intentional trust in the Lord and preparation for the task. I love how the NIV translates "wait" in Isaiah 40:31 as "hope": "*but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength*." We can anticipate God's provision of strength and guidance as we accomplish the task of waiting. So how do we honor and wait on the Lord as we prepare for a baby? My wife and I just welcomed our second child in August, and that experience allowed me to reflect on my own successes, failures, and lessons learned. I'd like to provide three encouragements for you during the exciting waiting period of expecting a child. ## 1. Embrace the Preparation. Most men and fathers are not known for their love of quilt patterns, wall color, or embroidery selection. Many of us despise the idea of sitting in a room full of strangers while practicing breathing techniques with our wives. When I had to attend a Lamaze class last summer during the United States' first knockout game of the World Cup, I was not happy! These activities might seem tedious and annoying to you, but they are immensely important to your wife. Most women enter the "nesting phase" as soon as she finds out she is pregnant, and she is looking for you to take ownership in helping her prepare. Every wife will express this desire in different ways, but it is your job to be present and engaged. Giving her your attention to the task at hand will help build her confidence and relieve stress as the due date approaches. Yes, decorating the nursery, picking out clothes, and purchasing a new diaper bag may not be your thing, but they communicate your love for her. Even if this is your third, fourth, or tenth child, don't neglect to embrace the preparation. ## 2. Enjoy the Journey. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "*In everything give thanks*." Pregnancy can be chaotic and stressful, but when you slow down, you can see all the incredible things to give thanks for. I can still remember hearing our son's heartbeat for the first time. I remember seeing his fists curled up like a boxer at the anatomy scan. I remember the size comparisons to various vegetables as he grew each week. These are the moments that will stick with you for the rest of your life. For first-time fathers, your mind will race with questions and fears as you wait. With our first, every part of the journey felt awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time. For our second, I was tempted to lose the awe of what our family was experiencing. I had to intentionally set my heart on rejoicing in each milestone God provided. Psalm 139 says that we are each "*fearfully and wonderfully made*". We can rejoice in God's handiwork each step of the way. Whatever stage you are in, enjoy the journey. Make it to as many of the doctor's appointments as possible, have fun talking through potential names, and spend time praising God together. ## 3. Serve Your Wife. Prioritizing the needs of your wife is the simplest, hardest, and most important thing you can do during pregnancy. 1 Peter 4:8 says, "*Love covers a multitude of sins,*" and I learned that serving your wife covers a lot of mistakes as well. When your wife is experiencing the struggles of morning sickness and can't stomach cooking a meal, get out of your comfort zone and learn your way around the kitchen. When your wife's feet swell up and she can barely walk, make sure she has little reason to be on her feet. When your wife is 38 weeks and doesn't want to get off the couch, take the other kids to the park so she can relax. You will not have the opportunity to take every burden off your plate, but when you are able, serve your wife. This season is a test of our love for our wives and our commitment to servant leadership. We may not know the answer to every problem, but we should know how to show the love of Christ. Ephesians 5 points us to love and lead sacrificially in our marriages: "*Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.*" Pregnancy is the perfect time to display this posture of Christlike servanthood toward your wife. Tell your wife to treat you like a servant when you are around and then joyfully comply when she does! ## Conclusion A new pregnancy can bring blessings and challenges to a family, but each moment is a chance to display confidence in the grace of God as we wait. Dads, we get the opportunity to actively lead and care for our wives as we display the character of God. This is a time when our wives need us, and God will provide us with the strength and wisdom to step up and serve.