For 285 days, he watched his wife suffer. She couldn’t keep food down, vomiting over and over because of Hyperemesis Gravidarum and preeclampsia. She lost 30 pounds while pregnant, her body unable to hold the nourishment she and her baby needed.
Four times during those months, she was hospitalized for dehydration. At home, he tried to make things easier, but even the smallest scents made her sick. Many evenings, he ate his dinner alone on the front steps, just so the smell wouldn’t reach her.
He couldn’t take away her pain, but he stayed by her side, helping however he could. For months, his role was simply to be there, quietly supporting her through each long, draining day.
When the time came, he stood beside her during labor, holding her hand, encouraging her through every contraction. After their baby boy arrived, I told him I had caught a photo of him crying as he saw his son for the first time. “That’s not why I was crying,” he said softly.
I looked at him, confused, and asked what he meant. His eyes filled again, and his voice caught as he answered. “This is the first time I’ve seen her smile in ten months.”
It wasn’t just the arrival of their child that moved him, it was seeing his wife’s joy return after so many months of struggle.
Men, never underestimate the power of simply being there. Your empathy, patience, and steady presence mean more than you may ever realize.
And to every mother who endures a difficult, exhausting, even traumatic pregnancy, thank you. Thank you for pushing through the pain, the fear, the endless days of discomfort, and still finding the strength to bring life into the world. Your sacrifice is not small. It is immeasurable.
