This week on Calling in Sick's Ask Alex, I'm getting into something I've wanted to talk about for a while!! The communication strategies that have actually made a difference during my first trimester. Best part? Chronic illness taught us most of them. We all know Cooper is Saint Coop for a reason. But this week I'm breaking down exactly WHY he's so good at this, and the framework we've built together that I think every chronic illness couple — pregnant or not — needs to hear.

We're diving into:

🤍 The 4 S's of partner support: solidarity, solutions, sympathy and shit-talking (yes, really)

🧠 Decision fatigue: why anticipating needs without being asked is the ultimate act of love

😂 Meet Victoria: how we handle mood swings without taking them personally

📚 How we research together

💪 What I do on MY end

xx,

Alex

💬 Comment: What's the hardest communication topic you've had to navigate with your partner during chronic illness or pregnancy?

TIMESTAMP:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

How Chronic Illness Prepared Me and My Partner for Pregnancy:

00:01:55 The single question to ask your partner: "What kind of support do you need?"

00:03:09 Anticipating needs: executing without being asked

00:05:09 How we manage hormonal mood swings without taking them personally

00:06:33 Collaborative research: how we figured out my due date together

00:07:27 Bidirectional accountability: supporting the primary caregiver

Conclusion:

00:08:21 We want to hear your hardest communication points!!!

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Alex’s Picks of the Week:

We get into nausea this week, here’s my top 2 picks for managing it!!

✨Sea Bands — ⁠https://sea-band.com?sca_ref=11335860.28aQZwoPI5g⁠

Use code ALEX10 for 10% off at checkout!!

✨Preggie Pops — ⁠https://amzn.to/3PFqZUk⁠

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