Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld recently shared that they are expecting their first child. Pregnancy announcements from public figures are common, but this one traveled further than most.

What stood out was not the celebrity factor or career milestones, but the language 29-year-old Buffalo Bills quarterback Allen used when talking about his partner. Referring to 29-year-old actress and singer Steinfeld as his “favorite teammate” resonated well beyond sports media, touching something many pregnant people quietly hope for.

Pregnancy often centers physically on one person. Emotionally, though, it works best when it feels shared.

Why language matters more than grand gestures

Support during pregnancy is not only about what someone does. It is also about how they talk about the experience.

Small phrases can carry lasting weight. Feeling described as a burden, an afterthought, or someone who needs help can feel very different from being spoken about as a partner in the process.

Many parents remember words of support long after pregnancy ends, sometimes more vividly than the logistics or tasks that were completed along the way.

Related: How moms are using AI to lighten the mental load—what actually helps (and what doesn’t)

Pregnancy is not a solo job, even when one body does the work

There is no way around the physical imbalance of pregnancy. One body carries the medical risks, hormonal shifts, and physical strain.

Acknowledging that reality does not mean pregnancy has to feel emotionally isolating. Support is not about equal bodies. It is about shared responsibility for planning, worrying, adjusting, and preparing.

For many parents, what they crave most is not help, but presence.

Related: One dad opened up about the fatherhood mental load—and the internet had a lot to say

What being a “teammate” actually looks like in real life

Stripped of celebrity context, the idea of being a teammate translates into everyday actions:

  • Showing up to appointments when possible.
  • Asking how someone is really feeling and listening to the answer.
  • Taking initiative instead of waiting to be directed.

Teamwork looks different in every family. What matters is that one partner does not feel like they are carrying the mental and emotional load alone.

When careers are demanding and support matters even more

Both Allen and Steinfeld have careers that come with intense schedules and public pressure. While most parents are not navigating that level of visibility, many are balancing pregnancy alongside demanding or inflexible jobs.

Pregnancy has a way of surfacing mismatched expectations. Who takes on planning. Who anticipates needs. Who adapts first.

Those moments can feel like friction, but they can also become opportunities to rebalance and reconnect before a baby arrives.

Related: The invisible labor that’s breaking moms: How unequal mental load impacts mental health

How couples can build partnership before baby arrives

From a relationship or perinatal mental health perspective, strong partnership during pregnancy often starts with communication rather than logistics. That can mean naming fears out loud, sharing planning responsibilities, and checking in emotionally instead of assuming everything is fine.

There is no perfect script. What tends to matter most is intention, responsiveness, and a willingness to adjust together.

Related: How pregnancy changes friendships—and how to nurture them

Why parents are hungry for this kind of support language

Conversations about mental load, emotional labor, and invisibility during pregnancy have become louder for a reason. Many pregnant people feel physically central and emotionally sidelined at the same time. Hearing language that affirms partnership helps counter that experience. It validates the idea that pregnancy is not something happening to one person while the other watches from the sidelines.

Pregnancy works best when it is not treated as one person’s responsibility. Feeling like a teammate, not a supporting character, can change how pregnancy feels day to day. There is no perfect language, but presence, intention, and shared ownership go a long way.

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