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Hip, Hip, Hurray, Im a Daddy Today! |
Congratulations! You are going to be a Dad! Finding out that you are going to be a father can be an exciting and confusing time. Regardless if this is your first child, or you’re a seasoned daddy, you don’t have to wait until the baby is here to get involved. There are many things you can do to be a part your partner’s pregnancy, the birth, and getting ready to bring your newest bundle of joy home. Here are a few pointers that may help.
Get Involved
Go with your partner to her preconception and prenatal visits. Whenever possible, join your partner at her doctor’s visit, it allows you to see exactly what is happening with your baby. It also shows her you are interested in how the pregnancy is developing for mother and baby.
Do Research
There is a great deal of information available in books, online, and even on TV. Ask friends and family for their advice. Possibly, there are old pros at this. Most importantly rely on your own instincts. Ultimately, this is your baby, and your paternal instincts are there for a reason – Trust them! You can only gain experience by actually doing it.
Educate Yourself
Go to childbirth education classes with your partner. If this is your first child it is always good to do at least a couple of classes to get an idea of things to come. Doing this together can really help your understanding and relationship. Daddy Boot Camp is also great for first timers. It is a great overview for new dads. If this is a second or subsequent child, it is always good to do a refresher course especially if there has been a gap between children.
Help Your Partner Stay Healthy During Pregnancy
Help Her eat healthy foods, exercise, quit smoking, stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs. Avoid dangerous workplace and household hazards (such as paint thinner and week killers). Quit smoking your self if you possibly can. Secondhand smoke is bad for pregnant women and babies. Limit your alcohol intake. She is allowed to drink a little, but if you both abstain, she won’t feel like she is missing out.
Be A Labour Partner
Find out what she wants you when she’s in labour. If she wants you to rub her back, help her change positions, feed her ice cubes, or help her make decisions about pain relief, be prepared to do so. But, also accept that she may change her mind any time during all of this. If you’re up for it, ask your midwife if you can cut the umbilical cord.
Be Active In Decision Making
By the time your baby arrives, you and your partner will have bought baby clothes, prepared the nursery, and bought and installed a car seat. Remember that hospitals won’t let you drive baby home without one. Hopefully, you will have also settled on boy and girl options for your child’s name; determined whether to breast or bottle feed, and whether to use cloth or disposable nappies.
Support Her
Although it is ultimately your partner’s decision to breast or bottle feed, by supportive and prepared to help anyway you can. Bathing, feeding, changing, and helping around th ehouse can be done by either parents, not just Mum. Do what ever you can to help out. She will need to be able to rest and recuperate after the delivery, so whatever is asked. Bottles, formula, and breast pumps are great inventions! There is no reason for you not to do the graveyard shift to let her grab a little extra sleep. It is also a great opportunity for you to have some quality bonding time with the baby.
Prepare to be Unprepared
Nine months of pregnancy rush by so fast, believe it or not! The experience can be overwhelming. Enjoy it, savour it, and don’t worry if you don’t have everything ready by the time baby arrives. You have his or her whold life ahead of you.
Good Luck and Congratulations!
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