When it comes to getting pregnant, many people tend to concentrate on the mother-to-be and all the things that she can do to prepare for the day when her bundle of joy appears. In truth, all the expectant fathers should also get ready to become a dad and prepare for their bundle of joy.
If you’re either dealing with shock or you’ve been waiting for this moment for years, finding out that you’re going to be a father is a life-defining moment. It’s normal to have a mixture of emotions, from pure joy to pure terror— even if this is something you’ve always wanted to do.
In all honesty, it’s hard to feel ready to become a dad. However, we have some suggestions for you when you are awaiting the birth of your little one, and also to bring it into place in the exciting-yet-tiring, yet-exhausting months to follow!
1. Get healthy
Before your baby comes, it’s a perfect time to focus on your health. Try to stop if you smoke. Smoking exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of congenital heart defects in newborns.
How are your eating habits? Eating well will help fuel the long days and nights! (of new parenthood). If your diet benefits from some small changes, try these healthy swaps. Or add some fiber-rich and immune-boosting food to your meals.
If it’s been a while, make an annual physical consultation with the family doctor or internist. And find out whether you’re up to date on all the vaccinations, like whooping cough.
2. Spend Extra Quality Time With Their Partner
From the moment a person first knows that they’re going to be a parent, life seems different. Every aspect of it feels different.
But life has now been about the child and the mother of the child. Many people forget that after the baby is born, at least for the first few months, there won’t be much mommy and daddy’s time, so couples must spend quality time together before the baby is born.
Also, there are a lot of romantic thoughts for the last date before the baby arrives. Couples will enjoy simple date nights at home, somewhat like cooking together. Even these at-home dates can become rare once both of you are taking care of a baby, especially when your partner is regularly stressed out!
3. Read Up On Fatherhood
You may not be the one who physically carries the baby. But that doesn’t mean you’re not part of the pregnancy and birth experience. The same can extend to those who use or adopt a surrogate—there are certainly ways to feel involved.
There are many books out there for expectant dads. So you don’t have to limit yourself to those. Join any online groups or sign up for your pregnancy newsletter.
If your wife has symptoms of pregnancy, from morning sickness to heartburn, do some research. Understanding what they feel will make you better support them when they carry your child.
When the time comes for labor, birth, and treatment for a child, knowing what to expect will make the whole thing a much better experience. Learn about vaginal and cesarean delivery, breastfeeding, changing diapers, and more.
4. Offering a helping hand
The loss of sleep and the body healing from having given birth to a baby, there’s a lot a new mother has to go through. Although some fathers may nod their heads in agreement as the rest feign nonchalance, there is still a lot of work to be done. Be prepared to feed, adjust, play with the baby, and put it to sleep. More specifically, without being asked to do so. Simply knowing that she’s not alone in perhaps the most challenging phase of her life will soothe the nerves of many mothers. Keep in mind that your wife is going through tough times. Even if she does not ask for it directly, she wants all the help and support that you can give her at this critical moment.
5. Rethink your daily commute
If you’re a family breadwinner and forced to return to work soon after the child’s birth, you’ll be in the unfortunate position of missing much of your new baby’s first experiences; his first smile, his first laugh, and even his first poo (yes, that’s a thing). As a result, you will do everything in your power to ensure that you at least try to get home every night for bath time. Therefore, this may entail a severe rethink about your daily commute to see how you can get from door to door in record time. Use this time before your child arrives to try out your options, whether by train, plane, or vehicle. You won’t be just a ‘weekend parent’!
6. Go to the appointments whenever you can
Prenatal visits are a great way to get excited about the pregnancy. There is, of course, experience seeing your child-to-be on ultrasound, so even other regular checks will help you connect with your pregnancy and learn more about what to expect.
You have the opportunity to ask your questions, find out what your partner is thinking, and learn more about your child’s growth.
Although work schedules and other difficulties can prevent you from attending every appointment, speak to your co-parent about creating a schedule that will allow you to be there as much as possible. This can continue while the baby is scheduled for a newborn checkup.
7. Embrace your place in the preparations
There’s a lot to be done to prepare for a new arrival. It’s not just about carrying the baby. Creating a registry, planning a room, saving money, researching child care, and so many more things would need to be discussed to become a dad.
You may find that you love being part of all the tasks or that you are best suited to dealing with only certain aspects. Look for several different ways to get interested in getting ready for your new arrival.
A few suggestions to ready become a dad:
- Learn how to install and use a car seat (and volunteer to teach others)
- make phone calls about childcare or insurance
- Bring the furniture together or color the room
- Find the best baby carrier or formula
- Take a birth or breastfeeding lesson with your partner
- Speak to your employer about your options for leave
- pack the bag of the hospital
The Bottom Line
There’s no perfect dad, but at the end of the day, no matter what you think, you’ve been chosen to be your child’s dad. There’s no better dad for your kids than you, and please make sure you’re ready to become a dad and part of your child’s life. Create memories, own mistakes, be there with them when they need you, and everything you need to know comes instinctively!
