Finding out you’re going to be a dad

In 9 months you’re going to be a dad, congrats!

Congratulations! You just found out you’re going to be a dad and we know you’re probably experiencing every emotion under the sun all at once: excited, nervous, concerned, worried, ecstatic, terrified and maybe even surprised. Well, you’re not alone, just about every expectant father takes a ride on this emotional rollercoaster when he finds out his wife or girlfriend is pregnant. The question is how on earth are you going to deal with all of these emotions?

Well, we at the-pregnancy.net want you to know that we’re here for not only expectant mums, but also expectant dads and that starts now. So here are a few things you can do to help you through this exciting, yet overwhelming time:

• Talk to your partner. You are in this together and though your emotions and pregnancy experience will be different, you will need each other’s support and to be on the same page. Remember to talk about everything: your emotions, your finances, your expectations (not only of the pregnancy, but also of each other) and your sexlife.
• Plan your finances. Having a baby certainly impacts your financial situation, but it is not worth getting stressed about and don’t let your partner stress either, it’s bad for her and the baby. Take a deep breath and make a plan together. Remember, you don’t have to pay for everything all at once.
• Don’t be afraid to rely on the support of family and friends. Family and friends will always have advice for you and a shoulder to lean on when it all gets a bit overwhelming. Both you and your wife should take advantage of this support, but be warned sometimes it can be overbearing. Don’t be afraid to say “Thanks, but no thanks” if you feel their “advice” has become more of a list of instructions.
• Join a pregnancy class. Today, pregnancy and birth classes aimed at dads-to-be have become quite popular. These are a great opportunity to not only get the 411 on everything pregnancy related, but also to meet other expectant fathers who are in the same situation as you. You’ll soon learn that no one ever feels ready to be a dad and this is sure to lift a load off your shoulders. Remember, you can do it and it’s a learning curve for everyone!
• Read up on everything pregnancy and birth related. It seems you’ve already started doing that, so we’ll just let you know you’re free to explore our whole website, whether it’s dad-centred or information we’ve compiled for mums-to-be, it’s all at your disposal.

Your life is changing, but it’s not over. In fact, it’s only going to get better, so just relax and take a deep breath and your partner’s hand, because you’re both going to be amazing parents!