Becoming a father for the first time can be quite an overwhelming feeling.
You may have hoped for this for a long time - or it may have come to you as a complete surprise.
Either way: The range of emotions you may experience can vary from pure bliss and excitement to anxiety and worries about the future.
Does this sound familiar?
You are happy and look forward to becoming a dad, but you have no clue where to even begin with the preparations for the new family member.
You want to support the mom-to-be as much as you can, but she became an unreadable book of emotions, nausea, and sleepiness.
You want to tell some of your close family members and friends but are worried about a never-ending flood of unsolicited and unhelpful advice.
Most first-time-dads struggle with pregnancy - which is totally understandable and normal. Becoming a father will be the most important thing you will do in your entire life, but as much as that makes it wonderful, it can also make it quite scary.
While there is a plethora of advice for moms-to-be, there is not much quality information to be found for soon-to-be-fathers, which can be additionally irritating.
Thankfully, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know about the pregnancy, the mother, and the baby so that you can navigate with certainty and purpose through your new role as a father.
Inside, you'll discover:
- Important questions you should discuss right away with your partner when you find out you will become parents
- What actually happens physically when a woman is pregnant? An overview
- The ultimate first-time-dad checklist for the first, second, and third trimesters
- When and how to announce your big news - and how to deal with unsolicited advice the right way
- Birth preparation: What facility to choose for the birth and what to look out for when touring potential locations
- Be her shelter from the storm: How to support the mom-to-be in every phase of the pregnancy, during labor, and after the baby has arrived
- The dad you want to be: How to form your values, deal with emotions, and bond with your child
- Co-parenting a newborn: The good, the bad, the ugly, and the things you need to be aware of as a new father
- Why and how you should take care of yourself and your relationship when the baby has arrived
And much more.
Becoming a father is not a walk in the park: You will phase challenges, live through incredibly happy events, and experience very frustrating moments. But that is all part of the journey.
Set yourself up with the knowledge and support you need to succeed in this new role, and you will be able to enjoy it and make the most out of it - for yourself and your growing family.