What to know as a father-to-be

Pregnancies are generally centred around the mothers and the children that are on the way. Generally, the internet is full of advice for mothers so that they can prepare and increase their chances of delivering a healthy baby. For obvious reasons, mothers are the ones who mostly bear the pressure of taking care of themselves because what they do and how they feel directly affects the baby.

But on the other hand, we have fathers. The main topic taking centre stage is financing and getting things in order for the baby's arrival.

Other ways they can prepare themselves for fatherhood are rarely talked about so men are expected to know what to do and bear the changes that come with it. With the right tips, men can also prepare themselves mentally for a new life.

Here are some of the important things that men should know as they become fathers:

Your responsibility as a dad doesn't start when the baby is born. It starts way before that. This means that your actions need to reflect that of someone who is responsible and someone who can take care of a family. You are supposed to take charge so that your wife can also gain more confidence in you as the due date gets closer. This is crucial because how you handle things will be taken personally at this time.

While she is pregnant, you need to get used to being in the background for a while. You have to accept it and cater to her needs. Be more understanding and put your needs aside for some time as you approach things calmly. For example, if she has cravings and wants you to pick up a certain meal when your work shift is done, just get it for her. At the same time, you also need to preserve your dignity. Just because she's pregnant, doesn't mean there is room for being mistreated and handled unfairly. Cater to her needs but don't allow yourself to be taken advantage of either.

After the baby arrives, your reassurance is still very important for her. New fathers can get carried away and give all their attention to the baby. Of course, the baby needs attention but so does your wife. With work distractions and dad responsibilities, she can end up feeling abandoned and unloved. Women value reassurance and attention a whole lot so keep that in mind as the baby comes.

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In today's world, women are taking charge more than ever. However, this isn't the time to let her do everything on her own. Prepare for the baby so that you'll be familiar with things like changing diapers and preparing bath water. On some days, you might also have to sacrifice and help her rock the baby to sleep. Be prepared for this because these are some of the things that you'll do when the baby arrives.

At some point, everyone gets overwhelmed. Keeping things bottled up can actually make you resentful and unable to support your family in the best way possible. The first few months as a new dad can be very demanding and tiresome. You might have been scolded by your wife for something that has never annoyed her before because her hormones are unpredictable. You might even feel like she's not paying attention to you especially when the baby arrives. Add that to your own daily stress and you're bound to feel stressed.

You shouldn't force yourself to constantly be happy. You'll need some breathing space so that you can cool off and also say how you truly feel. This is very essential for a father-to-be. If you have to, speak out at times and stand your ground without stepping on her toes.