Father to be

A hero in the making!

Father-To-Be
Fathers today share the joys of pregnancy, childbirth and childrearing. However, they also share the worries and challenges that come with starting a family.

`A Man`s Guide to Pregnancy`
How to live with a pregnant person and get out of it alive.

How You May Feel

Left Out- All of the attention is focused on your partner and you may feel like you have no part in it. You can overcome this by getting involved in as much as possible. Go to the doctor with your partner, attend classes, shop for baby and really try to tune in to the pregnancy that is a shared joy.
Fear of Sex-Making love during pregnancy is generally just as safe as before pregnancy. Intimacy can maintain a healthy relationship with you and your partner and can give her a sense of security and emotional/physical closeness.
Sympathy symptoms- Some expectant fathers do experience symptoms right along with their partner. Your symptoms could also indicate sickness-so don't overlook them if you feel sick.
Impatience- Your partner has mood swings, periods of pains and full of complaints from time to time. Try to keep in mind that pregnancy is not a permanent condition and that the changes will pass.
Anxiety- You may feel anxious over the baby's health, your partner's health and impending life changes. It is normal to be anxious over the unexpected. Try to prepare the best you can for all of the upcoming situations. Attend the prenatal visits often and ask questions. Being informed should take alot of worry off of your mind.
Unsure of your partner's new looks- You may be worried or concerned about the weight that your partner is putting on. Just remember that a healthy baby needs nutrition. In order to receive that nutrition, your partner must gain a healthy amount of weight. Be supportive and encouraging in what she eats. Exercise with your partner and accentuate the positive.
Fear of the upcoming labor- You are not alone! Very few fathers go into the labor room without some type of fear. Attend childbirth classes, so that you know what to expect and can be better prepared.

Ways to Feel Included

Attend prenatal appointments
Attend childbirth classes
Shop together for baby essentials
Feel your partner's abdomen when the baby is moving
Help decorate the nursery

Ways to Help Your Partner

Offer to help more around the house
Offer to run errands
Suggest some alone time
Frequent massages for sore muscles
Alter your work schedule if possible in the end
Be available for support

Comments: Father to be

Comments 26 to 49 of about 68.
Previous 1 2 3 Next

domevapurple - 211 days ago.
wo wow wow jessipoo im sorry to tell this but what a Irresponsible daddy he is...having a child is two parties responsibility. what ever he like it or not.. i fell bad in your situation...hope he realize what his doing.... take care

Hanakalei - 211 days ago.
jessipoo-OMG!!!! All i have to say is wow!! My heart goes out to you because what he is doing is wrong!! A child is both parties responsibility...and if he was my bf im pretty sure that i would yank him out of bed by his legs (actually i would probably do waaaaaaay worse)!!! You have no reason to be appologozing for disturbing his sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!! He needs to grow up and be a man is what it sounds like!!

krystalnf - 228 days ago.
This is my first (so far) succesful pregnancy and my husband can be sympathetic but at times he's an @$$. he expects me to get up in the middle of the night to do a load of laundry because he forgot he had nothing to wear. i cook and clean and pretty much bow down to him and i'm exhausted. and i'm supposed to be on complete bed rest because i lost my first one. i would just like a little bit of a help and a nap here and there. i became really sick (not because of the baby) i had a lung infection and ended up in the hospital with 104.2 fever and all he cared about was watching stupid t.v. and i'm screaming at him that if it doesn't break soon it could literally cook the baby. (he did eventually get up after i threw something at him lol) i'm sorry to rant, i know a lot of husbands/boyfriends/partners are very loving and sympathetic but my god men! it takes a lot to grow a baby! get off your butt and help us!

Mama-of-2boys - 239 days ago.
Baby no 2 on the way - If I was you, I would sit him down and talk to him. I sort of had the same problems with my hubby with my first pregnancy. Its hard being pregnant and not feeling good and still having to do everything. I dont think they really understand because we are one way before getting pregnant and then we are so different afterwards but we are TIRED :) Try to maybe get him some books to read about being a father and what its like for a women and what she goes through when she is pregnant, maybe then he will kinda understand. But I would talk to him and tell him that you need some help, even the small things help. Good luck and I hope I helped you some.

Baby no 2 on the way - 240 days ago.
Ok, so I really need to vent before I explode... I have a little girl from a previous relationship. I am expecting my second child, with my partner, but this is his first. I love him to absloute bits, but he just doesn't understand. I'm 11 weeks pregnant and so far this pregnancy has not been as smooth as my first. I've had bleeding and I have had to have 3 scans already and I'm due back for a fourth in 2 weeks, because the lady was concerned about his gut???? but anyway I'm like dong all the house work, cooking cleaning, ironing, washing and still looking after the little one. I'm really tired, I feel drained and its like he just doesn't understand and its so frustrating. This is his first child, so you would have thought he would have been at least really caring and sympathetic, but he just thinks that I'm moaning for nothing and he is just basically being a prat. I'm coming to the end of my teather already and I honestly don't wanna loose my little one. So he needs to just be supportive of me. I feel so low. Because he doesnt understand, we are arguing and I kinda feel like we are on the verge of breaking up. But then I think if we break up, I dont wanna be a single mother with two children, but don't want an abortion....... HELP?!

andy21 - 241 days ago.
I am sorry to hear that some of you ladies are having such hard time with your men! I am coming on here to brag about my hubby! He is amazing… This is my 3rd pregnancy (and hopefully our 1st baby) and each pregnancy he has been by my side and so supportive. He’s been to every doctor’s appointment and he’ll look at baby things with me, we picked out names together, furniture, bedding, everything!! I’ve been totally nauseous and just plain lazy. He’s been doing everything! Dishes, laundry, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen. You name it! He’s always telling me how beautiful I am and how excited he is to be a daddy. We bought him this book and he’s almost done reading it already! I’m only 7 weeks! (it’s not a little book either) I have the best man every and I’m so glad he’s mine =]

Mama-of-2boys - 253 days ago.
blydansmommy- Yea I understand!! I think that sometimes they are actually shocked by how 'fast' practicing leads to a baby lol. I dont know what they mean when they say they didnt think that it would happen this fast, because its like um what did you think was going to happen lol. If I could give you any advice it would to just try really hard to keep the communication open with him, and I'm sure he will come around Good luck!!

Mama-of-2boys - 253 days ago.
jessipoo- Have you talked to him and have told him how you are feeling? I for one think that when it comes to 'girls' guys dont know what to think. Maybe he just feels like he wont be close to this baby because the baby is a she, and he wont be able to do the same things with her as he can with your guys' son? I'm not trying to take sides :) But men are weird no offense when it comes to all this baby stuff. My hubby was freaked out because he thought this baby was going to be a girl, which it is another boy. He was actually FREAKED, I asked him why and all he would tell him was what am I going to do with a girl? I told him the same stuff you do with our son, but he goes no its different, and he said that he will never be able to get a single moments rest if we have a girl because he will be freaked out about everything dealing with her. So I kind of took it as he feels like he would have to constantly protect her and maybe he didnt feel like he would be able to do such a good job. But I dont know guys are cooky but we love em lol

2babys-under2 - 253 days ago.
Just venting...So me and my hubby just found out we're expecting #2. This one was no suprise either. We were trying and it was planned. The first time it was a total shock and he reacted by crying, throwing up, and not being happy about the situation for months. But he loves our son and is really great with him now. Well when he came home from work and I told him that I got a positve pregnancy test the other day, which isn't really a suprise since we were trying, he reacts by almost crying and acting like he's shocked and upset. I'm like not again! Are you kidding me? This was planned, you jack a$$! And after a while, he apolojized and said he just didn't think we would concieve for a while. It just pisses me off, guys are so weird sometimes. And they say women are hard to figure out....

Mama-of-2boys - 257 days ago.
No offense to the guys on here, but I think the men really dont understand how 'hard' pregnancy is. Not only on your body, but mind and soul too. I think if men had to do it atleast once they would fully get it. I'm 35 1/2 weeks and I'm so tired I cant remember what I did 5 mins ago. I also chase my very hyperactive 2 yr old son around all day long on 2-3 hrs of sleep a night. Fathers to be just be understanding with your mommys to be, and understand they wont stay crazy forever lol they will get back to their normal selfs soon, and just understand that it is hard creating a life and it takes a toll on our bodies. And everytime you feel like you are going to snap on her just look at her and see how special she really is because she is carrying your child. I think too if fathers to be would do just the little stuff like 'honey I will do the dishes tonight' or ' go take a long hot shower I will put the kids down for the night' that makes such a huge difference. I dont expect mine to do it all heck I'm lucky if he takes out the trash, but to just sometimes get a break from all the crazyness is nice too. And a long hot shower by myself would be heaven lol

Mama-of-2boys - 257 days ago.
Aww you guys do have some really good and thoughtful hubby's. Mine works so much and he works at night plus is going to classes to become a black jack dealer, so I dont get the foot and back rubs. I try to talk my two year old into it but he just wants his done lol. With my first son, my hubby kinda freaked out I think the thought of being a father actually hit him once the baby came, but he is a great father to our son and I know he will be with this baby too. 2 1/2 weeks left and the babe will be here...whew two boys I for see a bunch of black eyes and bloody noses in my future for some odd reason. Ahh I'm going to be way out numbered lol

nikongirl24 - 257 days ago.
I feel so lucky, my hubby talks to my belly every morning to say good morning and every night as well. He tells our baby about his day, sings little songs and hums. I think it is so important so the baby will be familiar with his voice. He also rubs my feet, gets me drinks and snacks. I feel so spoiled by him! <3 you Lenny, you are the love of my life.

babybloo232 - 258 days ago.
i have kind of a weird question...does anyone know any spanish parenting sites?? my boyfriend is going to be a first time daddy and knows very little english but i dont know what any good true sites are

puddinpiedesigns - 258 days ago.
I so love the night time back rubs and swollen foot massages... I say my feet look like a can of biscuits and he rubs them anyway!!! lol The cramping and moaning disturbing his sleep and yet he does not fuss or gripe... He fixes me dinner or does the household chores... so I say what more can I ask for???? :}} I love my Father- to- be!!

drnick815 - 264 days ago.
I am trying my best to be a good soon-to-be father, but I get the impression that my significant other is resentful that she's pregnant, even though it was planned by both of us. She constantly laments not being able to drink and how she's now 'stuck with me'. I often think i'm the only one excited about the baby. She's 6 or so weeks, can this possibly be all because of the hormones?

mommynat - 272 days ago.
A really great book for dad's to be is 'So you're going to be a dad' It's funny, it's a small book, and it's written by a man. I recommend it for all fathers.

lucy01 - 274 days ago.
FirstTimeMamaP - babe what i have realised is that guys dont tend to get the fact of what pregnancy contains, or how much it actually affects you, im almost 25 weeks and my partner still doesnt realize how tired i can get or how much m/s i get.... its just males, my partner didnt realize that there was a actual baby inside of me until 20 weeks! *hugs*

FirstTimeMamaP - 274 days ago.
reading all these posts about great husbands really has myself asking why my man isn't do all these sweet gestures. The first week we found out he was soo supportive rubbing my belly, talking to the baby, saying he wanted to marry me..but now at 12 weeks, he acts like a jerk. I tell him I'm sick I'm throwing up and cant leave my bed, he gets mad at me and doesn't talk to me for 2 days. Hes so unsupportive he never asks how i feel, he never asks about the baby, its like he doesn't even care.

mommynat - 276 days ago.
I honestly have the best husband in the whole world. I still don't know how or why he chose me to spend the rest of his life with, but everyday I wake up so grateful to see him laying next to me. He's been supportive and loving and caring since day 1 of this pregnancy. He gets me burgers and chocolate bars and ice cream, (whatever I may be craving) and surprises me with gifts and trinkets for the baby. Rubs my back and my belly, talks and sings to baby, gives me so many hugs and kisses and no matter how fat or down I may be feeling, he tells me everyday how beautiful he thinks I am. Last night we spent hours in the nursery decorating and dreaming. He's my heart and soul. Love you Tom

supermompj - 283 days ago.
So all day yesterday and last night I felt like crap, someone (out of the 5 of us) in our house has had the flu everyday for the last two weeks. I was bound to get it! I ate a piece of toast for dinner around 8 pm and even lost that. I went to bed around 10 and when I woke up the first thing my husband said is “are you feeling better?” DH is a great man, just not always so thoughtful. It was a great moment, he laid there and rubbed my belly and back for a few minutes before getting ready for the day. It really is the Little Things!

beautyfulmommy - 287 days ago.
well; im 6weeks & 3days pregnant . & my guy is being remarkable he kisses my 6week old tummy, rubs me, massages my back everyday before I go to sleep. he says sweet things & joke around with me. its just awesome im so in love with him even more.. but he does get on my nerves.. he does not understand that im not 'just complaining' im seriously in painn lol 'IM PREGNANT!' lol he's says thats my xcuse to everything now but its so true.

Jenn D - 287 days ago.
I would like to praise my husband Rocco for being the best husband in the world. Keep in mind, I stay home with our other children (which are adopted) so after 15 years of trying to get pregnant, this was a shock. He scratches and rubbs my back everynight, does laundry, errands, dishes sometimes and deals patiently with my mood swings. I am very blessed to have him in my life. He bought me (after 8 years of wishing) an anniversary band. Keep in mind, because of my hormones, our sex life has gone from 1 time a week to 5-6 times a week. So he is benefitng from this and he has never been happier. Though he says I'am a little too crazy for him in that department. I told him to enjoy it because it won't last but maybe a couple more months and thats it. Just wanted to share.

lucy01 - 290 days ago.
klo0426 - hugs babe, males just dont understand alot of the time, i think because u are the mother of the child u have more of a bond with bub than he will, he might feel insecure and want this gf of his there but in the end she should be the one to turn around and say that she doesnt want to go! Its not for her to get involved in, just my personal opinion. Take care sweetie

klo0426 - 295 days ago.
29 weeks and no support from the daddy.....my baby's daddy has a new girlfriend. Both have decided that it's completely ok. Neith er of them can figure out why this is a problem for me. Actually it wouldn't be a problem if he had some interest in his child, better yet if he was to simply ask 'how are you or how are things going with the baby'. I guess I'm asking way to much of him. He has let me know a few times that he's going to be this baby's father, but how can I trust that when he's not around now. Today was a perfect example of what's been going on. WE were suppose to go together and register for my shower. Yesturday he told me he wasn't going unless she could come with him. My answer to that was...UM NO!!! So I ended up going by myself. It's not that I want him back because we weren't together, workinng on being together yes we were suppose to be trying to make it work. I'm just asking for him to step up without her. I just can't figure out why all of this is suppose to be ok.

mommy2beeagain - 307 days ago.
seeing all the good daddy posts makes me want to cryi wishi had a supportive man i have a 15 month old son whose dad is not in the picture and im 6 mos preggo wit boy numero dos and when i told him i was pregnant his first words were basically i want u to have an abortion when i told him HELL NO he said well im not doing the whole baby thing again so im basically alone again but he still wants to be with me how can that be and to top it all off he has a 9 year old daughter who he adores and basically lives wit him its not fair for my child i could care less about me i dont really need help but for my son its not fair for him to not have a daddy i dont know what to do