New dad and freaking out!

roland_7707

My wife and I reciently found out that we are preganant. Which is very cool. but im still freaking out. i was wondering if any of the other dads on here had that same reaction and how they delt with it. also and advice or nifty tips would also be appreciated. thanks.

kaspera79

... Children teach you as much as you teach them. They teach you about values, priorities, selflessness, and an entirely different level of love. You will know what I am talking about the second you hold that baby for the first time, and they look into your eyes. Enjoy every second, it will be the greatest years of your life.

cabinetmaker

Patience, they teach the need for patience. Especially when they are 3&4 ...

Smokin' Jim

My wife and I planned our daughter (she wasn't a surprise), but I did freak out. I was worried that I wasn't going to be as good of a dad as I needed to be. I didn't know if I could deal with all the things that a baby was going to require. Then she was born. I cut the umbilical cord, gave the first bath, put on the first diaper....all while my wife was resting. My daughter screamed the minute she was born and they laid her in an incubator next to my chair, I spoke to her, and she immediately stopped crying. They know your voice and can hear you in the womb. I'm not telling you to put your face up next to your wife's stomach and goo goo gaa gaa, but just talk at normal room level and the baby can hear you. Now my daughter is three and the COMPLETE CENTER OF MY LIFE! You are going to experience fear like you have never felt before, BUT, you are also going to experience a love so strong that just looking at your baby will bring tears to your eyes. So, choke down the fear and let your child change your life. You will not regret it.

Krieg

jship079

yes fear is the most common emotion for all men when the find out that they are taking on the responsibility of another life. If a man tells you he was not scared he is not telling the truth. Trust me my son turned two today and my second will be born on tuesday. I think I am more scared this time around than my first. I would say enjoy it.It goes way to fast. All of the good things far ought way the bad when it comes to being a father. The way I delt with it was freak out then say well there is nothing going to change this and I need to deal with it and be there for my wife. Oh and your wife will drive you flippin nuts by the end of the preganantcie its the hormons dont take it personal.

Vulchor

roland_7707

thanks for all of the help. I enjoyed reading your responses. yall sound like a group of great dads.

Russ55

Congratulations man. That's great. I didn't really freak out, but I was pretty nervous. It's intimidating as hell. I guess the way I dealt with it was to take it as serious as I could, and do the things I could to help from as early on as possible. Enjoy the pregnancy time. Take lots of pictures. Read the books, but don't obsess over them. None of them will give you the "right" answer, or even the same answer. They're all going to have trade offs. Decide what works best between your wife and you. Be ready for change, and for everything to have more meaning. Holidays just got 10 times more fun. It's awesome.

roland_7707

We went to the doctor yesterday and the expected due date is April 5th. And I went from freaking out to thinking that it is really cool. I appreciate all of the advice from yall. thanks

TatuajeVI

roland_7707

thats cool man. thanks. she's cute.

mavmech13

roland_7707

yeah. we are going to find out. we have a little bet going. I think that it will be a girl and she thinks a boy. if she wins, she gits 3 months of massages (spelling) and if I win i get a new pocketknife. kinda lopsided, but I need a new knife. I will definiatly be talking into her belly, i already do and she is only 7 weeks.

mavmech13

We are having a boy, I'm very happy to be having a boy first. If I had a girl first I would have to buy a shotgun before she reached her teens lol. Hey if you need a new knife you need a new knife. We actually went to the movies last week and he wouldn't stop kicking! He loved it

lilwing88

Congrats, bro! Nothing to freak out about....... at least not now! Your kids (and you will have more) will spend all their time finding little ways here and there to freak you out plenty for the next 18-25 years. The pregnancy and birth are the easy parts (at least for us guys). I have two kids, 4 and 2, and the most exciting thing for me so far, is the realization that I never have to change a diaper again. Four years is a looooooong time to be changing dirty diapers! I can't even imagine some guys who have four or more kids. That's like eight to ten years of changing diapers!! Insane!!!!

Krieg

Both my sons were premature, but you wouldn't know it now. My newest was born back in June, he was 5lbs 7oz and is now over 10lbs. Most things never go according to plan, so just take it as it comes and make sure you have a good place have your baby! No way in hell I would ever have a baby at Cartersville Medical.

roland_7707

Yeah, our local hospital here sucks. but the ob/gyn that we have been going to is cool and we have not heard anything bad about him. we have been asking around and some people that we go to church with has used him with very good results. I just don't want to drive 2 hours to the next biggest town while she is in labor.

These Filthy Hands

Hey man, if shes in labor that just gives you a license to speed. Cut that drive down to less than an hour. I would.

Lasabar

Congrats.... Smoking age is 18.... That is all you need to know