How I Prepared For Baby

This post is from guest contributor Seth Burleigh, new dad and Founder of FortyWeeksLater.com. You can follow the rest of his journey at www.fortyweekslater.com. 

Let’s face it, there is a TON of information out there to help expectant parents – books, websites, videos, etc. And quite frankly, it can be overwhelming.

As the father, you don’t experience pregnancy like the mom (but you do get to experience it in your own way). You don’t feel the internal dancing, the tremendous fatigue (usually during the first and third trimesters), or the satisfaction of actually delivering your child. But you are nonetheless needed for physical and emotional support during the entire process. And reading anything will help keep you engaged.

My wife was always glad when I started rambling off “facts” that I had learned – many of which she already knew. And I honestly felt more involved. Learning about the process helped me understand a little more about what was happening and what was about to happen. In preparing for my baby, I read two books  - Dad’s Pregnant Too and The Birth Partner.

Dad’s Pregnant Too is written by a dad for dads and was far more enjoyable. It was quick, funny, and included real-life anecdotes from dads. It is organized into tips which walk you through the stages of pregnancy and highlights things to look for, ways to support your partner, and pitfalls to avoid. I would recommend this book to any expectant dad.

The Birth Partner on the other hand was overwhelming. It had so much information in it about the actual birth process that it actually stressed me out. How the was I going to remember the various labor positions and how to properly help my wife execute them? This book did a good job of explaining the labor and delivery process from a medical and procedural standpoint which was helpful, but I honestly could have done without 75% of it. I don’t need you to give me a script on how to verbally encourage my wife. We figured it out just fine.

In short, read what you can to educate yourself on the process and what your partner is going through. It will only help you feel more connected to the process and make her feel that you have an inkling of understanding.

If you are a new dad or dad to be, you can find support and resources at Facebook.com/ElevateDads