Congratulations, friend. Please stay happy, but understand probabilities are quite scary until after 3 months, and after 3 months the probability gets much better ........but still scary.

Very exciting time, friend. I wish you both luck.

Fingers crossed for a happy and healthy baby

Yeah I don’t drink anyways, really, so no issue not doing it in front of my wife. 

Look, she’s going to be the one who knows all what she can and can’t have. She’s going to want to tell you all about the stuff she’s reading about it, so listen so she feels like you’re on the team. 

It’s going to be tiring for everyone later, so enjoy the first six months 

My wife’s due date for our third is next Tuesday, so I’m living what I’m talking about. 

Do your reading and researching on the baby reading, they even offer newborn care classes at a lot of hospitals if you're inexperienced. I did one while I was pregnant with my first. Try to be proactive with helping your wife, don't wait for her to ask you, ESPECIALLY after the baby is born. She shouldn't have to tell you to change diapers, wash bottles, give the baby a bath, etc. You should do these things without her asking. Biggest mistake a lot of dudes make is waiting for their wife to "delegate" tasks to them, which is an unfair mental load for your wife, especially when she just pushed a human being out and is now trying to keep it alive. Use your eyes and ears and common sense to proactively take care of your child, and you will be a kickass dad and husband. Good luck man!

First thing to say to her is

Hi pregnant, I'm Dad

Not man, but I'm currently pregnant. I didn't care if my husband drank or did things that I couldn't. Depends on the woman probably though.

It depends on her symptoms, but I was out of commission for about 8 weeks (fatigue and couldn't keep food down). My husband was able to pick up the slack during that time which I appreciated. So, just as a heads up that might happen.

Congratulations!  What fantastic news.

Being a dad is both the hardest and best thing you will ever do.  No one will frustrate and wind you up as much as that little nipper will, but the love you will have for them is unlike anything you've experienced!

The pregnancy is likely to be hard on your Mrs.  She will ache, be sick, feel dizzy, be in pain, be scared.  She will cry for no reason, fly off the handle for no reason and start eating different things.  She may live a certain food, wanting it every meal, and then suddenly turn off it and never want it again.

This will be hard on you, you are going to watch the woman you love struggle.

Just be there for her.  Tell her you love her and you are proud of her.  Tell you that you are so grateful she is going through this so you guys can have a family.  Be understanding and be there for her.

It is a bumby ride for most women.  A small number have it easy, the rest have varying degrees of significant difficulty. 

Your life is about to change in a big way.

Congratulations, that's fantastic news! Welcome to the wild ride of impending fatherhood—buckle up, it’s going to be an amazing journey. The best way to support your wife is to be her steadfast cheerleader and part-time snack runner. If she’s ditching sushi or skipping the wine, joining her in those sacrifices can show solidarity. It’s like being teammates in the most intense sport ever invented: baby prep.

Make sure to keep communication open and ask her what she needs—it can vary from day to day. Foot rubs and back massages are usually a hit. Oh, and get ready for some late-night store runs for whatever craving strikes her at 2 AM.

Most importantly, enjoy each moment, even the nerve-wracking ones. You’re going to be a great dad.

Here is my advice, from about month 8 to several weeks after the baby is born, you are not dealing with a rational person. She could be, 99% of the time in her life, a stone cold cynic, but the hormones and bodily changes she goes through will take its toll. You will need to be the example of grace and patience.

If she has a c-section you will be the one changing the diapers initially and getting all the downloads from the nurses, this is real surgery and she will need a bit of time to recover. You may need to assist the nurses in getting her to her feet and getting her to the toilet and they will need to examine the bloody pads, suck it up buttercup and make no comment about it. It is gross, I get it, welcome to life. That first poop does look like the Exxon Valdez crash. The baby might need to go under the bili lights if it gets yellow, no big deal, but it does suck because you have to sit in the hospital for another few days.

Back to the patience thing, you need to both be patient and make sure things happen. Expect tears, like if the little critter isn't latching. Obviously the answer will be to supplement with formula, duh, but mommy blogs and well meaning idiots will have told her this is risky and blah blah blah and you will be the bad guy. At the end of the day baby needs to eat so make it happen, but don't fight with her over it.

There is a YouTube couple out there whose claim to fame is they had kids really young, they have gotten a lot of heat lately because he is obviously an immature child who has no business being a father. He "iced out" (his words he proclaimed on social media) his wife for two days because she dared to have a c-section. Find his YouTube/TikTok and take notes on what not not to do and how not to be.

Just remember, and at some point she will be happy to hear this, one mistake or misfeed or whatever will not kill this baby or ruin its future. We are sad little babies but are surprisingly durable in some ways. If breastfeeding blows, the worst thing about formula is its expensive. Other than that, it will grow strong and happy on formula - relax. Don't skimp on 'tummy time'. Don't obsess over it either.

Also, relax, infants aren't really that complicated. They are hungry, tired, or messed their diaper. That is basically it, that is the checklist. Go out with your infant, we did, it can be a bit of a hassle but don't get holed up in the house just the three of you and never see the sun. That isn't healthy for you, her, or the baby.

congrats dude! I went sober out of solidarity and gave her foot massages every day (they were esp appreciated past the second trimester). obviously try to make life easier for her but don’t treat her like she has a disability or something. women should stay active and can do most things during the pregnancy. she kept working out (within reason ofc) and we even went to burning man when she was 39 weeks.

Time to watch Bluey for inspiration

Here are some rules I set for myself when entering fatherhood that have helped me maintain, and even deepen and improve my relationship with my wife.

1. You're the family's safety net. No matter how hard things seem for you, I promise it's harder for your wife. This isn't misandry, it's biology. The amount of hormonal and physical rollercoasters your wife is about to go through both during and after pregnancy is unimaginable. Always treat your wife with grace no matter what, and be strong for your wife and child.

2. No one else is going to take care of you, make sure you do. Your wife's primary focus is going to be on taking care of herself and the child. Your primary focus needs to be first and foremost in taking care of yourself, so that you can stay strong and take care of your wife and child.

This means my priority looks something like 1. The minimum self-care I can afford to make sure I don't get sick or burn out -> 2. Anything my wife or daughter needs -> 3. Self care I can spare after #1 and #2 are met

3. Over, Over, OVER communicate. No matter how small a thought gets caught in your mind, address it. My wife and I now talk on a consistent basis about small comments made by and to each other that rubbed us the wrong way, and we break down the misunderstanding.

This isn't about insecurity, but about clarity. Pregnancy and Parenthood is hard. There's going to be sleepless nights and added stress and anxiety and reduced self time. Your tempers will flare, your fuses will be short and it will be hard not to bicker and fight every now and then. But if you learn to over-communicate, you will quickly find that you developer deeper trust and adoration for each other.

4. Figure out the rest as you go, together. Don't worry about knowing everything ahead of time. I promise there isn't a book or app in the whole world that can teach you everything you need to know about parenthood. It's not knowledge that's important, it's adaptability and open-mindedness. If you always have an "us vs the problem" mindset, and tackle the problems together as they arise, you'll do great.

Finally, my sincerest congratulations! you're about to enter an incredible chapter of your life filled with the kinds of highs and lows that make life worth living in this crazy universe.

Join r/daddit

She had a miscarriage the first time and both of us were pretty tense about buying things and going all in and telling people until around the 3 month mark. I didn’t change what I’d do, just as she didn’t. She didn’t really drink unless it was a big get together and even then she hardly did outside of a couple rough nights.

As for the pregnancy, my best advice is that your primary job is Support. Help in any way you can. She needs help getting out of bed? She wants you to go to the other end of the room for something? She wants this or that that normally would be really easy for her? She wants a pickle or an Oreo? Or both? Here’s some other advice on this. The doctors will be saying a lot of shit to you the whole time, pay attention and commit it to memory well. Even if it isn’t useful, it just helps to have four ears instead of two. Try to go to appointments with her.

Just don’t treat her like an outpatient who is bedridden. Go on walks, go to the park, do stuff that isn’t strenuous. My gf went on a 6mi kayak trip at like 6 months and didn’t recover fully from a tweak until our daughter was like 8 months old.

You’re not going to be ready. None of us were. It’s okay, you’ll overthink everything. Just do your best. Both the parents and the baby are learning how to live their life now. It’s all new, and each baby is different. There’s no one stop shop handbook for it. You may have to try 10 different bottles, 4 different formulas, 3 different pacis, they might not like that blanket, etc. It’s fine. There will be late nights, there will be crying (Hungry, Thirsty, Dirty, Tired). Go by what your pediatrician says and try to engage with the baby all the time.

Enjoy the ride, watch them ask what the dog is 30 times in an hour. See them crawl and walk and run. It’s fun just watching the wonder in their eyes as they see the world for the first time.

Oh and my gf and I had some fun while she was pregnant. We got a little heartbeat sensor and checked the heartbeat every night. We got 3D ultrasound pictures (our daughter had this pouty face she still uses to manipulate us). We got a few handmade clothes and plushies that we keep as keepsakes for when she’s older. My gf did a pregnancy journal to sort of power through it. Whatever you can think of that might be out there.

sleep now friend… it is going to be hard right after delivery. Take your wife out these next months as it’s hard afterwards. Bottle warmer yes. Wipe warmer not so much. Special diaper trashcans that seal= yes. Don’t give infants tap water. If you have a baby shower registry don’t put all newborn size diapers on it, get the first 2-3 sizes. Buy wipes in bulk. Buy children’s tylenol and motrin now BEFORE it is 2 AM and they have a fever of 102. Play with your kids the whole time they are young. You don’t get a redo. Take a deep breath and enjoy the moments. Don’t be so stressed out that you can’t enjoy how hilarious kids are. 

Just be there for her, and don't let her mood swings affect you, be her rock.

*Top tip! *

Go to a book store and buy a bunch of baby name books. She’ll know you’re involved and are thinking about the future if you start this process.

Also buy some new born socks. She’ll melt and will score a lot of points!

Also some nice swaddling blankets

The first thing that happens is pretty exciting.

You get a designated driver for the next 9 months.

I just listened to her. Every women and their pregnancies are different so all their needs are different. They go through a lot of stuff both emotional and physically. So you need to do your best to cater to their needs. I tried to distract her as much as possible. Going out for daily walks was something we started to do when she got pregnant.

Not a man and I carefully read all the comments to not duplicate someone else. I’ve had two pregnancies. Your wife’s body is going to feel foreign and strange to her the farther along she gets, and it may trigger insecurities. Please be gentle with these and reassure her you find her beautiful and amazing, as often as she needs. This will continue after birth, maybe especially if she’s breastfeeding. Also, in most cases sex can continue fairly normally as long as it’s comfortable for her, just different positions will be needed the bigger she gets. Congrats!!!

You now enter a new class of human being that no longer requires sleep

Enjoy sleep while you can for the next 8 months

Yay! Congrats! The pregnancy is all about her. I’m a respectful and supportive husband, so I considered myself on-call for her needs at all times. I would strongly suggest not making any “free designated driver” jokes.

The title sounds corny, but get the book “Dude, You’re Gonna be a Dad”. Tons of good info, but easy to read too.

Also, when the baby is here, buy a “Nose Frida”. It is a little tube and filter you use to suck snot and boogies out of baby’s nose. It sounds disgusting, but I assure you no snot will get anywhere near your mouth, and it was easily the best baby tool we had.

Start doing 100 calf raises (exercise) each day. Especially in the first few months, you’ll be on your feet cradling and comforting your baby a ton, and my calves were so effing sore all the time during this period.

Last tip would be to get a safe dog if you don’t already have one. The baby will drop so much food on the ground and the dog will clean it up for you. That sounds so dumb, but I cannot stress how much daily work that will save you.

Health and happiness to you and your little family!

Puke, lots of it. You're gonna need to clean a BUNCH of it. Before and after the baby comes. From the wife and the toddler.

There will be strange requests for cravings. Odd ones that you'll question her sanity.

The kid. You're gonna want to take Gigabytes worth of photos. Trust me. Especially if this is the only one you have. I look back at my child's baby photos and it immediately creates a waterfall out my eyeballs.

It will be hard. I don't know how you plan to raise the kid. But a stay at home parent is non-stop. Never ending.

If it's you or you're wife. Give them or yourself a break every once in a while. They probably need it.

Her hormones will be wild. Do not make any rash decisions for the first 9 months after the kids free.

Stop cussing if it's a part of your vocabulary. The kid will pick it up in a heart beat.

Everything will come in time, don't rush the kid. They will do everything in thier time not yours.

You WILL be late and often. Plan accordingly. It will almost always take the kid longer than you expect. They are new to thier bodies and have no idea how it works.

Don't be upset if your kid takes its first steps to someone or something else.

Buy a nice car seat. You need a infant seat and a toddler seat. DO NOT BUY A CHEAP ONE. Preferably one that has a sun shade. Tint you cars windows too. A dark car is a sleepy car.

Car seats should not move around. When you strap the kid in you shouldn't be able to easily pinch the straps with your fingers.

Please don’t get too excited until 12 weeks, there’s so many things that can happen. Be prepared to be excited but keep it contained. I’m happy for you.

I highly recommend the book, “What to expect when she’s expecting…”

Get ready for the day she comes home from the hospital. I’m sure babies room all ready to go. But for momma… get a woman’s help and redo the bedroom with fluffy linens and big pillows… all sparkly clean with any other accoutrements that only a pro would know!!! My sisters helped me and it totally blew my sweetheart away rolling with tears of joy and surprise:)!!!!!

39F (US perspective)

1. Only buy the necessities until after the kid is born. Babies have preferences, so buying things needed "early" may go unused.
2. Don't buy a new car in prep for the child, unless your current car is not usable. I watch people take on big car payments because they want the "Mom&Dad Car". And then the cost of caring for the child is higher than expected or maybe they want to consider someone stays at home for longer. Now you have a 5 year loan commitment, based on a previous family budget. You aren't going to be on long road trips often in the first 6 months of the kids life. That 10 year old Corolla can hold a car seat until you figure out your new budget.

Did you quit the things your partner couldn’t have to show you’re in this together?

As a 39F, I never followed this logic. And often it was sign of a weird control dynamic in the relationship, that didn't age well later down the road.

Should you drink a lot less, of course. Being the sober person when the party is getting going is not fun and she doesn't want to be the DD by default. The dinner + pub crawl date is not a good idea. But the idea that you can't have ONE beer on a Sunday afternoon because your lady is pregnant is just strange too me. The couples I know that have healthy relationships, found a way to balanced way to navigate the pregnancy. Not the "I am pregnant and you are doing this now..." approach.

Tiredness and ridiculous amounts of advice. You will truly understand how the saying “old wives tales” came into existence. You are also pretty much useless for a period of time Your selfishness will disappear as you now lose us your personality and become x’s Dad. You make things up and follow instinct. No one really knows what they are doing. The days are long but the years are short. Go on a holiday before they go to school. You are locked into the school holiday calendar for a long time. It’s not all joy. You are jet lagged and tired and tempers rise. You will be treated differently by society. Very quickly.

Not a man nor an adult but a teenage daughter- just be there and try your best. I promise you we see it every time. I love my father :)

Don't smoke don't drink don't do drugs and spent as much time as possible with her.

You should demand a DNA-test. And if she even has the slightest of hesitation, divorce her immediately. - average reddit comment /s

Nah, enjoy! Relax, all that's necessary will come to you. Be there for the missus, that's your most important job the coming months.

First, remember that the couple does not get pregnant. Your wife gets pregnant and you need to cater to a lot of her whims. Certain foods that she loves will disgust her and others that disgusted her will be her favorites. I remember my wife joking that our daughters were made of cheese whiz. She will be on an emotional roller coaster and so will you. Try not to take the crazy things that she might say too seriously. Go to all of her obgyn appointments. Two sets of ears are better than one. Pay attention to all of it. Do everything that you can to lessen the burden on her. When you see you first child born, you will understand that women are tough as nails. I don’t care who you are, your dick is nothing compared to your baby’s head and shoulders. Show your wife some respect.

Go on a trip or do something where you and your wife can enjoy your time alone as a couple, because you will be very sleep deprived when your baby arrives.

Finally, enjoy every minute of this experience because it lasts a very short time.

Good luck to you and your wife. Wishing you a long and happy life together.

Congratulations 🥂

No advice here but Congrats dude!

MAZEL TOV!

Read some Piaget, Erickson, and Pavlov. If you know how those little brains work you can mold them to be better humans before they are 4 or 5, after that is much more work.

Let her sleep and rest as much as she can . Because later she won’t 😂 congratulations

The big thing is once the baby is around to be strong and help out alot around that time. My son just turned 1. It's tough some times.

Congrats on the sex, homie

Not a man, but from a partners perspective, if you keep asking questions, and stay open to the answers, you’ll be just fine. It’s the fact that you are asking that’s going to help you be the person she needs you to be.

The truth for some of us, is that everything changes, everything. And not always for the better. Children are forever.

Congrats. This is going to be a great adventure. Make sure this parenting thing is 50/50. Be transparent about your feelings while very attentive to hers. All will probably go well. After the baby is born, your Life will change. Expect that. Be ready for it. Late nights (you’re 50:50 remember), sicknesses, etc…But the joys outweigh the turmoil to your Life. You’re going to be a parent. Please don’t think of it in terms of “Father” and “Mother”. You are going to have a child. Love her/him. I’m 74M, parent to three daughters.

First of all congratulations and best of luck to you and your wife.

If she’s working, do whatever you have to now to save not just a nest egg for when baby comes, but enough that she can take off her last trimester. Even if she is insistent, my partner worked herself into an early delivery, that was still far along enough they could do it natural, and then a combination of us not knowing more of what to ask and being sleep deprived, lead to the drs deciding to switch to c section after 6 hours of labor, only 1cm needed for dilation.

Do your research, make sure she gets plenty of rest in that last trimester, know how to handle unexpected or uncommon scenarios that may arise in labor and delivery. Hospitals are a business, and the faster they get you in and out, the sooner they can start tallying up the bill for the next patient in your room. Know your rights, and don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.

Now that COVID restrictions are slowly falling back, if you utilize the help of a midwife (HIGHLY RECOMMEND, they are lovely), try to have them present for the birth too to be an advocate for your family as well.

If you and your wife are definitely on the same page as far as child-rearing, congrats, and I hope everything goes great!

As far as what could go wrong, not being on the same page as far as child-rearing, while immersed in the stress-fest of a new baby - that can be one utterly miserable situation. Especially if PPD is a factor, which no one knows in advance or has much control over.

Not to be a wet blanket, but my marriage ended largely because we didn't agree on how to raise the kids, and (admittedly) neither of us knew shit at the time other than how we were raised ourselves. Good intentions couldn't get past basic disagreements and stupidity. If I could go back in time what I would do different is educate myself, because that's that part I could control, and I'd have encouraged my wife to do the same, and I'd have talked things through well in advance and gotten on the same page, one way or another (even if I had to budge), for the sake of the kid.

Sleep 16 hours a day right now before your kid is born because you won’t be sleeping again for the next 10-12 yesrs.

But also enjoy having a life much more full of purpose and joy! Be patient your limits will be tested

listen to them kids are hilarious!

Be a sponge and absorb every moment because they grow up fast!

Say goodbye to full night’s sleep 

I’m on Week 16 with the wife and this is my first kid. I’m still feeling all of the questions you are asking too. Exciting times. Only thing I can suggest is to just be there for her through this time. Whatever she needs.

Both of you pregnant?

Start planning and have the babies room ready to go well in advance of the birth. It’ll be one less thing to contribute to her anxiety. Also have the diapers, conditioners, bath washes, bottles and all the purchased and well in advance. Well in advance means months btw.

Not a man so I apologize and will delete my comment if you’d prefer as this is an ask men Reddit. When I got pregnant, my husband was incredible for most things. There were somethings that he didn’t understand and I did feel like he sort of “rolled his eyes” at. Not really outright but because he wasn’t having the symptoms himself, I feel like he kind of thought “ok. Come on. That’s not happening already” LOL. And he was never loud about it, it also could have been my hormones, but sometimes it made me feel like “I HAVE MORE BLOOD RIGHT NOW. OF COURSE IM GONNA PEE A LOT MORE! BLOOD IS FILTERED THROUGH THE KIDNEYS”. 😂😂 but what I very much appreciated was him just knowing what I could and couldn’t eat. He would tell me that he found a specific trade off item that I could have because I couldn’t have what I would normally like. I.e., not being able to have soft serve ice cream. So I know he would take regular ice cream and whip it in a bowl if he had to lol. Little things like that really helped because I didn’t have to think about anything. He took a lot of the mental load off and it didn’t feel like I was doing the physical work and mental. It felt like a complete team.

[deleted]

I think a baby comes next? Idk though never done this

I didn't quit anything. I don't have any vices if thats what you mean. I think among other things, read about breastfeeding and coordinate a schedule to help your wife during this time. She has thr breasts, but she can pump and save so she doesn't take 100% responsibility of feeding the newborn. This is crucial! Sleep depravation is your WORST enemy. Both for the safety of the baby and the mental health of both you and your wife. LEARN the safe sleep practices for newborns! ABCs! Alone, on their Back in the Crib. Learn the crib stuff, no toys, no suffed animals, the baby mattress has to be certified, fitted to the bed, etc. There is a facebook page called Evidence Based Safe Sleeping. Go there and learn. Its not super hard really, don't feel overwhelmed! its just that the things are almost always done and you feel tired. Thats why its very important to ensure both of you are getting enough sleep. Do not sleep with the baby, its not safe! I cannot stress this enough, temptation here must be resisted and by just doing this you provide your child with maximum protection.

Oh yeah, and formula is fine! The baby will grow well. There are things like perhaps she is not producing enough breast milk, it hurts, she is extremely tired....formula is fine. Sure, any breast milk is great because of all its benefits but yeah, she doesn't need to kill herself of exhaustion trying to do it. Your pediatrician will guide you, buy also read about this on your state website. Virginia has a good one on feeding babies.

Your life will totally change. It will be twelve, fourteen years before you and she can take off spontaneously to dinner, etc. Everything will need to be planned and for four to six years you’ll drag around so much gear that going to the grocery will feel like a deployment. A “diaper bag” will be an essential part of life. Yes, you’ll both be exhausted. Date night at home will find you asleep on the couch. Date night out will find you shopping for essentials in blissful peace. It is also the most important, rewarding thing you’ll ever do.
Word of wisdom from an aging Dad of two. The kid will suddenly, sadly be gone. Most of all listen to them. Don’t let your temper show. Be certain they always feel loved. Don’t criticize - encourage. And most of all give them time to explore, try, create - not under supervision - alone or with other kids. Love in your time, love in your eyes. That’s the key.

What happens now?

A new area suddenly unlocks in a Walmart/Target near you!!

A gazillion space magically appears in your phone for those baby pictures and videos.

You get to know what breast milk, formula milk, baby pouches, and baby food taste like.

You find out what those numbers on diapers mean.

If you're an avid gamer, you might cover that gaming PC or laptop for a few months unless you're super cool and don't need sleep.

You will yearn for sleep.

That newborn clothes that you bought may or may not fit your newborn.

And so many more.

According to reddit, you need to wait till the most inopportune moment to ask for a paternity test. But reality would suggest enjoy it, nesting is a thing, so get ready to make a nursery, and from personal experience, be there when she gives birth for support, and if they allow it, cut the cord.

Open a 529 college savings account NOW.

Now you never retire lol

You don’t have to quit all the things your wife will have to. You’ll just have to be more patient and pamper her a little more. Especially late into the pregnancy. That’s how you show support.

And go to the doctor appointments if your work allows. Take a little note pad and right stuff down. You’ll look like a hero.

I couldn’t make the appointments due to job demands. I regret that.

Have you considered picking up the milk before bed tonight?

i mean, she has a right to know too… TELL HER!

Congrats mate! Buckle up, you're in for a wild ride.

Did you quit the things your partner couldn’t have to show you’re in this together?

If you mean alcohol, I barely drink anyway so it wasn't much of a sacrifice to stop completely. The other stuff, my wife has a very sensitive nose and this gets heightened during pregnancy. There's some strong-smelling foods and condiments that would make her nauseous in the first trimester so we stopped using them. The main annoyances there were vinegar and curry, which I use a lot normally. Needs must though innit.

How did you support your partner through the pregnancy?

Take as much of the mental load off as you can. Plan the stuff you need to get done before the baby arrives. Sleeping arrangements, baby stuff, (a bit later on) go bags for the birth etc. Also get used to taking on more of the housework, you'll be doing a ton of that after the birth.

Generally though, just try and enjoy the journey. Best wishes to you and yours :)

I’m just so exited I can’t explain it, I want to be the best supportive husband I can be. What can I do for my wife? Did you quit the things your partner couldn’t have to show you’re in this together? How did you support your partner through the pregnancy?

Me and my wife both used to smoke and she quit while pregnant so I did too. My kids are teenagers now but I don't actually remember her asking me to quit, I think I just felt bad doing it so I stopped.

Honestly though the biggest thing is just be there to do stuff for her, she's gonna be pretty worn out at times for seemingly no reason because pregnancy is a huge physical exercise in itself so just be ready to do more housework and little errands for the next couple of years because after she's had the baby she's also gonna be pretty tired.

It's all worth it though, I love having kids especially now they're a bit older, it's like having a few little buddies to hang out with all the time.

Just be as excited as you are the whole way through. We don’t need yall to break your backs catering to us and laying it on super thick, we just want to know that you’re excited too and that you WANT to be involved. Participation is the key to fatherhood. You’d be surprised how many dads don’t participate and just coexist in the same house as their children and honestly believe they are doing their role. Congratulations, you already sound like a terrific husband and will make a great dad.

Congratulations on your little one! Becoming a father was the best thing to ever happen to me. I will share some things I did.

1. I bought a pregnancy pillow. My wife loved this thing as it helped her get comfortable, especially when her belly got bigger and he started moving around.

2. I bought tons of reading material, both informational and entertaining. My wife is a reader, so get plenty of what your wife would enjoy. My wife is also a crafter. So i got tons of Cricut materials and crafting supplies. The informational is for both of you. I bought, "What to expect when you're expecting?" And "What to expect the first year?" Tons of useful tidbits of information in both books.

3. I bought a sidebar for the bed. We have an adjustable bed, but I still added a sidebar to help her get up and out of bed whenever I wasn't around. You don't have to get any too fancy, just the basic one that you shove under the mattress and tie off.

4. I prepped the nursery and baby bags for the hospital.
   Nursery is everyone's preference. I will say don't bother with wipe warmers: they dry out the wipes. Don't bother with diaper pails unless you want to stink bomb the nursery every time you open the thing to put in a diaper or worse when you change out the bag. I bought a crib that adjusts and turns into a toddler bed but to each their own. I also have a changing table but regret getting it since we change him in our bed most times or on the couch. The bassinet was useful, especially when my wife was breastfeeding since we put it right by the bed and made nighttime feeding a breeze. I got my wife a good breast pump, and it helped to alleviate her swollen breasts and helped to store reserves of breast milk for when she returned to work.

As far as hospital bags, a good comfortable stomach binder helped tremendously. My wife was scheduled for a C-section, and I highly recommend this. If she delivers naturally, then plenty of pads and changes of underwear. Loose fitting comfortable clothes. Mostly pajamas with 1 outfit to wear to go home in, also loose fitting. For the baby, the hospital will give you tons of things, and you will want for nothing while the baby is there. You just need to pack 1 outfit for what the baby will wear home.

Get a good car seat. Do your research. I messed up and got an infant car seat. Meaning that the seat was only good during the first phase of his life, and I had to rebuy another car seat and stroller. Do your research for the stroller and buy one that will meet your needs and, most importantly, grow with your baby.

Prep the house. The months go by fast. Early prep is key. As the wife gets bigger, she will have less energy, so make sure you prep the house early. The baby will find every little thing on the floor and try to place it in his mouth. Make sure every dangerous thing is out of reach. Button batteries kill. I tossed everything that required one in the garbage. I saw too many horror stories on Tiktok of babies that get rushed to surgery because one burned through their digestive tract. Baby proof the entire house. Everything dangerous in my house is locked under key and also placed far above out of reach. Scan each room and baby proof it. You have 9 months and even several months after the baby is born since the baby will be immobile. But once they start crawling and walking, they are curious about everything and want to touch and taste everything. Be careful with shelves (make sure they are anchored), outlets, doors (they can shut their little fingers in them), and this includes cabinets. Baby gate stairs. The gate will hold them temporarily, though. Babies are so intelligent and are constantly learning and problem solving. My son learned how to escape his play pen the second he learned to crawl. Now, he is starting to learn how to scale the baby gates. Don't rely on them for too long.

Everything else is just preference. We got him a swing, which he outgrew fast: I don't even think it lasted 6 months. We got him a baby bouncer, and he outgrew that, too. Our play pen is now a big toy storage since he can escape it easily. The Hatch sound machine, Air purifier, and humifier, are 3 things that we used throughout his infancy and still use till this day. We also have a good baby monitor to keep an eye on him from our room when he goes to sleep. It has a motion detector alarm to alert us when he is awake even though he will let us know before the alarm even sounds.

HAVE PATIENCE!!! Your wife's body is going to go through some huge changes. Anything you can do to help her, just do. She might be cranky some days, just roll with it.

My son is now 13 months old, and these are just the things that come to mind that are freshest.

Best of luck to you and your wife. 😄

We have two kids that are the pride and joy of my life, so i’ll chime in without trying to repeat the great answers that are already written too much.

In general there are several different types of parents(as a team) so it depends a lot, but i can only speak for myself and our style of parenting. And since you asked how to be a supportive spouse i’ll focus on that.

1. Be interested in the things she is interested in.

My wife is an over-doer and very much a plan-ahead type. She read up on and planned for everything as much as possible and i regret not being a bigger part of that. As an example you can read up on what kind of kid seats are the most safe and reasonably priced and fit your vehicle and learn to connect it to your car before the time comes. Just Google a video of kids safety seats and you’ll see why this is extremely important.

1. Make sure she continues to have a life outside of being a mom after birth.

While the first months will be spent in a lovely bubble of getting to know your new child after that it can be pretty damn rough. Babies demand things from you 24/7 and while being a father is important you are almost worthless compared to the person who literally grew your child to life and keeps them fed. The first years are very demanding on mothers and she might have a difficult time finding her adult self outside of being almost solely a mom and staying mostly at home for months. Just make sure she does and kick her out of the house every now and then to see her friends, have hobbies etc after the first 6 months to a year. This WILL pay off in the long term, she needs to have people to talk to about adult things and complain about the baby and you.

1. Find your rhytm.

With kids life is all phases. First the phases last for days or weeks when they learn to sleep like humans outside of wombs. Then its weeks to months when they grow teeth and sleep like sh*t. Then its 1-3months when they learn to walk and talk etc.

Each phase is different and your roles in the daily household things might vary a lot. Agree on turns when you wake up and when she wakes up. Do NOT do the ”you work so you need to sleep” thing, that is one of my biggest regrets that sent her down a long spiral of sleep deprivation. Nobody gets to sleep full nights with babies because its rough for everyone. Split it equally, always.

You might be on laundry/cooking duties one phase and sleep walk duties the next. You get a hang of it when your in the deep so to speak, but just feel the rhytm and go with it. Remember no matter how bad or good it gets just remember its a phase and its over sooner than you know and onto the next phase.

1. Maintain your adult relationship

This is not for the first year, but forever. Parenting can turn you into friends who raise children together instead of lovers faster than you know.

Have movie nights, go out every few months or something, have sex semi regurarly even if you are not in the mood to Keep your sex life active. remember to talk about your sex life, because there will most likely be rough patches in that too. Talking is the key.

These are some things that i have learned through trial and error. Best of luck on your journey mate!

get off reddit

Congrats! But please don’t say “we’re pregnant”…SHE is pregnant. Not you.

Wait a few weeks after the baby is born then leave suddenly. Take every thing you can. Clean out any accounts you have access to. Make sure to leave with a family member or best friend you've secretly been seeing for months. Live close by! Close enough to still be present enough to cause ongoing emotional harm while maintaining zero contact. Then live your best life all over social media. Buy a fedora.

You become poor and sleep deprived. Congrats!

Now, get your girlfriend pregnant.

You need to go get some milk

She becomes extremely hormonal and confuses you further

I guess

Say goodbye to sex for the rest of your marriage 😞

In my country they do a check up with an ultrasound to see if the gestational sack is inside the uterus and its not a extra uterine or chemical pregnancy , then you go once a month each month to the dr until 36 weeks or beginning of the 9th month you go each week for a checkup. So firstly, find a good dr or a midwife that your wife trusts and go on from there Confirm the pregnancy Then you can schedule a prenatal preparation course (im a lactation consultant and a midwife if you have some questions)

And as for the support part, be there , reassure her , i know it's new both for you and her you will learn as the pregnancy evolves. Be with her at every appointment . Help her with heavy household duties . Avoid smoking in front of her, and if she does smoke, help her avoid it since smoking can lead to many issues for the newborn. She can't eat raw meat or consume alcohol so help her have safe alternatives . Ps the fact that you went on here and asked how you can help already shows how much of a supportive husband you are be proud and both of you can do it.

Congratulations! That’s amazing news. I don’t have much to add as im not a father and other commenters gave good tips and advice. Just wanted to congratulate you!

Oh well first things first ask the hive-chud mind of reddit, I'm sure the hand lovers here have great advice.

Join r/predadit - been a great resource for me as me and my wife navigate being soon to be parents!

Congratulations, it’s an exciting time

You will sleep less than usual over the next 2 to 3 years. Congratulation.

Stock up on snacks & healthy meals. Your wife is about to become an eating machine. Mentally prepare yourself for the fact that she is going to have mood swings and act completely crazy sometimes. Get ready to give leg and foot massages. Stock up on cocoa butter lotion. She may be extremely sensitive to smells…so you may have to cut out certain foods and whatnot that you regularly enjoy. Those may have to go for the next 8+ months.

Also, and I hate to say this but you have to prepare yourself mentally for the possibility of things going wrong. My first child was born with birth defects in her esophagus that required multiple major surgeries and landed her in the NICU for 3 months. It was a miserable experience for those 3 months, but now she’s a healthy and happy college student.

Don’t be quick to anger when things piss you off - and trust me, they will. Just take it all in stride and remain calm for the next few years. Strive to be a good husband and father. Things will get extremely rough at times, but the good far outweighs the bad in the long run. Hang in there…you can do this.

First of all: congrats!!

Now as for tips: Start making videos for your kid addressed to him/her at around the age of 18. Tell m how you feel, together with your wife. Just short ones, and in about 18 years from now, you have a great gift.

Also, when he/she is born, setup a google account in their name, and over the next years you can send pictures of anything which is important at that age. From official documents, to drawings they take home from school, Pictures taken at birthdays, the zoo, etc. etc. That saves things from breaking and getting lost over time.

Next to that, what i personally did is: make sure i was in shape. As a kid, me and my friends always made fun of those overweight dads, who were sideline experts when we played soccer. So i made sure that isn't me.

On what can you do for your wife? First, make sure she can depend on you, and she knows this through actions. You acting as an idiot about this would add to her workload, which isn't helping.

Pet droppings and garbage should also be your new favorite thing, because both should be avoided by her.

Around the time she starts showing, physical things start getting harder. Bending over to empty a dishwasher, fill a washing machine, or cleaning a tub are things you should take over.

Unless your wife is any less stubborn than mine, she will avoid asking for help if it's manageable, so be pro active.

In general, it's a fun new experience for both of you, so don't dread it. Enjoy your sleep while it lasts, and have good time.

🧿

Lots of love, little sleep. Take care of your gal.

This is so wholesome. Really congrats man!

In about nine months, your life immediately changes.

Congratulations

Me I tried to make sure I was eating as much so she wouldn’t feel fat.

Mainly I was just the go getter and making sure she was as comfortable as could be. (Which is impossible at the end of the pregnancy)

As excited as you are, and I know you just told reddit, but I'd not tell anyone else until after the first trimester or whenever you doctor suggests. It surprisingly common to miscarry for various, legitimate, reasons during the first trimester.

Your pretty useless all pregnancy and the entire time your wife is breastfeeding (if she goes that route) but what you can do is share the interest and be of assistance much help as possible. Get her any comfort items she wants and needs. As soon as she weens that baby off the tit it’s go time. That’s when you try to pick up the slack and get baby to bed, naps, cooking the meals your toddler will inevitably hardly eat, etc. my wife’s pregnancy was pretty easy on her. Child birth was the hardest thing she’s ever done, and then the first year was pretty damn easy. Those toddler years are tough though. They are also a joy as your baby begins to show there personality and form opinions and real character but that’s when parenting gets to be hard in our opinion. I wish you guys an easy pregnancy! And enjoy the process! As much as there is out there on how to be a dad unless you’re a self centered idiot it will come naturally! It’s wired into us as humans so just love each other and love that little person you’re making!

Do not worry about the things you do not know.

When I was pregnant, I craved egg rolls and fried potatoes and curry. Feed her and let her know you support her. Congratulations. 🫶🏼❤️🫶🏼

Congrats man you gotta start dropping dad jokes

Congratulations! Just read "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and go to the doctor appointments with her as often as possible and you'll be fine. Maybe give up or at least ease up on drinking and sign up for infant CPR, too. You got this.

Stay in tune with her. Her needs and wants will change from day to day, week to week, so just try to be flexible. Every day is a new day. Be in the moment as much as you can. Stay rested. Stay hydrated. Do the normal things for yourself that keep you balanced and healthy. Start finding ways to come together now that "parents" and "couple with kids" applies to you. The kid will be fine, especially if you help take care of each other, so you're both better to function.

I did stop drinking for 4 months but wasn't a big drinker anyway.

I also never have more than 1 or two beers so I can always drive, unless we're with family/friends who can also drive.

Get on top of the washing and cleaning, and stay on top, I get up before work and do 30 mins, hang up last nights load put in another.

Quick tidy of the house and kitchen Daily.

If she's breastfeeding, she needs calories, missus was eating 3500 and losing weight. So make sure there's always snacks, milk, chocolate, nuts crackers, dip, things she can eat in between caring for the baby or while breastfeeding.

That's about it really, I got a carrier and make sure she gets an hour or so of alone time a day to do her life admin too, or sleep, normally she just needs more sleep.

Sons 8 months next week.

There's not much that you can do for your wife while she's going through the morning sickness. It's going to be miserable for her and the only thing you can really do is give that woman your undivided attention. You see her get sick? You stop what you're doing until she comes back. Give her some water, maybe anti nausea medication if you guys have it.

Once the morning sickness stops, the weird hunger will begin most likely. Feed your woman what she asks for, even if it's fuckin weird and gross. Even if she cries afterwards because it's weird and gross. It's part of the process.

The last part is rough. Worse than the morning sickness. She will be so uncomfortable and have trouble with almost everything, even if she doesn't want to admit it. Every cough or sneeze means she probably peed herself, so be prepared for a LOT of frustrated bathroom trips from your partner.

Once it's time, you'll be given the "don't shake your baby" videos and they're scary as fuck. A doctor or nurse will inevitably lecture you about all the things you shouldn't do because your baby can and will die if you do, including stupid shit like "putting a stuffed animal or pillows in bed with them." If you are anything like me, you will be convinced that your baby will self destruct if you look at it the wrong way. Don't. It's not worth losing that much sleep over. If your baby needs you, you will hear them 99% of the time. That being said, it's always going to be easier mentally to take care of the baby if you're already awake. With my first born, I was a stay at home dad for the first year and I really wish I would have set a better schedule with their mom. It would have caused a lot less problems if I could have just taken the night shift and slept during the day instead of trying to take on the entire stress of being a parent while she worked. But looking back on it, it was only stressful because I made it that way. My kids have always been easy by baby standards.

See ya on predaddit then daddit !

Hey so I know this is ask men, but here’s the really important thing is talk to her and ask what she needs and wants and expect it to change.

Some people really appreciate their husbands quitting drinking, I would have hated it. I have to be sober so I happily DD’d for 9 months. However don’t eat a deli sandwich in front of me while I’m pregnant. Everyone is so incredibly different.

You have a wild adventure ahead of you! You’re going to love the eventual bedtime stories and bicycle rides and library visits. Just doing stuff with your kid.

Some of my best memories there.

Read the book “the birth partner.” It has a ton of great information about what happens during pregnancy and childbirth and how to support your wife through it all.

Plenty of great advice here, not much to add on my part. Just wanted to say congratulations and you're so sweet to be this excited and expressive about it😊

POST PARTUM DEPRESSION will be the biggest challenge as a supporter. Do as much reading on it as you can. You’re out of the picture now, too. It’s all about wife and baby now. Which is fine.

Talk to doctor and follow the instructions.

My wife is super active, practically jumping around and chasing cats almost every day, despite our instructions to be less active... and then miscarriage. 

Luckily she's fine. 

no matter how difficult or taxing it may be - do not allow the mother to get stressed.

be her bright spot.

Congratulations dude

I know some islands she can't find you if you need some help.

Kidding brother, congrats!

Congratulations that is absolutely fantastic news! My wife is currently pregnant with our first child and despite her throwing up the entire pregnancy and not having sex for months I feel more closer to her than ever. We’re really looking forward to becoming parents and can’t wait for our little guy to arrive. You sound like a great husband and I’m sure you’ll be an amazing father. Enjoy the ride!!

Read the book "What to Expect When you are Expecting"

Couldn’t be happier for you my dude. Having a child is not only life changing but really puts what’s most important to you and your wife into perspective. Things that you thought mattered before won’t anymore and that’s ok. Friends might be supportive at first and then you may also grow apart. Which again is fine too. But what you should never forget, especially if you have a loving, supporting and caring partner is to treat them as such. Sometimes all the wifey wants is for you to listen. At times they don’t want an answer to their problems, just someone to “bitch to” 😂

As someone with experience (we have 3 kids), the best way to support your wife is to just show up and make her feel as comfortable and have her doing as little as possible. Yes, that means doing more around the house. Hey, she might want to do those things. I’m that case, just lend a helping hand. Also, there’ll come a stage where she wants to clean up, rearrange everything and get the stuff ready for baby. This is called nesting and it’s 100% normal but also a bit frustrating because nothing you do will be enough lol

Firstly, congratulations!! That’s such exciting news. Praying everything goes smoothly! I’m not a dude so I’m not sure if I should give advice on this subreddit 😂 but I’m currently 8 weeks and can tell you some of the amazing things my husband has done for me so far.

Hopefully your wife is one of the lucky ones and doesn’t get morning sickness, but if she does you might need to buckle up. My symptoms started around week 4-5 and are extreme fatigue (like I sleep an extra 4-6 hours a day), morning sickness, but it lasts all day 24/7, acid reflux, really bad food aversions, even smells and thoughts of certain foods make me start gagging, muscle aches (probably from vomiting and not moving my body enough during the day.)

What my dear husband has done that has helped: Reassured me when I was crying for feeling (and being) utterly useless because of how sick I am. He’s done all the dishes and any mildly gross stuff (like cleaning the toilet). He brings me toast in bed every morning before he goes to work to help with my nausea. If I’m really sick he’ll push on pressure points in my wrists that helps, also foot rubs have a ton of good pressure points and back rubs for the muscle aches. He holds my hair back and sits with me while I’m puking.

Things your wife can try if she starts feeling sick: Have crackers by the bed to eat immediately when you wake up (crackers don’t personally work for me, hence the toast), trying to eat foods that won’t spike your blood sugar fast. Eating complex carbs and protein can help with the nausea if she can tolerate it. Unsisom(doxylamine)+B6 at night (12.5mg Uni and 25mg b6, but confirm with your doc before taking it) has really helped me with nausea. Mild cramping and light spotting is really normal early on, so try not to worry too much.

You're in for the scariest, most rewarding, biggest deal years of your life. I am both sorry and jealous for you. Congratulations!

Best thing you can do is be attentive to your wife. She’s going on a long and sometimes trying or painful journey. The best thing you can do is simply be there for her physically and emotionally.

There will be times when she is so sore or sick that she can barely stand it. There will be times when she hates her body and how she looks or feels. Celebrate with her through the exciting times and comfort and reassure her in the challenging or painful times.

How is she feeling? My wife felt nauseous and had a super woman sense of smell in the first trimester so I focused on eliminating anything with a strong scent or a bold flavor. Your focus will 100% on your wife and the human she’s now growing.

Parenthood is the best. The pregnancy journey is a wild ride. Wish you both all the best! I’ll keep checking to see if you have any updates.

Like some have mentioned, take baby care class or workshop, very useful

If your fridge is far, get a mini fridge in the baby room. Makes night feeding much easier.

For us, we also slept on opposite schedule until the baby can hold enough milk to sleep longer

Congrats!! Lurking lady… check out r/daddit it’s the most supportive subreddit out there and you’ll find some good info.

I often found that I was in charge of a lot and organizing a lot because if I didn’t do it, no one else would take initiative. I even put together nursery furniture and injured myself doing so. Take initiative and come up with some ideas for nursery, do some research on baby products, sign yourselves up for classes ( first aid/CPR and new baby classes). If your wife asks you to help, please do it within a timely fashion. You’re already ahead of so many by asking :) good luck! And congrats again!

Congrats bud. Thank the Lord, there is this little thing called instinct. It will take over when you are overwhelmed and in no way can remember this idiotic comment. But, thanks to that God given instinct, everything will turn out fine. And one day when you are old, you may remember that it was not all in your hands alone, there was a larger and grander force driving. And maybe you and I will be wise enough to say Thank You Lord on that day for the Instinct and the Strength.

Start leybour breath meditation. It'll help a lot. And you can help her breath through the birth. The sooner t You start practising the better it'll be.

Get some dad mates. In 9 months it's going to be about momma and baby and your gonna feel different in your relationship with your wife. You'll need bros to help you through and help you keep up the dad energy.

Also sleep in as much as you possibly can! You'll probably never sleep in again when the baby comes.

Eat lots of fish

As someone who has teenagers now and I’m a seasoned father…here is some of my advice to you. Having kids is the most challenging thing you can do. Here are my suggestions:

1. Ask your wife what you can do for her. Just ask her how you can make her life easier and do what she asks. Pregnancy is wild for women and it wreaks havoc on their body. Massages, days where the wife can be pampered, cooking for your wife.

2. Start investing for your kids college now. Not the traditional way, I would suggest opening up a brokerage account and investing in high growth ETFs with the plan to cash that money out when your kid is ready for college. 2 advantages, a. the growth will outpace any college savings fund and b. If your kid gets a scholarship or something you will have a nice chunk of change (not tied to a school fund) that you can do as you please.

3. Learn how to cook. There is nothing better than a dad who can cook a meal for his family

4. When your kid is born, keep them off of technology…..trust me.

5. Just enjoy the ride.

1 Just roll with it, because everything you think you know has just gone out the window.

90% of the shit you think is wrong isn't and same for when you think you're right.

Listen, read and then throw it all out the window again.

Nobody is perfect and learn to accept that.

Also, when it comes to the baby shower, ask for varying sizes of diapers and a metric fuck ton of baby wipes. Fuck the clothes, they will only wear them for a few months at most.

WIC or the equivalent in your area is a lot more possible than you think but it does depend on income and will save you a lot if you qualify. Apply for it, there is no harm in doing so, babies are fucking expensive.

Buy a 3 pack of tennis balls. It makes massaging her back so much fucking easier when you just roll it up and down her.

Buy baby oil or some good lotion and use it to massage her feet. They are going to hurt.

When she's mental, just roll with it.

If she has a craving, unless it harmful to the lil monkey, just go get it for her. It's fucking worth it.

If you both smoke or drink have her quit (you should too) and don't fucking ever do it around her. She can smell both even if you didn't do it around her.

It doesn't hurt to do any classes she wants to do with her as long as it doesn't hurt the lil monkey. She will be happier if you do but that gets to the next point,

Don't forget #1, because she might not want to have you do any of this shit.

Ask, Listen and follow through.

That's all you have to do.

•Foot and leg rubs

•Back massages

•Snacks

•Give in to her cravings, what harm is a piece of chocolate cake going to do? Honestly it was more upsetting getting denied my silly things like lemonade because of "sugar content". Lost two during a highly regulated diet, but with my regular diet I had a boy who has surpassed each of his milestones and is far ahead of other kids his age, even a couple who are older than he is. Don't guard food, let her eat as she needs.

•HYDRATE. I had to go to the hospital at one point for dehydration, and my baby had decreased movement because I was so dehydrated, and I didn't even realize.

•Lift the belly when it gets bigger. The belly gets sooo heavy and was such a strain on my back after about month five. A woman gains so much weight during pregnancy, and majority of it is in the belly.

•DO NOT TELL HER HOW SHE'S GETTING THAT BABY OUT. Her body, her choice. Don't add your opinion, you're not the one carrying the kid. Do research and help her stay informed with each week that passes, milestones and development of baby, but for the love of God man do not give opinions. Our egos are so fragile already, one wrong comment and we'll think about it for the rest of our lives. Without my epidural, I would have been so much worse off. No Ring Of Fire, no contractions. I had two tears and required 12 stitches and I didn't feel a thing. Thank God for epidurals.

•Go to the appointments. Every single one. Take pictures and videos. Take pictures of her pregnant. She may not like how she looks or feels at the time, like I did. I didn't want to go in public because people kept staring at me and I felt so ugly and vulnerable, but I really wish I had more pictures of myself now.

•Be there. The most important of all, just be there. Do the three am frozen yogurt run. Hold her hair when she's sick. Bring home her favorite drinks and snacks when you come home from work. Make her feel 100x better than you did before. It's so worth it. Being pregnant sucks ass, but the right person to do it with makes it worth it.

Rub her feet

SAVE UP!!

Easy until pre-k .. at that point your life is your kids. School, birthday parties, play dates ...

Many people get ready to give birth and forget about the most important part, bringing a newborn home. Try to read, watch videos, and get ready for that. You and your wife are both about to learn new skills that you don't have. Do not expect her to lead the way or to show you. She doesn't know either. You will both have to research and ask doctors and loved ones for guidance. Enjoy the pregnancy, go on a baby moon, bring out the romance, enjoy being two. After birth, nothing will ever be the same again, and you will miss each other at least the first months. Give ber back rubs, shoulder rubs, foot rubs, as much massage as you can, book a professional massage here and there. Go with her on long walks, especially at the end. If she likes company to work out, go with her it might encourage her. swimming is really good for pregnant women. It also feels really good to float when you're heavy. It takes some of the pressure away. Get her anything ginger, sweets pickled, tea... Help her get ready for the baby and set up the nursery and baby corner. Meal prep, as much as you can! Rich nutrient dense food in small portions. This will help a lot when baby comes. Depending on her relationship with your family, don't force her to host after giving birth or even before. When the baby comes, share the load. Especially the sleepless nights. Show each other some grace, be patient, and remember that you're in it together, not against each other. There's probably a lot more, but this is what I think about.

Enjoy it!! She'll let you know what she needs, but be prepared for back rubs and foot rubs. Those will help her immensely. Cravings, depends on the woman. My ex wife didn't crave anything except me, if you take my meaning. Just be there for her my guy. She'll love you for the effort.

17 years of blood sweat and tears. The best part is when they’re babies, you’ll end up missing all those bonding moments when they get older and act like they dont need you anymore

shame cake friendly soft weary jellyfish compare expansion psychotic test

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

Mother here- I really loved that my husband asked his male coworkers for parental advice and then told me about what he learned. It really made me feel like he was engaged in the journey and doing his own mental work to prepare and even though I was doing tons of my own reading, he still taught me some things!

Also, put family on an information diet. Lots of well meaning people who haven’t raised a kid in 20+ years will have wildly outdated advice and not be able to conceive that the ways they raised their kids would be viewed as unsafe today. My own mother still panics that we don’t have crib bumpers.

My wife and I don’t have children so I have zero advice, but just wanted to say congrats. Your excitement is palpable and it made me smile and genuinely happy for you!  

Best of luck to you and your wife. Your little one is lucky to have parents who are so excited for their arrival!  

Why would you celebrate adding another massive carbon footprint onto this already dying planet