Although paternity comes to us fully at the time of birth (maybe even hours or days later), just like the pregnant woman future parents can start exercising during pregnancy.
Involving, as far as possible, in pregnancy, will make the father feel more prepared, more close to his partner and the future baby, while helping the woman to pass this stage better. But, How does a father prepare successfully for the arrival of the baby?
If you thought that during pregnancy all the work was done, of course you have to change your mind. During this stage, both your wife and the future baby will appreciate your involvement in many aspects. Visits to the gynecologist, the follow-up of the pregnancy diary, the purchase and preparation of the baby's basket, the childbirth preparation classes ...
There are many moments to be a participant, and the more the father knows, the more prepared he will be for the arrival of the baby.
Participate in the "agenda" of pregnancy
Your partner may have had the pregnancy test alone, but if so, try to be present when you know the result. From this first moment you can make a difference between a future dad involved and another who is not.
From this moment, there are other key dates throughout pregnancy: the first visit to the gynecologist, the first ultrasound, the high resolution, the monitors ... Mark those dates on the agenda and try to make a hole for them.
The emotions of the future dad
It is very important for dad's "mentalization" talk to the baby since he is in the belly. Obviously, at first it is strange (nothing suggests, externally, that there is a life taking place in there), but when the months progress and the belly becomes evident, notice the movements of the baby ... we will know that it is closer.
If the mother benefits from maintaining that contact with the baby, the same happens with the father: pronouncing the child's name, caressing him through the mother's womb, listening to or "putting" music on them ... they are simple and very valuable gestures, also to Give the couple confidence and very relaxing.
The stimulation of the baby begins in the womb, but it is not that our children are more intelligent or have more ease for mathematics or languages as lately it is fashionable to promote, but simply to establish a certain connection with the baby and reinforce it with the couple.
In this section it is also important to note that sharing the doubts of the father with the couple, share your emotions, to encourage the mother to speak to her, also express her emotions and doubts, to listen ... will bring us closer to our role as future parents.
Preparing the arrival of the baby at home
It is not only the woman's job to know the sizes of baby clothes or diapers. The "nest syndrome", although it is more typical of women (because they take the baby and partly because they usually have more time before delivery in the case of being low and finding enough strength), it is not strange to men, or it shouldn't be. I think the man must claim his role in the task of buying baby clothes, the stroller or prepare the house and the room ...
Personally, I think that those men who "delegate" all these matters to their women (for comfort, reluctance or because their women want to take care of them alone) are missing a beautiful part that makes their children more "real" before birth. The same if we talk about getting the clothes or utensils needed for the baby.
In general, the future mother prefers to think that this issue is not only her business because, if we start like this, and exaggerating the subject a bit ... who assures us that in the future they will also be our business and only our change the baby, bathe it, make him the food, get up when he cries at night, take him to school ... Also, let's think that if we have left these tasks for the end of pregnancy it will be a great help, already physically speaking, for the woman, to share these matters.
Childbirth preparation classes
Childbirth preparation classes are not only for women. Of course, we can choose the companion we want, and it is usually the father. It is very enriching for the couple to learn about childbirth physiology or baby care, and also share the experience with other couples who are in our same situation.
Taking notes if necessary to learn the type of breaths during contractions or the way in which the bids are to be done can be very useful to not forget these issues at the time of delivery, where the father can be and also be more useful.
In these childbirth preparation classes they also teach us how to clean the meconium or take care of the navel, something that many times the father does first because the mother is exhausted after childbirth.
Performing the preparatory exercises with the future mother, going for a walk with her ... it is highly recommended and will make the future mother undertake that activity so important to her health and that of the baby with more desire.
The birth is also yours
The father is not a mere spectator in childbirth. It is clear that the greatest work of our life we are going to do women, but the companions have much to contribute at this time.
You will be there at that moment, and you should not be lost without knowing what is happening and how it is advisable to act at that crucial moment. The man can help the woman in many ways during childbirth, but it would be good to know about them and not improvise or end up being a passive witness to the birth of your child.
A moment, by the way, also crucial for the baby. So knowing what is happening to the child at that time, what he needs, is essential. And although we think that instinct will provide us with everything necessary to know how to act in each moment, some "lessons" of anatomy and nursing are not bad for us.
As you see, future dads, you can start exercising as parents long before the baby is born. It will be very rewarding for the couple and when the big moment comes, you will be more prepared to receive your child, immersed in a conscious parenthood.
