Becoming A Dad

Based on content from JOHNSON'S^® Everyday Babycare: Being A Dad, DK Publishing Inc., 2004

Before the baby is born

When your partner is pregnant, you are her main support. You can provide support by accepting your partner's ups and downs throughout the next 9 months. Her body is undergoing a huge hormonal upheaval, and this often results in mood swings. You can help your partner simply by being understanding and patient. You may also find that she feels unattractive because of the shape and size of her body. She needs you to reassure her about her beauty with both words and deeds.

Time together

Make time, amid the preparations for the new member of the family, to enjoy each other's company with nights out, long lunches, and, if possible, a vacation. If this is your first baby, it may be some time before you will have the chance to be on your own without the help of a babysitter.

Bonding with your unborn baby

Although you can't actually see your baby, there are still important steps you can take to begin bonding with your baby. For starters, make time to talk with your partner about the baby - specuate about her personality and appearance. Who will she look like? Who will she take after? You can even give her a nickname while you start to put together a list of potential names.

As your partner's stomach grows, be sure to touch and caress it. Don't be afraid of physical contact. Babies in the womb are robust, and it's good for them to know there is someone out there ready to welcome them. It is thought that babies can hear voices outside the womb beginning at the 15th week of pregnancy.

Prenatal appointments

Today most healthcare providers encourage both parents to be present at landmark prenatal visits. One of the things that can create a gulf between partners during a pregnancy is the father-to-be's lack of knowledge. The more you know, the more confident and involved you will feel as the due date approaches.

Prenatal classes

You can also join your partner in prenatal classes. At these classes, you will learn about all aspects of labor and birth and have the opportunity to discuss concerns. You will also begin to learn how you can help during labor, including ways to help your partner relax and breathe during contractions.

After the baby is born

Nothing can prepare you for the first few weeks at home with a new baby. Day and night merge. The clock on the wall has little meaning. The outside world seems irrelevant, and within the capsule of your home, time takes on a new pattern, largely dictated by your baby, the tiny bundle that is at the center of all activity.

Go with the flow

The best course of action is to go with the flow and enter into "new baby world," where adult time is put on hold. Take as much time possible away from work so that you can be there to offer support to your partner and enjoy your baby. Make time outside the routine tasks of feeding and changing, to hold and get to know him. Think about your partner's needs. She, after all, is the one who has been through labor.

At this stage in your baby's life, there is often a clear division between mom and dad. For all the talk of co-parenting and the importance of dads, you may find yourself sidelined when much of the baby's time is spent breastfeeding (if your partner is breastfeeding rather than formula feeding), but rest assured, that your turn for quality time will come. In the meantime, make sure you participate as much as possible, even if yours is largely an enabling role. Put down that dishtowel and cuddle with your child.

Your special time

There are plenty of occasions when you have a one-to-one with your new baby. Some dads make a point of always giving baths, while others pride themselves on changing every diaper. These routines (yes, even diaper changes) can be an important part of bonding with your newborn.

The night shift

As well as nighttime feedings, there will be times when your baby simply needs comforting while the rest of the world is asleep. This can be a truly magical time, between just you and your baby. Tuning into the rhythms of his body, learning to interpret his needs, and discovering new techniques to calm and soothe him to sleep can be a special experience. The initial effort of rising from your bed may seem burdensome, but the satisfaction when you return, mission accomplished, to slide in bedside your sleeping partner, can be immense.

Making time

You have a lifetime of being a dad ahead of you, and what you sow in these early years, you will reap later on. So when the novelty of a new baby has worn off and paternity leave (if you have it) has ended, make sure you make time to bond with your baby and your partner.

Learn more; help out more. Read about feeding, bathing and diapering your new baby.

p/s:- semoga aku maju jaya.. :) amin..