Reply To: Anxious Wait for Reassurance

#163017
Oli C-B
Participant

Hi Matt,

Firstly congratulations on the news of your first child. Believe me when I say the time will whizz by between now and January.

As for being nervous, I don’t know a single dad who wasn’t nervous before their first (or 2nd or 3rd) child was born.
It is easy to worry about the future, especially when it comes to kids. Try to remember that the medical systems & teams put in place to support your new family are there to help you through this. The scans are great opportunities to see your unborn child, but there are things you can do to bond before they’re even born.
I recommend talking to the bump. It will feel weird at first but that bonding will help further down the line as well as getting them used to your voice.
Also, as time passes your partner will begin to feel the movements of the baby (from what I am told it starts out feeling like popcorn kernels popping inside her) and at roughly the 6 month marker you’ll be able to feel them too!

I also recommend reading some of the many great books for dads out there (I personally recommend The Expectant Dad’s Handbook). They can help you deal with all your feelings as well as understand what your partner is going through. Pregnancy can be very demanding so your partner will need your support, and that can be a good place to focus your energies if you feel like “doing something” helps.

Every child is different and every pregnancy is different so that’s all the advice I feel qualified to give.

I hope it helps