Host: Many fathers-to-be have the same fears, concerns, and joys that pregnant women have. Sometimes, though, men don’t feel as free to express their feelings or even to ask the questions they might have. While you may not have all these concerns, we know you’ll benefit from this part of our journey. And remember, pregnant moms can also benefit from understanding some of dad's concerns.
Real People: The way that I helped her most through her pregnancy is being supportive to her. In my mind, what means the most to her is if I’m helping out more around the house. Where, what I found out though is what means the most to her is if I’m more caring or more loving with her and more tender and holding her more, and that's probably where I’ve not done as good a job as I should have. I need to work on more of my communication and a little more on being there for her. One of the things I did to help my wife get ready for the pregnancy was I participated in the childbearing classes. I tried to give her massages and keep her feeling pretty good.
Real People: Some of the fears that I had through the delivery or at the delivery is me being totally out of control and not being able to do anything for my wife. I remember going into the hospital that day and wondering as a guy am I going to cry when the baby is born or not? One of the things that frightened me is i didn't want to look at anything, and I wasn't sure that I wanted to cut the cord or any of that because i just didn't knowhow i would react to it. Advice i would have for other dads to be a good birthing coach would be, one take one of the classes, obviously. Work out ahead of time what she likes like my wife wanted chips of ice placed in her mouth without her having to think about it. Just stick to trying to help her breathe. Just help her breathe through the labor pains and the contractions. I really wish that I would have filmed more of it because it's kind of a blur at this point. I actually found it to be just a really, really neat experience. The competence of the doctors and nurses really impressed me, and it went real well.
Real People: As soon as Megan was born it was my first emotion. I just started crying and I was almost surprised by it, I guess, and kind of taken aback, but it was just such an emotional event. It was almost kind of surreal to realize that we now had the baby with us after the nine months of waiting, and we were getting ready to drive home. When i left the hospital and a nurse walked us out, i was thinking the whole time, "okay, they're really not going to let us take this baby home because we don't know what we're doing." when we are at the hospital after the baby was first born, there were nurses there. I mean, nurses were even changing diapers for us, kind of showing us how to do it. And they were helping her to nurse and just everyone was there helping us. So then, all of a sudden we drive home, we check out and we're on the front porch of our house and it's kind of like (makes face). The realization hit that oh, boy it's just us now. I really didn't have a clue what raising a child was all about, but I was a proud dad. I was a little bit cocky and I knew that I could stumble my way through it somehow.