Baby Bitty

Baby Bitty

First Time Dads - How to Stay Sane During Pregnancy

It is a daunting task when you are a first time dad to be. You have to stop holding out for a brand new car and you definitely forfeit a lot of your game time on the golf course. Sometimes you ask yourself whether you are insane for agreeing to go through with a pregnancy. Worse, you start to wonder whether you've gotten the right girl pregnant as you see the woman you love change right before your eyes.

 

I remember my father saying the very same thought to me.  I began to realize what my father meant when my wife got pregnant. He wasn't talking about my mom becoming a nag as they aged together; he was referring to the changes that occur emotionally and physically during a woman's pregnancy. Now, I bet that as a first time dad you have an idea on what I am talking about!

 

Hormones, whether we understand it scientifically or its significance in a woman's pregnancy is still something pretty difficult to contend with when we come face to face with its effect, especially if we are first time dads to be.

 

We all know or read about how common mood swings are during pregnancy. This is because of the hormonal changes that affect the levels of our wife or partner's chemical messengers in the brain. Add the variety of feelings she has about becoming a mother and you have a really good formula for disaster.

 

Women experience this differently. My wife experienced heightened emotions and everything suddenly seems like a big deal! I noticed this around 6 to 10 weeks of her pregnancy. I thought we were through with it when we reached the second trimester but holy cow! It came back just as she was nearing her birthing.

 

I love my wife and our baby but truly, I was in a huge emotional rollercoaster ride with her during the pregnancy. It took almost all of my willpower not to shout back and walk out of the room every time she feels like being difficult. The only reason why I'm still sane after it was the fact that I understood what these hormones are doing to her.

 

Pregnancy is a stressful and overwhelming time in her life. One moment she'd be thrilled of the idea of having a baby and then when she's vomiting her insides out and experiencing back pain, she wails about what I've gotten her into! There are times when she worries about being a good mom or if she can take care of the baby properly. She also worries about me, being a first time dad to be; she's worried about family's finances and other itty-bitty things that frankly, make no sense!

 

The only way a first time dad can survive this ride is to be armed with knowledge, understanding and a whole lot of patience. Personally, I also tried to learn from other first time dads – how they coped during the entire pregnancy and even afterwards, tips to support their partner and just about anything else that would help me go through this period. It was a huge change from my usual routine but I knew that making my wife happy was imperative for our baby's well being.

 

About the Author

The spotlight always falls on the woman during pregnancy. At times, it is a bit frustrating because first time dads also need some attention and space. If you find yourself feeling this way, you might find it valuable to get some helpful insights from those who have been there to better prepare you as a first time dad.

what age should i get her a bitty baby?

my little sister just turned two. she loves dolls. i want to get her one of those bitty babies from the american girl catalog. they say that the dolls are for ages three and up. but i think she'd love one. should i wait until her third birthday? or get her one sooner?

You could get her one now, but when she has it I would sit and play with her so you can make sure she is not putting the parts into her mouth.

UPPA Baby Stroller - Itty Bitty Bella, Collierville, TN.