Becoming a father will change your life completely! Becoming a father is a lot of fun, but you may have many questions: Will we be able to afford it? Are we ready? Will I be able to bond with my baby?
Prenatal courses
In recent years, more and more fathers are choosing to support their wives during childbirth. If you are thinking of supporting your partner during the birth, it is useful to know what to expect. Prenatal courses will not only prepare you for the big day, but also give you the opportunity to take a moment away from your daily hustle and bustle to think about your partner, your baby and being a father.
As there are different types of courses, it is good to think about what you want to achieve by attending the course, how much time you can spare and how much you want to attend. These courses are a good place to meet other expectant fathers in your area.
Being present during childbirth
Becoming a father will bring many responsibilities for your baby, but it will also increase your responsibilities for your partner. It is very important that you support your partner during this period and help her with her plans. Your partner will also need a lot of physical and emotional support and reassurance.
Research shows that levels of oxytocin, the so-called ‘love’ hormone, increase in men during their partner’s pregnancy, and the increase is much higher in men who participate in the birth. Oxytocin encourages the father to participate closely in the care of the child. When the moment of birth arrives, other hormones such as vasopressin and prolactin, which are high in men, also stimulate bonding and protective instincts.
Bonding with the breastfed baby
Being a father can sometimes involve supporting from a distance during the unique sharing between mother and baby. Some fathers worry that they will feel left out of the bonding process between mother and baby and that they will become jealous. However, this is an unfounded concern. Feeding the baby is by no means the only way to bond with the baby. There are many things you can do too. You can change the baby, give the baby a bath, rock the baby, put the baby on your bare chest for skin-to-skin contact, massage the baby, buy a sling and take the baby to a friend’s house or go for a walk. This way, the mother can also get some rest.
If it’s up to you to change the baby, remember that breastfed babies have much less smelly diapers..