Hi Lifehacker, I’m a first-time father to be. While my wife has been able to find numerous websites to help her through the pregnancy, I’m having a much more difficult time finding places where expectant fathers can learn more about what’s going on. Can you help? Thanks, Stressed-Out Sire
Dear SOS,
Congratulations on your impending bundle of joy. There are a handful of sites out there that are specifically aimed at expectant fathers — examples include New Dad To Be, What To Expect: Dads, Fathers Forum Online and The New Dad’s Survival Guide.
Most women pregnancy/childbirth sites also have sections and forums dedicated to dads — Babycenter provides oodles of advice and you can also sign up for weekly emails that will guide you through the gestation process right up to the delivery suite.
Naturally, a lot of the information aimed at expectant mums is also perfectly suitable for dads; particularly if you want to learn about what happens during each trimester, your partner’s moods and any possible complications that can arise. Presumably, you’ll also be wanting advice on how to cook and eat the afterbirth — this article contains everything you need to know (…what?).
If any readers have an online daddy bible they swear by, please provide SOS with a link in the comments section below.
Cheers
Lifehacker
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Comments
2 responses to “Ask LH: Where Can I Find Help As A New Dad?”
I attended a Beer & Bubs session in Melbourne when our first was pending, which wasn’t too bad. They have a companion book too – “Cheers to Childbirth”.
http://www.beerandbubs.com.au/
It was easy to spot us all turning up for the session – all these cars pulling up outside the pub with brand new capsules installed in the back. I have run into some of the other expectant Dads since as our wives are in the same “Mother’s Group”.
Or do what the rest of us did and make it up as we go along 🙂
Oh and do get that book Baby Love by Robin Barker. Always helps to have a manual to fall back on and that is the nearest thing you will get.
I agree with both points above. Biggest piece of advice I could give is to not stress. 99% of the time your gut will tell you what’s right or wrong.
Your missus will undoubtedly soon join a mother’s group, which will give you a new “parenty” social circle. It’s not online but you’ll find plenty of support there. In some cases the dads form their own group, too. (Though this didn’t happen in my case.)
I second Baby Love. Indispensable.
http://www.reddit.com/r/daddit/
Hey!
There’s a great award-winning daddy blogger called Resovoir Dad. Google it!
Jason
seek out your local mens shead. you’ll get some great male only talking time and make some great friends
All the above sites are great. I am a doula (birthing assistant) and I have developed with another doula DadSkills – online childbirth classes for dads to be. The focus here is all about dads and how they can get the tools to be the best support they can be throughout pregnancy, birth and into the early postnatal period. Years of supporting mums and dads has shown us that dads do not get the support they need or the specific tools they need to do the best job they can. We have loads of hot tips and tricks to make the big day go as smoothly as possible, as well as real dads who have been there, with their tips. There is a series of 9 short information packed videos as well as 6 FAQ’s videos that answer all the questions you want to ask but don’t. You can sign up for 1 week, 2 weeks or 4 weeks and during that time watch the videos as many times as you like. If you have questions you can contact us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/DadSkills?ref=hl or through our website http://dadskills.com/
Wishing you every happiness on your way to fatherhood