the hands on dad “You’re going to be a dad!” Words that can strike fear amongst even the toughest of men. Sometimes the overwhelm can outweigh the delight in that moment, but breathe, you’re going to be awesome! With so much information to take in, and seemingly very little hands on help you can give, it’s natural to wonder how on earth you can properly prepare for fatherhood? Whilst your other half spends hours trawling baby websites, buying umpteen books about pregnancy diets, labour and breastfeeding, it’s no surprise you feel a little left out. Remember though, the role of a father starts the second you find out you’re going to be a dad, so put your comfiest shoes on because you’re about to embark on one heck of a journey!
Reality check More often than not, until your baby is placed in your arms, it’s hard to imagine what fatherhood will look and feel like. You don’t get the heartburn, you miss out on the cravings and you spend 9 months mostly sitting on the sidelines. However, times are a changin’ and we’re here to show you how Minbie is bringing Dads out of the shadows and into the thick of it.
Put your best foot forward A great way to begin your journey into fatherhood is to help prepare for the imminent arrival. Getting the nursery kitted out with the essentials, building all the self-assembly furniture that keeps arriving on the doorstep, and making sure that your family has all the breastfeeding support they need from the very start.
The delivery room Warning!! After months of waiting patiently, dads can then go on to be overlooked in the delivery room. It’s important to remember, as well as being there for much needed support,
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you play an incredibly important role in helping your family begin their breastfeeding journey from that very first feed. Taking the lead and being prepared with a well thought out hospital bag when your other half goes into labour will be a task you’ll win some serious brownie points for. One thing you mustn’t leave at home are some newborn bottles and teats. Adding these to the bag will ensure you’re #1 Dad even before those tiny little cries are heard!
“Bottles??” I hear you cry There are many reasons why your baby may need to be given a bottle in hospital and sharing the load with a breast milk bottle will not only give you a chance to feed and bond with your precious new baby, it will also reduce the confusion when switching from breast to bottle and back to breast.
Coping with feelings of inadequacy Yup! Father’s often find themselves having to find ways to cope with feelings of inadequacy. It’s a given that breastfeeding will create a special relationship between the mother and your baby, so it’s completely natural if you start to feel left out. When given the opportunity to help bottle feed you don’t have to feel useless or miss out on bonding time. You don’t have to miss out on important couple time or worry that your partner is having to go on a work trip. We have helped hundreds of thousands of fathers find their feet from the outset of their fatherhood journey and Minbie is here to support you too! You’ve got this dad! UK Research tells us that fathers who play, feed, and interact with their babies from day one, not only boost their child’s physical and mental development but also suffer with less stress.
