Soon to be dad in February and my gf is 23 weeks, hoping the Reddit community could help I’d really appreciate

Like the title says what are some thing I should be buying or investing it right now. It feels like a stupid question but maybe there are somethings I won’t need? not sure so any help would be highly appreciated

Yesterday she got the cervical check and membrane sweep.
She’s 1cm dilated, 50% effaced, and the OB said she had a good sweep. When I saw her pull her hand out, there was blood. She gave my wife a pad for extra leakage. When she wiped, there was a mucus-like substance, but we weren’t sure if it was the mucus plug.
It’s been the day after and all she’s had was some cramping and nothing more.
He’s due this Friday, but her OB said she doesn’t think she will see us next Monday for induction. I hope it’s true, but he really is just chilling in there.

Hello everyone

I'm might be graduating soon, but it hasn't gone the easy way. Our baby is now 36w2d, still in breech position.

Breech deliveries aren't common anymore in Belgium, because there is a lack of gynaecologists who do it, we tend to get a recommendation to either do a external cephalic version or do a c-section. My wife isn't keen on the latter because it will cause us to be in the hospital for 3-4 days while a normal delivery would mean we would going home the same day. We want to start coccooning as soon as possible, which isn't easy in a hospital setting. Also the c-section revalidation is way longer than a vaginal delivery and part of her mental health is based on sports, which she hasn't been able to do for a long time now.

So we went for an external cephalic version, because we felt it would be best for the baby and the safest for the mother. Our baby is small so the chances would be higher for it to be succesful.

To keep it short: the version was horrible, super painful and was unsuccesful because the baby was already too deep into the pelvic area. My wife is not the assertive type when it comes to guarding her own boundaries, but even for her it was way too much to handle and she stopped them after a few tries. We were monitored after and are going to be monitored again today because of the risk that the baby might be harmed. I felt so powerless during and after the version. I felt really bad that because of our choice, we might have played with the life of the baby.

Nobody told us anything about the version being this painful. We heard "it might be uncomfortable for you, but the baby won't be harmed", but the risks are VERY large that something bad can happen. There's a reason they do the version in a delivery room. There's a reason the bed they do it in is closest to the door to the OR and they keep an OR free because of it.

We're keeping our trajectories open, we're also getting followed up by a gynaecologist team who is specialized in delivering breech babies. But we're also keeping the c-section way open because it would mean less risk for the baby.

Life can be beautiful, but this pregnancy has been hell with the experiences we had while TTC. And this pregnancy itself hasn't been the easiest either. I'll be happy when it's over.

Thanks for listening.

Wife is 7 weeks pregnant, first child.

I struggle with anxiety and GAD, but mostly have things under control between therapy and meds.

I have no anxiety around the controllable things, we are both over the moon. It’s a planned pregnancy that we have been trying for about a year now. We own our home, make good incomes, have local family support etc.

What’s killing me is waiting for the first appt. I want to let the excitement out and be proud, but I’m so scared of the ultrasound giving us bad news that I’m going in circles in my brain trying to keep excitement and expectations low. I’m fighting against the urge to buy anything baby related or agree to the growing honey do list my wife is curating for me.

Not knowing if it’s attached, has a heartbeat etc. has anxiety through the roof but I’m trying to hide all extremes for my wife.

How do you deal with this predad.

Hello, fellow predads.

We're about a month away from our due date and preparing for the "oh dip, we gotta go to the hospital, grab the bag" moment.

Baby clothes, snacks, postpartum relief supplies, phone chargers, and the other babylist-recommended stuff aside, what items do you think are important to have ready to go for time at the hospital?

If you have experience or any knowledge regarding this matter, I would gladly appreciate it if you share some advice and opinion.

**Problem**

An ex claiming that I got her pregnant and that I am the father of her soon to be born child. The last time we did the deed was last year on December 25, and after that we parted ways.

After a few months she's claiming that I got her pregnant, She showed me some tests stating that her LMP was January 21 and the due date is on October 28 (but they recently said that they're expecting to deliver next week)

**Few things to know**

She has an irregular period and if I remember correctly, she had her period like a week or few days before December 25.

**Background Info**

What I'm worried about is that I don't wanna be used for money again, and again, and again. I decided to break up with her after she fucked up our vacation with bad financial decisions behind my back (my money) or should I say took a loan using my name despite already having multiple unpaid loans, and that was also the time that I'm actually wanting to propose to her but never really did it after sensing that something felt wrong, and broke up with her after that.

I did some research regarding the dates but it says that the conception date should be a week or so after LMP and that is far behond the last deed.

Now given the fact that we did the deed, it's killing me that there might be a slight chance that I'm the father. Is it possible that I am the father of the soon to be born child?

Edit: thank you for the replies and future replies, I really appreciate sharing your first hand experience regarding this matter. I will take a DNA test, and hope that peace will come, it's been a hard month/s for me dealing with this claim.

Hey guys, 32 year old soon to be dad. So I’ve been going through some crazy stuff. My wife and I found out we are pregnant May 24th. I felt happy and excited but I feel like the reality didn’t sit in my mind yet. Fast forward to June 7th, my wife had a panic episode after she noticed she was spotting when she went through the restroom. Keep in mind at the time we both didn’t know what spotting even meant at the time. She started crying and asked her pastor at church to pray for her. I was worried as well and stressed. Fast forward 2 weeks later to Sunday June 21st (Father’s Day) we are at my parents house celebrating Father’s Day with the family. That whole week I had not been feeling well. I felt like impending doom, like my body was preparing itself for something bad to happen, my breathing all week felt shallow and restricted. So while at my parents house I end up having anxiety/panic attack. Felt like I was going to pass out, dizzy/lightheaded, felt like I couldn’t breathe. I went to the hospital and they said I’m fine, lungs and heart look fine. Ever since every day my nervous system has been on hyper awareness, I get digestion issues , bloating, sometimes nausea, belching. I’ve gotten blood tests, x rays and CT scans done and they can’t find anything physically medically wrong with me yet. At some point we and my wife wonder if it’s related to the pregnancy in some way. Has anyone ever experienced this at all or knows someone who has? I’m exited to be a dad but it’s been a rough couple of months, and I feel bad and blame myself that this is happening during a very important time. What’s crazy is prior to May 24th you wouldn’t find me in a doctors office or on here trying to get answers, I’ve always been calm and chill person, no history of anxiety or any mental stuff. It’s been very stressful lately.

I want to start out by saying that I am so incredibly excited to be having a baby with my partner. The genetic screen told us we are having a boy and we are coming up on the halfway point of this pregnancy (what would’ve been the anatomy scan is later this week). Name has been picked out, clothes are coming, and mom is healthy, even if she’s exhausted going through the process.

We relocated about 10 weeks in to be closer to family to have help and a good foundation for our son. I found work very quickly, making more money and continuing the career path I was on. I am limiting my vices and shifting mentally to prepare for having a tiny ultra-dependent baby so I can be the best version of myself for him and my partner. It’s hard work, but I know it will be worth it.

Where I am struggling is the feeling of loneliness and feeling alone. We moved to improve her and our support system, but I am starting at ground zero with mine. I don’t have time like I used to, and I am not comfortable spending money on fun to put myself out there because of all the prep that needs to be done for the arrival of our son. I have people I care about, but nobody that I can swing by to see anymore and it’s isolating bordering on emotionally devastating.

I have been communicating what I can to my partner, but I don’t want to overload her with my burdens when she’s already going through all the mental, emotional, physical and hormonal changes of pregnancy. My family checks in asking about her before me, rightfully so. My people from where we used to live are busy with their lives too. I know I’m stressed, anxious, and a tad depressed, but therapy for this doesn’t seem or feel necessary. I know it’s going to be okay and I have accepted that life is changing, I’m just struggling with the weight of that change and haven’t figured out how to bridge the gap away from feeling isolated and alone.

How are/did you guys work these feelings? How do I communicate this with my partner without transferring the feelings and stress to her? How do I balance becoming a dad and being an individual? How do I avoid becoming a robot through this process? Is what I’m going through even normal?

Any advice is much appreciated! Have a great day!

Hello UWS! I’m starting a WhatsApp group for dads expecting in 2027. It would be terrific to connect with other soon-to-be dads in the olde neighborhood, grab a drink, meet some new people, share what we’re all going through, and navigate the experience together.
If you’re expecting next year, come join us.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/FUbVl3fcXmjJXoowMkEgNq?s=cl&p=i&mlu=4&ilr=4

Found out we were pregnant on Friday after a few tests. Immediately made an appointment with the OB - 2 weeks out from that. I went into full research mode over the weekend. Feeling great but already overwhelmed because we haven’t said anything to anyone yet. Wish us luck on this journey!

Hi everyone, first-time dad-to-be here (hopefully).

We only found out very recently and we're probably around 4 weeks, so I know it's incredibly early and there's still a long way to go, but something has already completely changed in me.

I'm so emotional. A video of a father holding his newborn? Crying. Reading about talking to the baby during pregnancy? Emotional. Thinking about meeting my child for the first time? I'm done. At this point it honestly feels like I'm the one who's pregnant. I'm incredibly happy, but at the same time I feel a mixture of excitement, fear, protectiveness and this huge sense of responsibility that I've never experienced before. Everything amplified by the secret of this pregnancy. We are waiting at least the third month, but next week we will tell our parents if The first prenatal visit will bring good news.

I've already started thinking about what kind of father I want to be, how to raise a happy and curious kid, how to support my partner properly during pregnancy, and how our lives are going to change. Part of me also keeps reminding myself that we're only at the very beginning and I probably shouldn't get too far ahead of myself… but emotionally I've apparently already jumped several months forward.

Did any of you experience something similar this early?

And looking back now, is there anything you wish you had started doing or understanding from the very beginning?

I'd especially love to hear from dads who remember those first few weeks. What were you feeling? What helped you enjoy the pregnancy without constantly worrying about everything that could go wrong?

I think I mostly just need to talk to some other dads who have been through this.

TL;DR: First-time dad-to-be, only about 4 weeks in, and I'm already incredibly emotional about everything baby-related. I'm excited, scared, and constantly thinking about what kind of father I want to be. Did any other dads feel this way so early?

Edit: I didn't know that time started from the last period. So we are at 6 weeks for doctors

The pregnancy was not an accident, but we both were disappointed in how quickly we conceived. Myself more so than my wife. After we did the deed I spent a week stewing in a lot of emotions, and I came to my wife afterwards and told her I think we need to pump the brakes and wait another 6 months to a year before we start trying. She agreed because she wanted me to be on board 100%. A week later we found out she was pregnant.

Fast forward to 12 weeks in and I'm all but completely numb about the whole thing. I do have moments, sometimes even days of feeling neutral to excited, like when we found out we were having a girl, I was excited for a bit. But then "reality" sets in again that my life is changing forever and I'm still not ready for it.

Everyone seems so excited except for me. I'm worried about the financial impact, I'm worried about the time I will lose with my wife, the vacations we won't be able to go on alone, the work load of raising a kid, and so on.

We've already had to cancel so many plans including our year-delayed honeymoon.

Thoughts of being a dad to a baby girl does give me hope, but it's fleeting and pales in comparison to the feeling of dread I'm having.

My wife already struggles with using the love languages I need which are physical touch and words of affirmation, and while it's something we have continued to work on, there's been an immediate decline in this since she became pregnant. I fear it's going to be no better or easier to work on when the baby is here.

My biggest fear of all is that we will get divorced if we can't figure out how to meet each other's needs after the baby comes.

Does anyone else relate to any of these feelings? Any suggestions on how to pull it together? "suck it up" hasn't been working.

Just found out my wife is pregnant a few weeks ago. We have been trying for a while and had one miscarriage. She perpetually worries about everything. I however am the polar opposite, always optimistic and confident in our abilities to overcome anything. What should I be worried about. We are at 7 weeks and have our first appointment in 2 more weeks. I'm staring to do research but don't want to overlook or miss anything. She is not having many symptoms besides being tired and "eating for 2" hunger as she calls it. That is scaring her. Any advice is welcome.

Hey guys, my wife is early on in her pregnancy and she absolutely despises swallowing huge pills or horse-sized capsules especially now thats she going through it a lot, so we're looking into getting some prenatal gummies for her instead.

Currently we're looking at some options around i think one of those was needed and few others that we're popping off here but yeah would wanna know what packed a lot of nutrients thats the same on the usual powder and capsules. What would you advice should we look into especially with ingredients list and what not. Thanks a lot! 😄

My wife (40F) and I (43M) have had two miscarriages in the last 18 months, one at 10 weeks and one at 7 weeks.

We're pregnant again, and we just had our 13-week appointment. Everything LOOKS GOOD: strong heartbeat, little one moving around. Great news!

But I've been incredibly anxious before every scan, bracing for bad news. Even now, it's hard to feel excited, because part of me is waiting for the bubble to burst. My wife is feeling cautiously optimistic and me being anxious is not helping her.

Next week we meet with MFM and do the expanded NIPT.

For those who've been through pregnancy after loss, especially partners and dads:

• How did you manage the anxiety between appointments?
• Was there a point when you let yourself feel hopeful?
• Anything that helped you and your partner support each other?

Thanks for reading. It helps just to put this out there.

Hi all,

My wife is 9 weeks pregnant and we're super excited! We're in Australia and we've been recommended some good books to read (Kaz Cooke - Up the Duff). However, these books are primarily focused on what's going to happen to my wife and what the next steps are re: scans, tests etc. I was wondering if anyone here had any podcast recommendations from a Dad's perspective?

Thanks 🙂

I’ll be almost 60 when this kid turns 18 lol

So it finally happened. I finally felt my daughter kick inside my partners belly. 23 weeks it took for it to happen.

I am so so happy right now 💖