Despite all the reading and preparation, nothing can quite prepare you for the feelings you’ll have during the first few weeks after delivery. Here are some of the emotions many new fathers feel:

What is this feeling I have for this baby? Is it love?

Up to now, you’ve known romantic love or love for a parent or sibling. Nothing is the same, though, as the love you feel for this part of you that is now your responsibility.

Why don’t I feel about the baby the way my wife does?

While you may have these strong protective feelings toward your new baby, you may not understand why you don’t seem to bond the same way mom does. Don’t worry; dads develop a relationship with babies at their own pace, and the type of daddy-child bond you are imaging will develop over the next few years, and usually not immediately.

Why do I feel jealous about a ten-pound baby?

Not me! I’d never be jealous of a little baby. You may be surprised though when you get very few of the kisses and your wife no longer has time to make you feel special. This is a shock to many dads and a potential source of stress if you’re not aware of it.
Read the rest of this entry »