Becoming a dad

Talk to other dads

Knowing that you're going to be a dad is a momentous experience but one that brings lots of questions. Do I feel ready to be a father? How will we cope financially? Will the baby and my partner be OK?

These worries are all perfectly natural, but you may find that it helps to talk to other dads, or even your own, most of them will have asked themselves the same questions.

Antenatal classes

It's a good idea to find out what you're in for at the birth, so consider going to antenatal classes with your partner. They usually run every week for the last couple of months of pregnancy and most NHS hospitals with birth units run antenatal classes.

Altenatively, you can join classes run by the National Childbirth Trust across the UK. You will have to pay but it's a good way of meeting other dads-to-be in your area.

What to expect

Don't expect your baby to arrive on its due date - it's only a rough guide. Although 40 weeks is the norm, don't be surprised if it happens a week or two earlier and going beyond 40 weeks is pretty common too.

It should be fairly obvious when your partner is in labour but signs to watch out for include:

• lower back pain sometimes accompanied by cramp
• contractions become more frequent and intense
• some blood-tinged discharge, which might include mucus

When labour starts

If her waters break there's no need to panic. This is the release of the amniotic fluid from the womb prior to birth. Call the maternity unit and ask for their advice. Some will ask you to come in, others will just say keep in touch.

If you're worried that things are happening much too fast, or if you have any other cause for concern, call an ambulance.

If you're driving your partner to the hospital, it's a good idea to plan the route in advance and make sure you have enough change for parking - you don't want your car to be clamped while you're in the labour ward.