Yesterday Encarna came to the hospital to hold the baby so April could take a nap and I could walk home to pick up a few things. I didn't have much time at home, maybe thirty minutes, but I did grab a few DVDs off the shelf next to the TV. Even though we had been in the hospital for a day already, apparently I wasn't willing to give up the idea in my head that staying at the hospital after delivery is like staying home from work with a cold. Yes, you don't feel well, but really all you have to do is rest and get better. Eat, drink, lie around watching movies, and if you get really bored, find somebody to order around.

I guess I mean to say that I imagined that when all the drama of the delivery was said and done, the curtain would metaphorically close, and we would be left alone in our hospital room, our little nest, to get to know each other and be a family. ... read more >>

Expectant fathers have a lot of decisions to make when getting ready for the arrival of their first or new child. Many people create checklists to try and help them prepare, but it is impossible to make ready for every situation or need. There are many decisions during the pregnancy that dads really care about expressing an opinion but some are avoided at all costs.

Here are Five Decisions Expectant Fathers Tend to Avoid:

1. Choice of doctor or hospital - we're not the ones who need to feel comfortable being poked, probed and examined, so why should our opinion matter?

2. Room decor or bedding set - dads want kids to have cool rooms, but the only things we really care about when it comes to decor are how much it costs and the amount of work it will be for us to paint and set-up all of the furniture.

3. Formula or breastfed baby - as long as we can be involved in feeding the baby in some way, we don't really care where the milk comes from.

4. Natural or 'pain relieved' delivery - some dads may quietly think they have a strong position on this leading up to the big day; however, that quickly changes when they get in the delivery room with a screaming mom. In most cases, dads understand that they aren't the ones pushing the baby out, so they really don't have a say about epidurals or pain medications anyway. ... read more >>

A term that has come up for father’s who are starting a family again.

NEWS FLASH! I am going to become a recycled father!

First; I’m excited, very excited about becoming a Recycled Father.
Second; I’m honoured to be having the chance to have a complete family.

The only concern I had was how will my three children feel about their father having another child, and not only another child but a child that will live with him, and have their father all the time.
So when it came to sharing the news with my children, I just came out with it “Kids, Andrea is up the Duff, your going to have a new brother or sister”. They thought I was joking at first, but their expression changed when they saw that I was not joking, they were each excited in their own way.

Nastassja my eldest daughter doesn’t hide her excitement, about having a new brother or sister ... read more >>

Im sure there are lots of women out there who have had a rough pregnancy and thought I wish you could just understand what it would be like to endure pregnancy, well now we can. Scott Baio is pregnant. A stunt I know to see who is the “hotter” pregnant celebrity but at the end of the day let me know what you think guys?? Would you trade shoes with your partner/wife to have your child. To be honest I don’t have a very high pain threshold so probably best if I pass on that. The nine months were terrible and I guess I would find it hard to do what my wife did. I would obviously give it a go but would prefer not to.

So do you think we should look at the question of “Would you prefer to have your child or would you prefer that your wife/partner did”? ... read more >>

This article was originally written by Emily Anthes and submitted for publication to DIYFather.com by Maurice Mok.

Tufts University recently hosted a scientific conference on the "parental brain." Or at least the maternal brain, which was the subject of eight symposia, while fathers and their brains were the focus of just one. Once, this imbalance would have seemed inevitable, since there didn't seem to be much to say about how becoming a father affects men physically. But now, evidence is accumulating that pregnancy and parenthood leave their marks on men's bodies. Women are not the only ones who are built for parenting, and recognizing that is good for fathers and the rest of us, too. ... read more >>

A study in both US & NZ shows a very strong link that teenage girls in these countries engage in sexual activity and also get pregnant without a father present.

Studies from psychologist Bruce J. Ellis of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and his coworkers in the May/June Child Development state "These findings may support social policies that encourage fathers to form and remain in families with their children, unless the marriage is highly [conflicted] or violent,"

Prior studies have shown early sexual activity and teenage pregnancy among girls who grow up from infancy without a father. However, scientists have generally assumed that precocious sexuality results from a mix of adverse influences, including a father's absence, divorce, poverty, and the lack of parental guidance. ... read more >>

I didn’t realize just how different women where until they became pregnant and having a terrible pregnancy isn’t going to make you want to invite friends over too often, the mood swings don’t help – non pregnant people don’t understand why you have to go to the toilet every ½ hour and how you want to either pee or vomit and sometimes both!

So tell me why why why! – do we (men) now become part of the problem – you did this to me – this was told to me in jest but as humans I guess we do feel responsible in some way shape or form!

I find it hard to deal with sometimes – not sure what to say, how to touch her with out hurting her, how do other men get on with their partners, with the constant what every I do isn’t right – with the conversation starting with “can you get the…..I would but I can’t pick it up”. ... read more >>

Like most couples – finding out you are pregnant can either be a joyous occasion or one filled with shock/sadness/guilt/shame and or resentment!

My wife and I have always been independent and even as a couple, so finding out she was pregnant was not only a shock but left her feeling like it wasn't quite the right time – like when ever is the right time! Of course her being 29 and myself 31 there was no doubt that we would have it but more of a case of coming to terms with the idea of being parent, for me it was a king of "we hadn’t planned for it and that’s the way life goes".

I couldn't wait – I was very excited, it was going to be all the things that we didn't know about and especially from my point of view I thought yay I’ve helped to make this little person that is coming into my life, she will change me and bring out the best and worst of me for as long as we are together. ... read more >>

Midwives are a very important part of the whole pregnancy experience, and having a good or bad one can really shape the way you see pregnancy especially from a support point of view. I think like in any industry, there are good and bad midwives and I guess the profession has a lot of people who really shouldn't be there!

This is a case of making sure that for soon-to-be new parents both mother and child are taken care of, but also the father is given relevant information in this time too.

As we all know it takes 2 people to make a baby but only one parent is focused on.

The midwives that I have met are busy, overworked and really seem like they have too much on their plates, as far as personalized service goes - only a handful seem to actually care! It's almost like taking your car to the mechanic and then telling them what to fix and how to fix it!! ... read more >>