Expectant dad? Start here | BabyCenter

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In this article

• Sign up for informative weekly emails
• Face your fears
• Can we talk sex — and other essentials?
• Get ready for the big day
• The money thing
• Still feeling lost?

To ease your transition into fatherhood, here are some suggestions that may help you understand what's happening with your partner, your unborn child, and you.

Sign up for informative weekly emails

Sign up for our My Pregnancy This Week email newsletter. It's free, and you'll impress your spouse or partner with your new ability to spew out facts about her pregnancy and the baby's development. Once your baby comes along, you'll receive My Baby This Week emails — another great way to keep up on your growing family.

Face your fears

• Worries about becoming a dad are perfectly natural. Get some straight talk from a clinical psychologist on the seven fears expectant fathers face.
• Recognize the social and cultural barriers you're up against. A family therapist advises you on how to challenge the five myths of fatherhood.
  

Can we talk sex — and other essentials?

Fatherhood expert and author Armin Brott gives the lowdown on:

• How your sex life will change during pregnancy (ouch!)
• The ten things about new fatherhood that will surprise you the most

Get ready for the big day

We know you're eager to get the show on the road, but you need a bit more preparation before you become a dad:

• Check our tips on how to fully share in your significant other's pregnancy.
• When you and your partner are ready to settle on a name, visit our Baby Names Finder to search for names by meaning, by origin, by first letter, or by popularity. Learn how to pick a baby name and browse our baby name inspiration lists.
• Ready for the big day? In case your mind was wandering during childbirth class, we have a cheat sheet with the essentials of labor and delivery. And don't miss our ten indispensable tips for labor coaches.
• Print out a helpful list of what to bring to the hospital.
• Finally, after your beautiful baby arrives, you'll need to find the best way to announce it to the world.

The money thing

If you're lucky, you might even get paternity leave. Before then — and before the inevitable sleepless nights arrive — you may want to take time to figure out how you'll meet those astronomical college bills looming just around the corner. We'll help you chart your family's financial future with these guides:

• family finances
• college savings
• choosing insurance
• creating a will

Still feeling lost?

Sometimes it's nice to hear from other dads in the same boat. Visit our Dads Only Community Group, where dads and dads-to-be can swap stories and advice.