Safe sex is great sex, so better wear a latex if you don’t want to get that late text, telling you, ‘I’m late’ text.” Lil Wayne may have rapped these lyrics in his song Lollipop, but they hold more truth than some people realize. I didn’t take this advice and received that dreaded late text telling me that my partner was pregnant. My emotions went haywire, but I knew one thing for sure: my journey as a father had begun.

When my partner told me she was pregnant, I had no idea what to expect. I thought fatherhood began when the baby was born, but I was wrong. Fatherhood begins when the mother finds out she is pregnant. I had to support her emotionally, physically, and financially throughout the pregnancy. She was going through hormonal changes and needed emotional support, which I provided by being there for her whenever she needed me. She needed physical support too, so I did small things like washing her feet and giving her back rubs. These tasks may seem insignificant, but they make a huge difference to a pregnant woman.

I also had to support her financially. We had to make sure we had an emergency fund, packed the hospital bag, and asked our parents for help if we needed it. We went to doctor’s appointments together, and I was always there to help her out whenever she needed me.

One of the biggest fears I had was not knowing how to be a father. I never had a father figure in my life, so I didn’t have a blueprint to follow. 

As a father-to-be without a blueprint, I take it one step at a time. Being present is the first step. And I know that when my son arrives, I want to be the best father I can be. I want to be there for him, to play with him, and to be his confidante.

Having a baby is not just about the mother but also about the father. Fathers need to be involved in the pregnancy and be supportive of their partners. It’s not just about being there for the baby’s birth but also for the mother throughout the pregnancy. It’s about being present and being supportive, both emotionally and physically.

So to all the dads-to-be out there, let’s take this journey one step at a time and be there for our partners and children every step of the way.

If you enjoyed this you might like Are We Just ATM Fathers here