Presuming you haven't run for the hills already, you're going to be a bit shocked, even if you've been actively trying to conceive. So what now? Have a cup of tea. Sit down. Don't make any decisions right now. Whatever you both decide to do next, you've got plenty of difficult choices ahead of you.
If you've come to Dads Space, you’re probably looking for help and advice about parenting. The good news is that there is a lot of it out there. The bad news is that the advice is often contradictory, leaving you confused about the right way forward. Sometimes experienced healthcare professionals will flatly disagree with each other and you won’t know who to believe. To make matters worse, childcare is a subject that people tend to feel strongly about, meaning they can be pretty forthright with their opinions.
Never be afraid to seek advice: there’s vital stuff that you need to know, and other people’s experience can save you from making many mistakes. But you (and the mother) are in charge, you know your child better than anyone, and you can decide how you want to do things.
Just remember, childcare isn’t an exact science. What works for someone else’s child may not work for yours – and the reverse may also be true, so don’t get smug if you think you’ve got it all worked out: just count your blessings and have sympathy for those parents whose children are more challenging.
You're about to embark on an amazing journey. And we'll be there with you every step of the way.