Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

How has your DP/DH reacted to pregnancy, and to the birth drawing near?

14 replies

Mumblesmummy · 03/02/2008 16:51

Mine had a broken foot when I first got pregnant. I've never known ANYONE be so happy to be a dad.

As soon as his foot healed he got a new job working ridiculous amounts of hours every week, he bought us a family car and got us into a nice family home. When he's off he's scooting about putting up pictures, washing clothes, putting on new door handles, fixing things on the car, getting the baby's nursery ready. Ot buying bits for the baby. Since he's working so much I always have his tea/breakfast ready for when he gets in, and keep the house clean and tidy so he seems to have turned me into a little housewife!

It's like we've both got a mega urge to nest, and he's pretty over protective of me too.

The other thing is, the only time his mood gets really low and fed up is when somethings totally wrong with say the car or the house and he gets all stressed out and wants it fixed straight away!

He's always flapping about the baby coming into a good home, too.

Just curious as to how everyone else's DP/DH has reacted?

Have they got a bigger nesting insinct than you, like mine has?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BorgLady · 03/02/2008 19:11

That's so lovely.

Despite my baby being an accident, and us only being together about 8 months when it happened, my lovely DP has been the best father-to-be I could have hoped for.

Instead of just being boyfriend/girlfriend, we now feel like a family, even though baby isn't here yet.

We're taking good care of each other, just like the two of you.

I know that even if things didn't work out between the two of us, he'd always be a great father, and that means the most of all to me I think.

Awww, I'm feeling very soppy and I'm going to give him a big kiss now.

FillyjonkisCALM · 03/02/2008 19:15

dp is fabulous generally, but it must be said is a little less overawed this time (no 3)

first time he read the hungry caterpillar to pre-ds every night

second time, he at least scheduled ds's reading of the hungry caterpillar so that pre-dd could "listen"

this time......

he helped me decide which colour sling to buy...

(oh and he's excited and everything...but...it IS baby #3, I have to admit I probably wouldn't tolerate anyone reading to my tummy this time anyway )

dejags · 03/02/2008 19:19

No 1. He was very attentive - read the books, name sites. Decorated the nursery, trawled the shops. He chose the name. Attended the two big scans.

No 2. A little less so than no1. He chose the name and did a lot of shopping. He also went to both scans.

No 3. Wasn't very interested in the pregnancy (but then again, neither was I - well at least not in the obsessive compulsive way I was about no1 and no2). He did however create a beautiful surprise nursery for the baby (and me). It was a truly wonderful surprise. He went to both scans and some of the midwife consultations too!

jaq39 · 03/02/2008 21:15

My partner definately not showed the same amount of attention to me or the bump second time around.
I put it down to the fact that our DS is 17 months and is very cute at the moment so gets all the attention.
I think it is natural for the excitement not to be as full on after the first!

kayzr · 03/02/2008 21:21

My dh was wonderful, he didnt come to all the MW appointments due to work but he came to the ones where I needed blood tests. He came to both scans. Aso he painted ds nursery as soon as we moved. Despite living in last house for 18 months and not getting round to decorating.

FrannyandZooey · 03/02/2008 21:29

mine has been even more underwhelmed this time but I am smart enough to know that him helping around the house with ds and so on is WAY more important than him stroking the bump and cooing over baby catalogues

I think he is quietly looking forward to it this time, whereas more scared of the unknown last time

it is lovely to hear about people's dp's doing sweet things during the pg though, don't get me wrong - just if I had a choice I would choose the housework and the childcare

hatrick · 03/02/2008 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

spugs · 04/02/2008 09:48

mines not intersested at all this time (#3) and i must admit it does drive me a bit mad! he wont look at anything baby related and whinged the whole time i made him look at pushchairs inbetween wandering off to look at stuff for the 2 dds. thats been his only contribution to this pregnancy and if i say we need to get something the reply is always that we have loads of time (im due in 7 weeks)

minacolada · 04/02/2008 10:30

Mumblesmummy, you should get pregnant more often! :P

Mine's been great, despite being a little surprise. He's so excited, bless him! And I can't wait to see him hold her etc for the first time

As for baby shopping, he's NOT interested, but was very helpful with decorating the nursery choosing names and planning our first family holiday etc.

RGPargy · 04/02/2008 10:35

DP was thrilled at me bring pregnant but was permanently worried about me the whole time, especially as the birth grew imminent!

He wanted the baby's room to be ready for when she arrived and we finally got it done with a few weeks to spare.

He's great for clothe shopping for DD too - he went to the local business park yesterday and while he was there (on his own) decided to go to Toys R Us and bought DD two new toys. He was even going to buy her a little outfit he'd spotted too, but didn't in the end (cant remember why now tho). He did however say that he would go back and get it because it was lovely. How sweet!

FillyjonkisCALM · 04/02/2008 15:11

yes I think I don't tend to channel my baby-excitement into buying things anyway.

Actually, aside from choosing a name (this is on the to-do list on the fridge door, we have , after all, got about a whole week left ,) there isn't a huge amount we DO to prepare for our babies.

We co-sleep and use a sling for as long as possible...we have clothes...very, very little stuff have we EVER bought new...

Yes its just a name really, must get onto that

MuffinMclay · 04/02/2008 15:20

Dh has the nesting thing far worse than me but, unfortunately, isn't very good at it. He has just taken a couple of days off work to move furniture around (apparently it is suddenly Very Urgent). In typical fashion though he has got bored and given up (and is back at work tomorrow). Now the house is in an even worse state than normal and I haven't the energy or enthusiasm to do anything about it.

He did vacuum yesterday, a sight I've never witnessed before.

Original poster

Mumblesmummy · 05/02/2008 11:30

aww sounds like nearly everyone's other halves are being lovely in their own ways. Thought I may have opened a can of very hormonal worms on some DPs with this one . Seems they do care really, eh?

OP posts:

BearMama · 05/02/2008 21:15

My DP is pretty laid back but given that this is his 5th I wouldn't expect much else. Its my first but I know he's happy to be a Dad again and he has shown his enthusiasm by coming home with baby socks and babygros, and insisting that, as the Dad he buys the coming home outfit!
TBH I dont mind that he's letting me get on with the pre-natal stuff, as I know he'll be a good, hands-on Dad (have seen the evidence with his other kids)and that's the bit that's important IMO!

Flip