Is it normal to be nervous? How do I ease my nerves?

I’m extremely nervous, for my son is due on Valentine’s Day, which isn’t that far away at all. I’m nineteen, and I don’t feel ready, even though I’ve made a playroom in my wife and my bedroom at my mom’s house, plus many other things. I also don’t feel like I’ll be a good father, and I’m worried that I won’t be ready. My biggest nightmare is losing my child to CPS.
I’ve been losing sleep because I’ve been up for a majority of the night, almost every night, unable to sleep because of my anxiety and nerves, and all of these nightmares. Is this normal behavior of a daddy-to-be? How can I relieve my anxiety, because I need sleep? It’s affecting my performance at my jobs, and I need to do well at work, performance-wise, to help support my baby boy and my now wife. I’d appreciate anyone’s help. Thank you.

It sounds like you have done everything you can do until baby arrives.

You can try a book store or library for books about being a first time parent. But please remember, there are no perfect parents and you will make your share of mistakes. You will learn from them and no one will be any worse for the experience.

RELAX! There will be plenty of sleepless nights after baby comes home. To help your wife now, you can try a back rub or a foot rub, maybe help her to do any chores so she can rest. Let her know where you are at all times and a number where you can be reached in case labor starts.

Remember that a lot of first babies actually come after their due date, you really could have another 4 – 5 weeks (Don’t plan on this though, but be ready if it happens).

When it happens, you will have some instinct for what to do – yes even fathers have these.

The most important thing you can do is relax. If you are relaxed, your wife will be more relaxed and so will the baby. Enjoy your last few weeks as a childless couple, have a nice dinner maybe even go away for a day or two. You’ll be fine.

Congratulations and good luck!

Bela Bartok “Go Round, Sweetheart, Go Round”

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