Once your baby is born, be prepared for the most incredible waves of emotion, expressed beautifully by one dad, Ben Whitworth:

“"Although I had done everything possible to ensure we were physically ready for Amelia, I was completely unprepared for the emotional impact of her arrival. The first week after her birth I was constantly on the verge of tears. I felt I was teetering on the brink of something so big – bigger than anything I had ever had to deal with. I also felt hugely empowered by what we had created – Amelia's birth has been a wonderful way of putting into perspective what is important and what isn't.

“I am besotted with my daughter. Watching her grow and develop is an incredibly generous reward. Even now, five months later, her smile simply melts me. Having a child makes me feel that my existence is qualified and that this is just the right thing to do. And I feel I will never be able to overcome the indebtedness I feel towards my wife for giving me my child.

There is no 'one size fits all' way to prepare. The most important element is for new parents to support each other. After that it's up to you how to define your role. Just make sure you have one.

Talk about it.

Your partner may be immersed in her own thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears during the pregnancy. The dynamic of parenting is balancing the feelings of both parents with the ultimate well-being of the child as the goal.
Take the time to listen to one another, and talk about what you are feeling.
Be sensitive to her feelings about her changing body.
The baby will experience everything the mother does, when she feels good the baby does too. Make her feel good!

Be a good husband and the chances are you'll be a good dad too!

Participate. Since you won't be giving birth you can be involved in many things and the company does help. It can be real support for her and knowledge for you. You can attend prenatal check-ups, scans and classes. This will help you feel more involved and informed. You should also prepare a room for your baby and make joint shopping trips to choose clothes, supplies and equipment. Set the VCR or TiVO to record the things you'll miss on TV. Be in the moment. You may only have one child so you'll want to get things right from the start. Make a plan. You have two important roles to play as you wait for your baby to arrive: first at the birth, and second in the raising of your child. Planning for these can be enjoyable. Talk over the birth plan, the care your partner will need and how you will spend the time after your baby is born. There are many other issues to discuss: whether to use a pacifier, circumcision if you have a boy. The decision whether or not to vaccinate immediately needs to be discussed carefully. Choosing your baby's name can take a long time, where your baby will sleep, and so on. Parenting is 24/7 responsibility that requires more than just two parents figuring it all out as they go along. Ask for help from those you admire.

Work together.

Cooking for your partner in later months will ensure she and the baby get the healthy food they need without her having to cook and cope with smells that may make her queasy. Doing chores together leaves time for more pleasurable activities. And lets you enjoy the last few months as a couple before you become a family.

The most important role for a Dad can be summed up in one word, "support."

Be a hero. Help with all of the chores at home. Take your partner out to dinner or make dinner occasionally. Make her laugh. Watch some feel-good movies together.