Read an Excerpt
Be Prepared
A Practical Handbook for New Dads
By Gary Greenberg Jeannie Hayden Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0-7432-5154-7
Chapter One
The First-Month Slump
Fatherhood can hit you like a sucker punch. The baby arrives, you're showered with help and gifts and food for a week or two, and then everyone leaves. And you are suddenly hit by this overwhelming feeling that nothing will ever be the same again. Someone has taken away your old life and replaced it with this really long, frustrating community service project.
For the first couple of weeks post-baby, you may feel anxious, depressed, and lonely, and why shouldn't you? You're completely at the mercy of a relentless little dictator, and there is no relief in sight. But as you're wallowing, it's important to remember that you are not alone. Fathers the world over, from Copenhagen to Cape Town, from captains of industry to ditch diggers, have all gone through this rough patch.
For the majority of dads, this phase lasts somewhere between eight and twelve weeks, at which point you switch into the "I might as well make the best of it" phase. Several factors combine to help lift the dark clouds from your head, including:
The baby is sleeping longer hours. You're feeling more adept at handling and troubleshooting her. She's finally smiling at you (the baby, not your partner).
If this period lasts more than three months, or you begin to feel completely overwhelmed or withdrawn, talk to your partnerand friends and think about seeking professional help.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Be Prepared by Gary Greenberg Jeannie Hayden Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.