Dads Tell All: The First Month of Fatherhood

In an online fathers' forum recently, a dedicated new dad related an insight he'd shared with his wife: "You know what makes the first two months of having a newborn bearable? The last two months of pregnancy." She laughed, the guy said, then gave him a good jab in the shoulder.

Caring for his pregnant partner can truly help a man prepare to meet his newborn's needs. It can also serve to warn him that his own life is about to change just as dramatically, although less visibly, than his partner's body. In asking dads about how they changed during that first month of fatherhood, I found that their stories and comments dealt with four major themes: their partners, friends, work commitments, and personal lives—which, as you've probably guessed, covers just about everything.