Becoming a Father: My Journey Through Doubts, Joy, and Sleepless Nights - Fabio

When Emma told me she was pregnant, I felt an immense joy, but also the anxiety of not being up to the task. She seemed so calm, while I was drowning in doubt. The nine months that followed were a whirlwind of emotions. Emma managed everything, from medical checkups to choosing the baby's room, while I did my best, putting together furniture and reading articles on fatherhood, but I knew I only understood a small part of what she was going through.

We also attended childbirth preparation classes, and it was an experience I hadn't anticipated. I felt a bit awkward, learning breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and support strategies for the big day. Emma seemed more at ease with it all than I was, but I knew these moments were important. It was my way of preparing, making myself useful, and being ready to support her as best I could when the time came.

On the day of the delivery, I panicked when Emma had her first contractions at 3 a.m. At the hospital, Emma was focused, but I could see the pain on her face. I felt powerless. With each contraction, I held her hand, massaged her back, but she was the one doing all the hard work. When she snapped at me between breaths, "Can you be quiet, please?" I realized that sometimes, just being there is enough. After 12 long hours, Leo finally arrived, tiny, wrinkled, and crying, and I cried too, overwhelmed and exhausted. My hands trembled as I cut the cord, but I did it. The moment I held Leo in my arms changed my life forever.

Coming home was difficult. Leo cried endlessly, and Emma moved between extreme exhaustion and crying spells. I tried to help as much as I could, running errands, making meals, and getting up at night to rock Leo.

Tensions began to rise between Emma and me: arguments over small things like who changed the last diaper or who had the least sleep. It was fatigue and stress talking. But one night, after an argument, Emma told me she still loved me, even when she yelled. That was a turning point for us. We promised to talk more, to support each other even when things were hard.

Now, nights are still sometimes tough, but we're starting to find our rhythm. I've learned to make a bottle with half-closed eyes and change a diaper in two minutes.

Being a parent is much more complicated than I had imagined, but it's also so much more beautiful. Emma and I are not the same as before, but we are stronger and more united than ever.

Fabio