First born nipper of seven weeks is well for which I count my blessings. Fresh challenges for daddy though: I don't have the emotional and physical comfort from my girlfriend that I had become accustomed to. Obviously, she is looking after a baby for everything she's worth, with me right behind her. We're breastfeeding. Circumstances conspired for me to get away for a night out a week ago - for the first time - with my best friend and it was wonderful. I was a lot less stressed afterwards and had a lot more to give the next day. But it also reminded me of the time before we had our baby; fun, sex, freedom, all that jazz. We managed to have some rushed sexy time a few weeks ago (thanks grandpa), a couple of brief cuddles and a couple of limited heart-to-heart chats but really I feel like I'm basically just a cook, potwash, caretaker and babysitter. Whilst being hyper-focussed our baby, she also tries her best not to overload me, which I'm grateful for. But I'm not getting much love, care, understanding or respect from anywhere at the moment. Nice moments with my daughter just about keeps me in the game tbh. Do any of you recongnise this? Can you offer any light at the end of the tunnel, recommend what to do? I'm feeling very strapped in. Thanks

Just gone 2 weeks past the due date for our first baby...

Everything seems to be perfectly fine; plenty of movement, scans all good, mum-to-be well and had some 'jelly' discharge today and yesterday. But we (mostly mum) have been struggling to relax and trust it.

After friends and family constantly checking in for updates and stirring us up we turned our phones off the other day, which helped a lot. Today mum sent a message to a bunch of them asking them to lay off until she contacts them.

All was good until this afternoon when she spoke to a midwife who said "if you get reduced movements come in immediately." That set her off again and since then she's been fretting on mumsnet and reading a book about it. I'm finding it hard to help her to relax. She's really worried about missing a crucial piece of information and making a bad move somewhere. I don't want her to be in anxiety.

For my part, I've actually been getting more chilled out since the due date for some reason. For a few months I was going hell for leather to get everything ready, had a couple of weeks or so around the due date of epic suspense and now it's almost hard to take seriously that it's about to happen.

We don't want an induction out of pure impatience and psychodrama and, like I said, bump is fine.

Maybe this is just a rant but do you guys have any experience or reflections on this?

Many thanks

I have my first child due very soon. It's already been an internal oddysey for me during pregnancy and I'm aware that that's just the beginning of it. But you lot are on the other side of the birth, so:

What should I understand right now to help me keep the courage and love to embrace this?

Also, a very humble request that you could spare a wish that our baby is born well. I really want it and anything might help!

Thanks!