It took two to make the baby and it will take both working well together to raise this child.
Conception is quite a mysterious event. Dad and Mom usually don’t know that THAT lovemaking would result in a baby. Even if they were trying for some time there is no immediate physical sign that a baby has been conceived. Weeks go by until it is confirmed.
During those weeks, Dad is completely ignorant of the baby’s existence. Mom may not have any idea or she may suspect this miracle has happened inside her body.
When they learn she is pregnant, some men feel, “Job done. Now it’s all up to her.” Wow, how wrong they are! Of course, the baby is in her body, not his. So he doesn’t feel the effects of pregnancy- nausea, tenderness, mood swings, and shape changes. But his attitude and actions towards mom, make a huge difference.
The Couple and Baby Class will help both Dad and Mom to live well with each other through the ups and downs of pregnancy, make the most of delivery and immediate post-natal time, and raise a baby through childhood.
The key is growing together through this experience by building your friendship, learning to navigate conflicts, and planning and living your shared life and dreams.
We strongly encourage courting couples to take a good pre-marital class or have pre-marital counseling before the wedding. This helps to get off to the right start in your marriage. Please read articles from The Marriage You Really Want on Intermin.org to help strengthen your marriage or help with bumps in the road. If you have a serious problem you are having difficulty solving, please seek good marriage counseling to prevent it from causing the ruin of your marriage.
Once pregnant, to get the most out of The Couple and Baby Class, start the course as soon as you can. It is good to be practicing building your friendship and dealing with conflict before life gets too busy. It seems the closer you are to delivery, the busier you are. However, it is never too late to start the course.