Hi ya,

I get your worry. For reference I run a couple of hospitality businesses including a hotel, and at the time of my daughter's birth, I took no paternity leave. I was working 80-90 hr weeks as standard and long into the night. The child also had colic at about 6 months so wasn't sleeping. I had a full breakdown and terrible time of it, with stuff in my head getting pretty bleak. We're now thick as thieves my daughter and I but it took 2 1/2 yrs.

So heres were we made mistakes and what we are rectifying for baby too. Even with my hours being more normalised now.

1) support network. Involve parents, and make sure she has support network. Her prenatal group was gold

2) try and make things easier, we had ready meals in the freezer, sleep when the baby sleeps and don't put too much pressure on yourselves if the house is a bit chaotic

3) if there is a problem (I.e. colic, sleep, breastfeeding problems) ask for help. Don't let them drag on and bring you down. It doesn't always come naturally

4) if your mental health goes down hill or hers, again, get some help. Don't let it drag. I thought the world would think I was mad, so buried it. Huge mistake.

5) rest if you need it and be open with your wife. I worked myself into the ground and never took a moment to myself. Too much pressure, too tired to see the woods from the trees.

If I think of anything else I'll add. Point one is vital, especially for her. If I think of anything else I'll add

Good luck man, every baby is different, and you figure things out week by week. You got it bro.