Becoming a father for the first time involves a number of adjustments for most men. First-time fathers to be are known to experience concerns about such issues as the health and well-being of their wives and newborns, the added financial responsibilities of a child, how their relationships with their wives will change, and how tell they will cope with being fathers. Much less is known about the concerns of men becoming fathers for the second, third, or fourth time. One can imagine, however that a number of the same concerns appear during each pregnancy.
For example, second-time fathers probably worry about the health of their wives and expected babies. how to father more than one, how an additional child will affect established family interaction patterns, and how the family will manage the added expenses. They also may wonder how their first children will cope with the prospective changes and how they can divide the strong feelings of love that have been focused on the older child. In short, fathers, like mothers and children, are likely to experience some inner turnoil as their families grow. In additon, they are likely to have to cope with added responsibilities as they serve as liaisons between hospitalized mothers and children at home, fill in for busier than usual mothers, and juggle demands from work and home. The more adequately fathers can cope with these conflicts and pressures the better they will be able to help their first children master stresses of becoming and having siblings.