Thank you for not wading into the abyss and great question.

I assume you’ve both decided to have your baby at the hospital. You don’t have to, and there are arguments for and against. This response assumes you have decided to go the hospital route. Remember though, women have been birthing babies for thousands of years and the doula thing has improved tremendously since old times. Next, breastfeeding: probably the single most important thing in your baby’s first year. Uncomfortable maybe, inconvenient probably, important absolutely. Everyone’s choices and reasons are different.

Vaccines: rewind back to 30 years ago when medicine practitioners were mostly “Do no harm”. If it’s still available look at the American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule. I roughly remember it being a handful of vaccines. Honestly I would deep dive this and check RFKJr’s info. Also watch Vaxxed, the movie. (Not to scare you just fyi)

If at the hospital they want to whisk your baby off for this reason or that. No, your baby doesn’t leave your sight. If they need to take her somewhere for something you stick to her like Velcro. Adovcate by asking the stupid questions. Do it. What are you doing to her now? How does the warmer help her? What’s this thing? Why does she have to have such and such procedure? What’s that thing you poked her heel to get a drop of blood for? How come? Why?

Always advocate for your kids by asking why and how come? Always. Also, find someone in your community who’s a doctor, ER nurse or paramedic that you can talk to and become friends with. These are valuable people to know, for the health of your family. You guys are going to get sick, your baby will get sick but panic and stress doesn’t help. Knowledge helps, and getting outside your bubble to ask questions of someone trustworthy is like gold.

For example, who can you ask to help you interpret instructions from the Doctor or nurse? Someone outside their system who has you best interests will give you the straight scoop. What is critical and what’s optional.

I don’t have specifics on this vaccine or that. You’ll have to continue do your own research. Churches can be great places for this 🙂

Congratulations by the way! So important for you to be a good dad and protect your family by educating yourself in every way possible all the threats that want to tear families apart. The role of father is an important one, right next to being husband and head of household. May the Lord be with you.