FROM swaddling and slings to newborn nappies and even mid-labour poo, no subject is off limits.

Thomas Lynch launched workshops for dads-to-be be because he felt most pre-natal classes were aimed at women and many fathers reported feeling excluded from the process.

The dad-of-two, who says he had “changed one nappy” before his first son was born, wanted to help prepare other men for the rollercoaster journey of parenthood.

“It is brilliant and beautiful but you can go a bit stir crazy when you are doing it all the time,” he says.

“More and more dads are sharing parental leave and it feels almost common now for dads to be saying, ‘I’m going to be taking three months off ‘ and that’s part of the reason why we are here.

“We were aware that there wasn’t much for dads and we wanted things to be different from our own dads’ experience.

“I had very little experience and had no friends with babies and nobody to speak to."

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Thomas, who is married to Rachael and has two sons who are 11 and three, took redundancy from the banking sector to launch the classes and while participants can make a donation if they wish, no one is excluded.

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The evening workshops, run with the charity Dads Rock, last two hours and there has been four so far in Glasgow, attended by an average of seven men.

“We talk about buggies and car seats, sudden infant death syndrome and sleeping and slings which are quite popular now and also swans.

“The most common thing men ask is how they can best support their partners.

“I remember a midwife told me that the dad’s job is to be like a swan, to be graceful but underneath you are swimming like crazy but you need to stay calm and help mum stay calm.

“I went to the NHS workshops and and they were really good but they focus very much on the mums, quite rightly because they are the ones with the babies but it doesn’t leave a lot of time for dads."

Thomas takes the dads present at this evening’s workshops through a newborn nappy explaining that the recommended guidance is to keep the process as chemical free as possible, using just cotton wool and water.

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Other topics covered include the best way to test a baby’s temperature (on the back of the neck) and advice about how to navigate the sea of unecessary baby products.

He says: “The amount of stuff companies try to sell you is obscene. We got our pushchair for our second child second hand but the one thing I would always buy new though is a car seat.”

He also points out that babies shouldn’t be in a car seat for more than an hour and a half because the position can affect blood oxygen levels.

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On how to prepare men for the birth, Thomas says: “Clearly we aren’t medical but we can talk about our own experiences.

“The simple fact is that every labour is difference and quite unique and personal. My wife, first time round gave birth on the bed and it was quite traumatic but the second time she had a birthing pool and that was really good.”

As well as pre-natal workshops, Thomas runs a range of other classes including first aid and kids' hair tutorials.

Matthew Stone, 34, who is from Clydebank, is expecting his first baby in April with partner Kerry Anne, 32 and says he’s “excited, enthusiastic and nervous.”

He says: “Basically my partner couldn’t get booked onto an NHS class so I jumped on Google and two minutes later I was booked into this and four days later I’m here.

“For me personally, it’s all instinctive. I changed nappies for my little brother many years ago but you always learn something.

“The burping, the winding, the bathing, there is always going to be someone more knowledgeable.

“I’m absolutely fearless to say that dads do kind of get pushed out. Me and my girlfriend have a great relationship but I’ve had to say to her, can I come and join in this conversation, can I come and help choose a pram.”

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Javier Garrido, 37, is  Spanish but now lives in Kelvindale with his wife Rachel Black 34, who runs Glasgow School of Massage and allows Dads Rock to use her Maryhill base free of charge.

The couple’s first baby is due in May and Javier wants to be prepared as possible for the new arrival as the couple as sharing leave. He has already completed the charity's first aid course.

He said: “In Spain it is very different as you are surrounded by family. It's starting to become very real now because we are getting the room prepared. I'm really excited."

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Istvan Racz is originally from Hungary but has been living in Glasgow’s East End for six years with his wife Erin, who is from Malaysia and their "much longed for" baby is due on May 24.

He says: “I’m curious about Thomas’ experience and the practical parts and I asked my mum do you think I should go and she said yes definitively. I’m not nervous about the birth but you don’t know how you will react.

“I will definitely be emotional, I’m that kind of person.”

Glasgow Times:

The workshops offer men advice about how to support partners experiencing low mood and post-natal depression and also how to take care of their own mental health. It is thought that around 10% of new dads will also experience symptoms.

Thomas says: “Some people don’t believe it happens to dads but there is research that shows that physiological changes take place in men when they have babies so we talk about mental health.”

He has also set up a Whatsapp group for dads to keep in touch and support each other after babies arrive.

“In my experience women are more comfortable about talking in person but dads quite like the fact it’s a closed circle.”

For more information about Dads Rock ante-natal workshops click here