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Don't hesitate to get a c-section. If you need it, ask for it. Both my kids would have died if it wasn't for that. It's completely routine for the doctor, I even heard them talking about their shopping while pulling out my daughter.
Honestly babies are all very different so lots of advice wont work.
Try to be hands on. I see lots of Moms doing all the work. It looks like they're coping but its super hard. As a test try looking after the baby by yourself a few hours, its exhausting.
This is down the road but related, try to normalize grandparents or other parents doing babysitting. Its easy to do all the work yourself but its brutal.
Be social. Hopefully the mother will have friends with babies, if not get some. You should be the same, it really helps to have other parents in the same position you can swap notes with.
Take lots of videos. Its hard to believe but soon you wont remember how they looked or sounded at that age.
But for the time being:
* Sleep when the baby sleeps. Their schedule is not going to mesh with yours for a while, and you'll be sleep deprived.
* Every kid is different, and half of the advice you get will not work for your kid. Even with the same genetics, they're still different people.
* You will probably get very used to puke, pee and poo.
Get a few bottles of plain saline nose-spray for babies and a book about general baby preparation. Prepare for sleepless nights and hours of holding/rocking/swaying your baby in the exact same position so it can sleep. Other than that, don't overthink/worry too much about it, and you'll be fine!
Relax... most things will take care of themselves and worrying isn't going to make a huge difference, in fact it may become a problem in its own right. Kids are far more resilient than adults usually believe.
And congratulations and I hope everything will go as smooth as possible.
Anxiety, anger, and pain share some circuitry in the brain. If you're feeling like you're going to have a short-fuse (easily angered) day with your kid, pop one ibuprofen. I found it helped replenish the zen/chill reserves immensely when I really needed it. But watch your total consumption of all pain killers; they do cumulative damage to your liver.
Be careful, there is some evidence that NSAIDs may also contribute to infertility.
Great question. Read the answers but remember that it's wildly different for everybody. That said: The life and death matters (sorry): - Never shake your kid, ever - Sudden infant death is partly genetic (not your risk/fault), but still: no toys, pillows, plush animals in the crib -> risk of suffocating The luxury matters: - Breastfeeding does make a difference. If you can manage, try to do it - Don't worry. Whatever…
Kids are prone to learning languages and fast, so try to keep them surrounded with content of a foreign language that you deem interesting for their future.