Well Natalia wants a sling like this, she's going to get her's in pink and I'll get mine in a blue.
http://www.slinglings.com/?gclid=CIDbkN7Di5UCFQE0xgodnBiKcw

You can hold the baby however is comfortable for you, as long as you are supporting the head. This may sound crazy, and if you are embarassed you can do it behind closed doors, by yourself. But use a doll and practice holding the doll while supporting the head. Once the baby is born and you have held it a few times, it will become second nature to you. Very good luck. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old and so far they are both fine.

Ryan,

Don't worry. Your nerves are normal. Might I suggest the 2 of you taking a lamaze or child birth class? They had a doll at ours that was passed around and everyone got the chance to hold it and practice picking it up while supporting the head. And the nice thing about it was, the nurse showed everything first, then passed the doll around. So those that were new to it, had seen how it was done before they had their turn, puting them more at ease about trying it in front of others.

When we had our girls, my husband carried them from the birthing room to the nursery. He said it hit him (about being a dad), when he carried them out of the room, he got all teary eyed and everything. He hadn't really held many newborns either, but he did just fine. The nurse already had the baby swaddled in the blanket and placed her in his arms.

Those nurses are there to help you. If you are nervous about anything, be open and honest with them and they will walk you through it, it is there job. I haven't met a nurse yet that laughed at a new parent and told them to figure it out for themselves. Use that time in the hospital to ask all the questions you can and learn cuz you can't take the nurses home with you.

When my cousin and his wife brought their first son home from the hospital, they had trouble with him wanting to be held all the time. He would sleep just fine as long as you were holding him, but as soon as they would lay him down, he would wake up and cry. After 2 exhausting days & nights, he finally called back to the maternity ward at the hospital where they had him and talked to the nurses there and asked if they could give him any advice. They told him that his son was a cuddler and suggested that they put some of the baby blankets in the dryer to warm them up, swaddle him in a warm blanket and lay him down. They did that and it worked like a charm. They were able to get some sleep and all was well again.

You have a great well of knowledge at the hospital, take advantage of it.

Good luck - you will do just fine!

Ryan

Don't worry it will all come together. Your instincts will kick in...trust me. Every father is like that, my husband was the same way and once he held our son for the first he could not put him down. Just relax.