She's Having a Baby - and I'm Having a Breakdown [Paperback]

James Douglas Barron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 1998

Insider tips and advice for men on the roller-coaster ride called pregnancy and childbirth--the ideal gift for any expectant Father's Day

James Barron, two-time dad, has written a funny, down-to-earth, and practical book that every man needs when his wife is expecting a baby. He offers suggestions on what to do (and how to act!) from those first moments of anticipation to the main event, including:

• Helping her deal with her physical and emotional changes

• Early pregnancy sex (getting used to the new constraints)

• Keeping up with insurance papers and other forms

• Dealing with your fears that something will go wrong

• Middle pregnancy sex (enjoyable surprise!)

• The top ten things never to say to a pregnant woman

• Questions you should ask the obstetrician

• Late pregnancy sex (challenging, but possible)

• Starting out--the first six weeks of fatherhood

This unique book will bring a smile or two to the men--and to the women who love them--while providing precious assistance to make pregnancy the experience of a lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Barron, a private art dealer, writes for publications as diverse as Glamour, The Paris Review, and Garden Design. He, his wife, and their two children live in New York City and Connecticut.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

THE FIRST TRIMESTER

1. She's going to have a baby -- Congratulations!

But along with all those knowing winks and slaps on the back comes the realization that you're going to have a baby, too. Isn't that just great --Well, isn't it --?

2.If this is all so great, why do you feel as if you're about to have a breakdown.

Your wife hugged you to her chest and whispered warmly into your ear, You've just made me the happiest woman alive. Okay, maybe she didn't ex-actly do that, but you read the message in her eyes. You reveled in it, felt yourself swelling like a hot-air balloon-but you felt a distinct tugging, too, as if you were being held down, tethered to sandbags.

Sure, the first golden moments after finding out are greeting card-ish. All the things you ever thought would make her happy -- the ultimate tumble in the sack, a diamond ring, a home with a yard-are nothing compared to this. She's ecstatic, out of her mind. And you already feel queasy. Why? Because you feel responsibility looming above you like some ominous storm cloud. You can hear crashing thunder; she can't. You see lightning; she doesn't. You're taking the keys out of your pockets so you don't get electrocuted; she's not. You find the difference in your re-actions very disconcerting.

Your best remedy here is simple: learn from your wife. Don't look too far ahead or you won't appreciate the moment. Sure, take measures. Start saving (now!) if you're already worried about college tuition. But don't get so caught up in planning and plotting that you can't see the great beauty you've helped to create. Nobody can take that away from you. In other words, cut the strings, toss out the ballast, and soar.

More good news: you won't have a breakdown during pregnancy. Sometimes you'll think you're having one-but you won't be. (Then, dur-ing the first six weeks after your baby's born, you'll swear you're having a breakdown-but again, you won't.

Copyright ) 1998 by James Douglas Barron

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (May 20, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688158250
• ISBN-13: 978-0688158255
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You Need This Book, April 16, 2002

By 

John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: She's Having a Baby - and I'm Having a Breakdown (Paperback)

This book was a gift and unfortunately it arrived too late. Its not that my wife had already given birth, it is because my wife single handily tried to increase the revenue projections of Amazon by purchasing every known book about pregnancy that was written in English. I even think she brought a few books written in Spanish thinking she could translate them, but that is another story. So armed with a city library size collection of books she dug into them like a dieter at Dairy Queen, and I being the caring new age man I am, patently listened to each fact, story and antidote (regardless of the number of times they were told). Thus when I was given this book during the fourth month I thought I had a pretty good understanding of what was going on. My assumption proved correct.

This is a well written and funny book that all men should get before the pregnancy starts, because each day into the pregnancy usually brings on something new that this book would have warned and prepared you for. If I had read the book before my wife engaged in the home study Ph.D. program on pregnancy, then I would have been able to better engage in conversations with her on the topics at hand instead of just stilling there in a permanent state of confusion. Buy the book then for no other reason that you can not seam so dumb when your wife starts to talk to you about what is happen on week 15 and 2 days.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny and right on target, July 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: She's Having a Baby - and I'm Having a Breakdown (Paperback)

She's Having a Baby is an excellent book for both fathers and mothers-to-be. It is funny and accurately captures the many thoughts and emotions that couples tend to experience during their pregnancy. I laughed out loud many times as I read the book. I knew exactly what Mr. Barron was talking about more times than I would like to admit. From a father's viewpoint, my two favorite pregancy books are this one and a book called We're Pregnant! - written by an expectant mother and father and also very candid, funny and true-to-life.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bathroom book for first time dads!, June 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: She's Having a Baby - and I'm Having a Breakdown (Paperback)

I bought this book for my husband when we found out we were having our first baby. I first bought myself 3 books on pregnancy and he was annoyed that I was always reading them and he had nothing to read, I told him he could read my books too but he didn't like them. I then discovered this little gem. It is written in numbered sections, most being a page or less. It is a perfect book to leave in the bathroom if that is your husband's favourite reading spot, like mine! It is NOT a medical book, he will have to look at your books for any details but does tell him how to deal with all your symptoms including hormone craziness, worrying about miscarriage, getting fat... Even tells him how not to react if he happens to ingest a bit of breast milk later in the pregnancy! Very funny and well written. It validates alot of the feelings men go through too, worries about money, their wive's health etc... I would highly recommend it.