Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be: Everything Dads Need to Know about Pregnancy, Childbirth and Getting Ready for a New Baby [Paperback]

Glade B. Curtis (Author), Judith Schuler (Author)

Book Description

Series: Your Pregnancy | Publication Date: January 6, 2009

Pregnancy can be a thrilling adventure for a couple. Although most attention is directed toward the mom-to-be, the nine months of pregnancy are an exciting, moving— and, yes, occasionally stressful!—time for the expectant father as well. Written with the needs and concerns of the dad-to-be in mind, this book includes a comprehensive glossary of terms, a resource section, up-to-date medical information, and tips for supporting your partner during pregnancy and the birth of your new baby. It will also help you be the best father you can be by covering such topics as:

• The tests and procedures your partner may undergo
• The impact of pregnancy on your relationship and how to handle it
• Ways to evaluate the expenses of having a baby
• How to be a great labor coach

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This extremely helpful compendium for "expectant dads"-from the first signs of pregnancy to the weeks after delivery-once again displays why the books in the Your Pregnancy series have become standards in the pregnancy category (Your Pregnancy Questions Answered, Your Pregnancy Week by Week). Like other books for fathers-to-be, this book covers some of the more obvious tips that men still seem to need, such as "Be a part of the pregnancy, right from the beginning," or "Be a good listener." If this is the only book that a man reads about having a newborn, he will have all the right bases covered, from healthy nutrition plans (for baby and dad), common discomforts in a woman's pregnancy, coping with labor pains and effective techniques for bonding with your new baby at home. Where this book really shines, however, is in its presentation of information that isn't always seen as being part of an expectant father's studies, including useful lists of definitions of things such as Braxton-Hicks contractions and Apgar tests, as well as an in-depth look at prenatal tests. Along the way, the authors feature entertaining but informative sidebars on various pregnancy tests ("My Mother-in-Law Said") and memorable moments from Curtis's experiences in the delivery room.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

InfoDad.com, 1/29/09
“Careful, straightforward, and nearly encyclopedic in covering just about every imaginable baby-related topic…Will be helpful to any first-time father and many who already have children…This is a book that fathers-to-be can read as narrative or in little bits…The layout makes the authors’ points easy to read and absorb…Curtis and Schuler are excellent, no-nonsense guides to one of the greatest of all life-changing events.”

Blogcritics.org, 2/6/09
“Young fathers-to-be out there, older fathers-to-be out there, I would highly recommend you read Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be. This book is filled with advice but is not encyclopedic to read. You can follow its suggestions in a realistic way. It not only teaches about pregnancy and the huge changes going on in your partner, it also explains the emotional and sometimes physical changes you will experience.”
 

Deseret News, 2/16/09
“When he speaks, it's easy to see why Dr. Glade B. Curtis has become a best-selling author of pregnancy books. He's warm and articulate and doesn't appear easily rattled. Ask a question and the Utah-based doctor responds with ease. The same is true for his books, including the recently updated Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be. It…seems to reach the right balance between being informative and not delving too much into the scary complications that can arise with pregnancy…Each chapter also includes a lot of at-a-glance information that is easy to digest.”
 

Mid-Ohio Valley Parent, 5/09
“Gives dads essential information on what his partner is going through…This book walks dads through every aspect and gives helpful advice at each turn. This is a welcome addition to the ‘Your Pregnancy’ library.”

Oxygen, 6/09
“Will brief him on everything from what you are going through to financial tips and common pregnancy terms. It’s instant support for you both.”

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books; 2nd edition (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073821275X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738212753
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best "primer" pregnancy book for expecting dads out there!, September 6, 2003

By 

Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Your Pregnancy For The Father-To-Be: Everything You Need To Know About Pregnancy, Childbirth, And Getting Ready For Your New Baby (Paperback)

As an expecting dad (our baby should be with us within the next few weeks) I have been trying to learn as much as I can and shared readings with my wife on all things about the baby, but the truth is that, as men, we need some literature that will relate a bit more to us, and give us "tips" on how to better cope with this whole thing that's going on around us, for which most likely we've never been prepared. This is where this book comes in handy! From the same authors of the reputed book "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" (now in its fourth edition), came this one, meant to help expectant fathers "understand what a woman goes through during pregnancy and how [they] can help her deal with the things that are happening to her."

Opening up is a very useful table that breaks down topics (with page #s) into "The Good Part," "You May Want to Help Your Partner Deal With" and "Pay Attention to" by trimester, around labor and delivery, and finally at home with the baby (in a "What to expect when you're expecting" fashion, if you may). Also VERY useful are the abundance of DOs (Brownie Points) and DON'Ts (In The Doghouse) spread throughout the book, nicely going hand in hand with the topics covered in the pages where they pop up.

There is also a sort of glossary of terms for expecting couples, and then the book goes into topics that deal with the emotional, physical and financial aspects of pregnancy in enough detail to serve as a very good primer for most matters and purposes. Definitely not meant as an in-depth book on pregnancy, childbirth or raising your newborn child, this book does fulfill a purpose by providing expecting dads with an easy-to-read book that they can relate to, in order to get them up to speed with the basics about pregnancy, and -most importantly- to ensure that they are able to cope with their wives' needs as best as possible during pregnancy and thereafter.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource, July 23, 2006

By 

Steven R. McEvoy "MCWPP" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Your Pregnancy For The Father-to-be: Everything Dads Need To Know About Pregnancy, Childbirth, And Getting Ready For A New Baby (Paperback)

As a first time father this book was very helpful. It did not go into nearly the details that some of the other books did. It was very specific about what a man can do to help his wife through the process. It also looks at some longer term items, like saving for school, planning for the first few weeks after the birth and even packing a travel bag for you to take to the hospital. It is nice light reading in an easy to read format and style. This book will definitely be a benefit to you and your partner. The 5 sections are: the three trimesters, labor & delivery, and at home with the baby. These authors also wrote a number of supporting or complimentary books:
Bouncing Back From Your Pregnancy
Your Pregnancy Journal Week by Week
Your Pregnancy After 35
Your Pregnancy Questions and Answers
Your Pregnancy Every Woman's Guide
Your Baby's First Year Week by Week
Your Pregnancy Week by Week

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars States the Obvious, Assumes the Worst, September 2, 2004

By 

mom-to-be (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Your Pregnancy For The Father-to-be: Everything Dads Need To Know About Pregnancy, Childbirth, And Getting Ready For A New Baby (Paperback)

This was the first book I got for my husband upon learning we were pregnant, and he found it to be quite condescending. For example, it has sections entitled "in the doghouse" that give men helpful hints like not calling one's pregnant wife a whale. Of course, this has become a running joke in our house...but do most husbands really need a book to tell them not to insult their wives?! It focused more on telling men how to behave towards their partners than on helping the understand their own journey towards fatherhood. Overall, this book seemed to assume the worst about its readership, whereas I would assume that men who choose to read books to prepare for fatherhood are already caring and committed to being good husbands and fathers.

We found a lot more useful information and a much more respectful and supportive tone in "The Expectant Father," and I would recommend that book instead.