Your Pregnancy For The Father-To-Be: Everything You Need To Know About Pregnancy, Childbirth, And Getting Ready For Your New Baby [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Series: Your Pregnancy Series | Publication Date: February 4, 2003

<div>Pregnancy is a thrilling adventure for a couple. Although most of the attention is directed at moms-to-be, the nine months of pregnancy can be an exciting, moving experience for a man as he faces and deals with the many emotional and physical changes the time brings.Filled with sound advice and practical tips, Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be explores the important role a man plays over the course of this journey. Examining how pregnancy affects the expectant dad, it explains how being knowledgeable about pregnancy, birth, and the new baby will enable him to help and support his pregnant partner. Comprehensive and accessible, this wise guide includes information on:Physical changes a pregnant woman experiences and how an expectant dad can provide comfort and helpTests and medical procedures a mother-to-be may undergoLaws that may affect an expectant father or new dadBeing a labor coach and what labor and delivery are really likeCosts of having a baby, childcare expenses, and planning for the futureThe impact of pregnancy on a couple's relationship and how they can handle itA comprehensive glossary of pregnancy and childbirth terms and a complete resources section</div>

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.

Review

"This book focuses on the father's concerns while enabling him to take an active role." -- Treasure Valley Baby Spring 2004

"Very user-friendly...This comprehensive and generally well-written book will appeal to those who like detail or want a handy reference book." -- Journal of Human Lactation August, 2003

"[Curtis and Schuler] give soon-to-be dads the lowdown...[An] informative book." -- Big Apple Parent July 2003

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (February 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555613454
• ISBN-13: 978-1555613457
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 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: #1,732,835 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.