Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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

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.

I skimmed this to screen it before passing it off to my husband, and decided not to ask him to read it. This book seems to assume that (a) the woman is dim and helpless, (b) the man goes to his tough job in the day while the woman does the housework and shopping, and (c) the man is relatively clueless or uninvolved in the housework department. (Does this remind you of that "How to be a Good Wife" guide from the '50's?) For example, the book suggests that the man "help with the laundry." More useful would be "learn to do the laundry if you don't already know how." In many cases, the book describes a situation or condition (e.g., your wife craves unhealthy junk foods), and suggests that the man "encourage her" to do something (make healthier food chooices), which sounds like a contrived way to make yourself involved. More useful idea: volunteer to do the shopping, and then buy veggies instead of cookies. The anecdotes about actual couples range from cute to why-didn't-you-slap-these-people? Unless your relationship is very traditional - they guy really doesn't do any housework and is emotionally reserved, and the woman really does stay at home and has trouble making her own decisions - you may find this book condescending or even insulting. As an rather independent, self-sufficient engineer who got married at 27 and pregnant at 30, I was insulted.

If you are so clueless regarding pregnancy that you don't even know what the "due date" is, then this is the book for you. This is filled with repetitive and vague advice and assumes that all men are idiots incapable of reading and digesting real information. Men, do yourself a favor and just read the same books your wife is reading. You will find a lot more valuable information there. This is just an obvious publisher's ploy for more money. They even recommend you buy more of their uninformative books.

This book is simply remarketed to men. It has some truly retarded suggestions like: "Help your wife with constipation", "How much calcium should she take", and "suggest she try yoga". I'm not saying the info is bad, just that it included all sorts of things that a woman takes care of on her own and doesn't need a partner to read a book to tell her. She is reading the exact same info in HER book. None of relates to men- it's just not worth it.

My wife bought this book for me because she knows I like to read everything I can about anything new to me. I found the book completely useless. It's supposed to be "from your perspective - the male point of view," however I found it nothing like my point of view. Also, the authors must figure that men who read this book wanted to get his partner pregnant, which may not be the case. I think it was kind of foolish for the authors to take this approach. It alienates those who may not be excited about getting pregnant, but want information anyway. Though, those who feel that way probably don't buy books either! Overall, not too impressed with the writing style of the book. Can definitely tell it was not written from a man's perspective! Also, the authors give bad advise about how to quit smoking. If you want your partner or yourself to quit smoking read the book "easyway to quit smoking" written by Allen Carr. It'll change your life if you want to quit. Guys, use commen sense, love and support your partner through your pregnancy, and save money for your unborn child by not buying this book!

The book in a nutshell is about how to be supportive, patient, touchy, feely stuff. I was hoping it would have more info on what exactly would be happening in my body. It does however give a good description of tests and problems that can occur. Now I'm looking for another book for my hubby.

I read the book as soon as it came in, it helped me to see things from my husband's point of view. I thought it was very well laid out and explained things in lamen's terms that he can easily understand. Now if he'll just read it!!! LOL!

I would highly recommend this book if there are any questoins or uncertanty about becoming a father. It provides great insight on steps and different ways to support your spouse as you both go through life changing events during the pregnancy! My wife and I found out she was pregnant when I was deployed and i had more questions running through my head then i knew what to do with. A fellow co-worker recommended this book to me as a way to help and ease all of the worries i had at becoming a new father and trying to be as involved as I could during the pregnancy while being away from home. It helped out with knowing what to expect and the different changes throughout the pregnancy and tips on what to expect week by week. Again i recommend this to any expecting father that needs help or has questions about helping out in every aspect as your spouse is changing and ultimately both of your lives will forever change!