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Summary: Best "primer" pregnancy book for expecting dads out there!
Review: 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.
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Summary: A book that actually gives pointers, not lame jokes!
Review: Course, if you want lame jokes, then this is not your book! I wanted a book for my husband that could help him understand what I was going through, and something that basically told him wake up and help her! He still considers me like I always have been, he doesnt offer to carry things for me, I wish he would be more protective of me. I am 6 months along, so its not like its early and he's still adjusting. I read through this book, and I especially like the chapter Ways To Support Your Pregnant Partner. It goes through all the symptoms she may be experiencing, and they are in alphabetical order, so he can easily find symptoms and skip past ones that don't apply. For me about all of them apply, my body does not like being pregnant. This is not my first baby, but this is my husband's first. I like that it tells the husband what not to say, gives tips and advice that are practical. That it doesnt tell the man to play with her nipples as its fun and may help make the transition into breastfeeding. This book actually says that you should possibly avoid nipple stimulation as it releases oxytosin, which you dont want. The book is written by an OBGYN and father of five, who would know better than this man? I haven't gotten to the last chapters yet as to when the baby is born, but I have seen in other books they tell the dad to go home and sleep. That the nursery can take care of the baby and let your wife sleep, so you should also go home and sleep. Well, where I live, at least one hospital doesnt' even have a nursery, the baby is with you from the time its born till you are discharged, so that is not applicable. All you are doing is leaving your wife with a baby after hours of labor to take care of by herself, very ignorant. Also, I have c-sections, so I will need my husband there. I haven't seen a book yet that say step up to the plate and help her while she is in the hospital! If you leave when she goes to sleep and get back by the time she wakes up, and the nursery will take care of the baby all night, then fine! I hope he has better advice in that area than Daddy Smarts and The Everything Father to be book. But what I have read so far in this book is very helpful, very information, and straight to the point. He also deals with topics of if the baby isn't perfect, if there are complications, all the warning signs that something is wrong, etc. Its all in all a great book. Instead of buying a bunch of books I wish I had just bought my husband this book! Great book, as are the Week By Week and Questions and Answers book by Glade.
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Summary: Better than "Week by Week"
Review: I ordered this along with the "Week by Week" selection by the same authors when we first found out we were pregnant. After about a few days of myhusband and I reading our seperate books, I found that he had more information than I did!
Rating:
Summary: Better than "Week by Week"
Review: I ordered this along with the "Week by Week" selection by the same authors when we first found out we were pregnant. After about a few days of myhusband and I reading our seperate books, I found that he had more information than I did!
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Summary: Some useful info, but based on a 1950's relationship
Review: 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.
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Summary: No pictures at all.
Review: I was wondering why there were absolutely no pictures in a book for men. Men are very visual. Also, I found the book, as a woman, to be very boring. It was informative, don't get me wrong, but some of it is a bit silly.
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Summary: States the Obvious, Assumes the Worst
Review: 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.
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