A basic guide for the man who wants to help his partner in labor but who doesn’t want to study obstetrics or question a doctor’s advice. You need a game plan, Dad! You’re going to be a father, and you’re nervous about the birth. You know what your partner is supposed to do, but how can you, the rookie coach, really shine? Are you afraid you’ll fumble—forget the breathing patterns, fall asleep, maybe even faint when the baby crowns? Quit worrying! Just get into the huddle with Theresa and Brad Halvorsen, a couple of pros who will clear your head of the blur of information from the birthing class and tell you what you really need to know to perform at your best. From The Dad’s Playbook to Labor and Birth, you’ll learn how to: Anticipate your partner’s needs (does she really want eight people in the birthing room!) Know when she’s going into labor Pack your own hospital bag (don’t forget the snacks) Develop your own set of tricks to ease labor Write up a cheat sheet to ensure that you don’t forget anything Make full use of the hospital’s staff, equipment, and services Take care of your team in the days after birth Theresa and Brad offer plenty of laughs along with the strategic advice and the slap on the back you need to run with the ball when the Big Day comes. With the help of The Dad’s Playbook to Labor and Birth, you can bet that at the end of the day, you, your partner, and the new little rookie will be dancing in the end zone!

Offers advice for new fathers to be prepared for labor and childbirth.

When it comes to the unknown territory of having a baby, moms-to-be have nearly unending resources to plan and execute a healthy pregnancy and navigate those first months and years as a parent with confidence. New dads? Not so much. They want to get in the game too, but, says Super Bowl champion Benjamin Watson, "I could find clearer direction for putting together a baby swing than for taking care of a newborn child." The New Dad's Playbook is every man's game plan to being the best partner and the best father, from pre-season (preparing for fatherhood) to Super Bowl (birth) to post-season (after baby is home). It helps men understand what their wives are going through physically and emotionally during and after pregnancy, allowing them to support their most important teammate. It tells men what to expect when their baby is home--and what to do when the unexpected happens. This tell-it-like-it-is book will take men from just winging it to winning it.

A must-have baby shower gift for expectant dads! In this one-of-a-kind guide, dad, doula, and certified lactation counselor Brian Salmon and perinatal mental health and relationship expert Kirsten Brunner offer practical, modern-day survival tips for expectant dads and birth partners. Gone are the days when fathers would nervously pace the waiting room while their partners gave birth. Dads are participating in childbirth now more than ever before. However, if you’re like many men, you may feel unprepared, uncomfortable, or even unwelcome in the birth room. For you, this book offers battle-tested tips to help you get in the game and prepare for one of the most incredible adventures of your life. Based on the author’s Rocking Dadschildbirth course, this book will teach you everything you need to know about supporting your partner through birth, breastfeeding, and beyond. In this guide, you’ll discover pointers and advice you won’t find in any other childbirth or breastfeeding guide, including: A list of items to pack for the hospital that will help mom’s labor go more smoothly Stealth communication skills that you can utilize during early labor to support mom and keep her in a positive state of mind How to write a birth plan that the labor and delivery nurses will actually pay attention to What to say and do—and what not to say and do—when mom is in active labor and feeling all the feelings A detailed account of what to expect in the delivery room as a birth partner, and how to navigate the unknown terrains when things don’t go as planned How to help mom achieve proper nipple latch when she attempts breastfeeding for the first time Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you’ll find tips for maintaining a strong relationship with your partner before, during, and after the birth so that you feel closer than ever when you launch into the wild yet wonderful world of parenthood.

A Dude's Guide to Babies: The New Dad's Playbook is a fun user's manual for every dude who's sweating all the small and big stuff about bringing up his little dude or dudette. With seven children between them (and wives who helped somewhere in there) Richard Jones and Barry Robert Ozer share straight talk, practical advice, and personal experiences (their own and those of other dads) to ease the stress about cleaning, feeding, and playing with your newborn, as well as keeping him or her safe, happy, and not in need of too much therapy. This guide reveals what to do in the delivery room (Houston, We Have Splashdown), how to baby-proof your home without going over-the-top, the inside scoop on poop, questions to ask the doctor for a well-child visit, and it also includes Pop's Quizzes so dudes can test their Dad-fu (think Kung-fu only with more diapers and fewer mystical quests). The funny, short chapters will keep new Dads interested as well as allow them time to catch a few minutes of the game before the baby wakes up. This is the must-have book that tells what to really expect after all those months of expecting...and how to thrive (and not just survive) as a new dad.

Since the original publication of The Birth Partner, partners, friends, relatives, and doulas have relied on Penny Simkin's guidance in caring for the new mother, from her last trimester through the early postpartum period. Now fully revised in its fifth edition, The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide to helping a woman through labor and birth, and the essential manual to have at hand during the event. The Birth Partner includes thorough information on: Preparing for labor and knowing when it has begun Normal labor and how to help the woman every step of the way Epidurals and other medications for labor Pitocin and other means, including natural ones, to induce or speed up labor Non-drug techniques for easing labor pain Cesarean birth and complications that may require it Breastfeeding and newborn care and much more For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, this book is indispensable.

Every father-to-be's handbook for knowing what to expect when expecting! In today's world, men are more involved in their wives' pregnancies than ever before. This 2nd Edition of Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies gives new fathers a hands-on guide that covers all of the logistical, physical, and emotional aspects of pregnancy. It is a wealth of information on topics, such as setting up the nursery, childbirth 101, and how to take care of your newborn. The book includes ideas for knowing the right time to break the news and the pregnancy timeline. Once the baby arrives, this handbook gives you the low-down on what you can expect during the first six months, such as how to change diapers and feed the little one. You'll also explore much more in-depth topics such as the new technology behind ultrasounds, and the information that is gleaned from them, the lowdown on vaccination updates, information to take the fear out of cesarean sections, tips on prenatal depression, new developments on infertility treatments, and so much more! Helps to take the fear out of fatherhood with down-to-earth advice and information Reveals how smoking leads to development problems and the possible dangers of e-cigarettes Shows new dads a playbook for how they can help throughout the pregnancy and during the delivery Offers practical tips for chronicling baby's life from ultrasound to year one If you're going to be a new dad, this is a survival guide of what to expect as your bundle of joy is on the way is the complete, easy-to-read resource for preparing with your partner.