Description
Book SynopsisNew updated edition.
Congratulations, you’re having a baby. Yes, that’s right, you’re expecting too!
David Caren delivers a long ‘overdue’ practical, straight-talking pregnancy guide for Irish expectant dads – all from a dad’s perspective. Combining real-life experiences from a fraternity of Irish fathers, tried-and-tested tips and expert views, with highlights including:
- Testing, Testing: Scans and Checks
- What’s Up, Doc? Monitoring Mum
- Prams, Trams & Automobiles: Choosing the Right Wheels
- Lights, Camera (Maybe?), ACTION: The Delivery
- Gone with the Sleep: Surviving Sleep Deprivation
Accessible, entertaining, reassuring – everything an expectant and new dad needs to know!
Fully reviewed and updated.
Trade Reviewhighly recommended
-- Tuam Herald
entertaining and reassuring – everything an expectant and new dad needs to know
-- Easy Parenting Magazine
definitely one of our must reads
-- Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine
'everything an expectant dad will need to know'
-- Maternity & Infant Magazine
'practical and easy-to-follow'
-- Maternity & Infant Magazine
'just the book to see ‘Daddy’ through'
-- Maternity & Infant Magazine
'help you celebrate and understand everything that’s going on ... full of everything you need to know'
-- Woman’s Way
'straightforward, humorous'
-- mummypages.ie
'a really wonderful resource for men'
-- mummypages.ie
'if you’re an expectant mum and are sick and tired of explaining the ins and outs of pregnancy ... then it might be a wise decision to give the man in your life the gift of ‘The Irish Dad’s Survival Guide to Pregnancy and Beyond'
-- mummypages.ie
'no topic is off limit in David’s book, there is an answer for every question an expectant father might possibly have'
-- mummypages.ie
'packed full of practical advice'
-- mummypages.ie
'we frequently get asked by our mums (and dads-to-be) where they can find information that’s aimed at men about pregnancy and parenthood and we’re delighted to say we have found just the book!'
-- mummypages.ie
'honest and real'
-- schooldays.ie
'I wish I'd had this book to read when I was pregnant - I found it a lot easier to read - and far less annoying - than some of the 'What to expect' type books I found myself reading and throwing on the floor!'
-- schooldays.ie
'just what expectant father's have been waiting for'
-- schooldays.ie
'written in a down-to-earth, straight-talking, no nonsense, humorous way, the book goes through everything the other 'pregnancy' books go through, but with Dad in mind, rather than mum'
-- schooldays.ie
'I would highly recommend it to any new Dad, or second, third, fourth (etc.) time Dad as a refresher guide'
-- schooldays.ie
'David Caren may become the male equivalent of Gina Ford, with every father-to-be hanging on his every word'
-- schooldays.ie
'covers everything nearly-fathers will need to know'
-- Irish Independent
'a down-to-earth practical guide'
-- Books Ireland
'refreshing ... accessible'
-- Sunday World
'filled with the most useful and most important information ... contains all the stuff one would have liked to know, but never knew enough to ask about'
-- The Irish Catholic
'be welcomed ... practical ... the fact that it's specific to Ireland elevates it above the majority of guides for expectant fathers'
-- Sunday Business Post
'it’s brilliant'
-- Tom Dunne Show
'humourous and practical'
-- Sunday World
'a handbook for all new members of the "expectant fathers" club'
-- Irish Times
'answers all those questions many fathers-to-be would never utter in the light of a pre-natal class'
-- Sunday World
'a fantastic read!'
-- Mums & Tots Magazine
'practical pointers and top tips for any new dad or dad to be in Ireland'
-- Mums & Tots Magazine
A book I often turn to as a parent of very young children is The Irish Dad’s Survival Guide to Pregnancy and Beyond, by David Caren
-- Simon Tierney, Irish Times
Table of Contents
Congratulations ... 12
Introduction: You’re going to be a dad ... 15
It All Started with The ‘Late Late’ Show: Tell-tale signs that she’s pregnant! 15
A Game of Three Parts: Trimesters 25
Chapter 1: The First Trimester: Times they are a changin’ 27
Trimester 1: Weeks 0–12 27
The ‘All-Day’ Infliction: Morning sickness 30
CATastrophe in Waiting: Toxoplasmosis 34
Take That out of Your Mouth ... The no-no foods of pregnancy 36
Won’t He Feel IT? Sex in pregnancy 38
What’s up, Doc? Well in advance of your new arrival 43
The ‘M’ Word: Miscarriage in pregnancy 47
Keeping Mum: The 12-week rule 54
Joe Public v Peter Private: Irish maternity care – an overview 55
Testing, Testing ... Scans and checks 63
What’s up, Doc? Monitoring mum 64
Join the Club: The waiting room 69
Chapter 2: The Second Trimester. When reality ‘kicks’ in 73
Trimester 2: Weeks 13–28 73
In My Day ... Handling advice 76
Nobody puts Baby in a Corner! Preparing a child forthe new arrival 77
Woof Time of It: Your dog and your unborn baby 79
I Can’t See Him as a Thor FitzGerald! The baby name game 81
Is That His Little ...? Finding out the sex of your baby 84
Seeing Things: Expecting multiples 86
The Name’s ‘Bond’: Bonding with your unborn baby 90
Small Change: The price of parenthood 92
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Choosing the right family car 95
Buckle up! Choosing the car seat 98
Chapter 3: The Third Trimester. The final stretch 105
Trimester 3: Weeks 28–Birth 105
‘I Love It When a Plan Comes Together ...’ The birth plan 108
The MANternity Bag: The expectant dad’s survival kit 112
Getting Anti about Attending: The antenatal class 114
In the Thick of It: Attending the birth 117
Grounded! Air restrictions 120
What’s up, Doc? Health concerns in the third trimester 121
Twigs and Berries: Preparing the nest 124
Kitting out Your Kid: The essentials 125
Prams, Trams and Automobiles: Choosing the right wheels 131
Chapter 4: Labour: The main event 139
Show Me the Baby ... Signs that she is in labour 140
Get that Kettle away from Me! How to deliver a baby ... 142
What’s up, Doc? The three stages of labour 145
Tongs of Praise: Assisted deliveries 148
Exploring Other Avenues: Caesarean section 151
Help Wanted: Pain relief in labour 153
I Like It in Here ... Natural methods for bringing out baby 159
Not the Cooking Appliance! Induction 163
Lights, Camera (Maybe?), ACTION ... The delivery 164
Afterbirth Antics: The third stage 179
Keep the Cord: Stem-cell collection 180
The Iceman Cometh: How are you REALLY feeling? 180
Chapter 5: Surviving the First Six Weeks: We are family ... 183
Home Alone: The final checklist 184
Get Into Line: Managing visiting hours 185
Mothering Mum: Postnatal depression 188
SAD DAD: Male postnatal depression 191
How to:
Change a nappy 195
Wind a baby 199
Bathe a baby 202
Stop a baby crying 206
Wolverine Rocks! Say no to rocking 209
Gone with the Sleep: Surviving sleep deprivation 210
It’s Breast to Bottle It ... The methods of feeding 214
Game on, Dad: Video games & fatherhood 223
Left Holding the Baby: Going back to work 225
Relight the Fires: Sex after birth 226
When Sex Can Mean More Babies!
The dad’s guide to contraception 228
What’s up, Doc? The six-week check-up 233
Dad’s the Final Word 235
Chapter 6: Men of the House 237
Role Reversal: The stay-at-home-dad 237
10 Survival Tips for the Irish SAHD 238
Putting Word to Web 241
Daddy Dragon 243
Chores Are All Done: Education & Innovation 245
Show Me the Money: What are your entitlements? 247
Chapter 7: Legal Issues: Everything you need to know but were afraid to ask … 257
Paternity Leave & Benefit 257
Parental Leave 265
Force Majeure Leave 269
Parent’s Leave 269
Maternity Leave for Fathers 271
Unmarried Dads and Guardianship Rights 271
Registering the Birth 276
Chapter 8: What’s up, Doc? The glossary 281
Useful Resources 289
References 291
Index 295
