Book Review: Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be, by Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H and Judith Schuler, M.S.

Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Book Reviews

Home | Book & Product Review Index | Article Index

Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be
Everything Dads Need to Know about Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Getting Ready for a New Baby, Second Edition
By Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H and Judith Schuler, M.S.
Da Capo Press, 2009
ISBN 13: 978-0-7382-1275-3

Reviewed by Angela Evans - September 21, 2009

Pregnancies, like weddings, seem to be an 'event' where the man is just suppose to show up, do his part, and stay out of the way! However, while it is the woman who carries the baby, it is just as much a part of the father's as it is the mother's and you do yourself, your partner, and your child a disservice if you don't make yourself an active participant in the pregnancy. Some men seem to know instinctively what to do to be supportive to their mate, do all the things necessary to help make the pregnancy go as smoothly as possible, to intuitively know how to ease morning sickness and to talk to doctors. They are a rare breed. Most fathers-to-be, like most mothers-to-be, are faced with a steep learning curve, especially when dealing with a first pregnancy. But don't fret, while you might have a lot to learn, there are many sources of information to help you to be the best father-to-be you can.

One such resource is the book Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be: Everything Dads Need to Know about Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Getting Ready for a New Baby by Dr. Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler. The second edition of this phenomenal resource has been fully updated and expanded, ensuring that you are up-to-date on all the latest information that you will need to be an active participant in your child's gestation and birth.

Written in clear and easy to understand terms, this book covers all the basics, from what a pregnancy really is and common terms you are likely to encounter over the course of the pregnancy, to more complicated matters such financing the pregnancy, the birth, and even your new child's college fund, and what to do when health problems arise that affect the mother, the baby, or both. Basically, this book provides you with a solid introduction to what it means to be a 'father-to-be' from determining that your partner is pregnant to becoming a full-fledged dad. The authors even provide advice on how to start planning, now, for the next baby!

Throughout this book you'll also find a plethora of tips, including tips on getting out of the doghouse - and tips on how to earn brownies points. The authors also provide insights into the truth about many of the old-wives tales that surround pregnancies. You'll also find an assortment of handy lists, as well as a chart entitled The Big Picture that provides a concise overview of what to expect during the pregnancy, birth, and what comes next. What you will not find in this book is a detailed overview of the pregnancy itself. That can be found in Curtis and Schuler 's outstanding companion book, Your Pregnancy Week by Week, Sixth Edition, which should be read by both you and your partner!

Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be is definitely geared toward the first time father-to-be, and as such, those that have been there, done that, may find this book a bit over simplistic. However, for you first-timers out there - this book is an ideal starting point from which you can learn to become an active and integral part in your partner's pregnancy. As a bonus, you will get the pleasure of bonding with your baby before it is even born. Happy Daddying!

Related Books:

Dad's Pregnant Too, by Harlan Cohen.
The Joy of Fatherhood: The First Twelve Months, by Dr. Marcus Jacob Goldman.
The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads to Be, by Armin A. Brott.
Father's First Steps: 25 Things Every New Dad Should Know, by Robert W. Sears.

About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Comments