Reddit mentions of The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be, Second Edition

First off congrats!!! It's a very exciting time for you. I just found out this weekend that we're expecting our second.

Biggest thing I can suggest is to be extremely patient and supportive through the next 9 months. With the mood-swings, the slightest thing can be explosive for your spouse. Try as hard as you can to make the dr appts. Sometimes it may not make sense for you to be there when it's not got a lot to do with you, but just the fact that you're engaged and there will mean the world to her. Lastly get some good lotion later down the line to do some foot and ankle massages towards the end, her feet will be killing her.

I'd recommend "The Expectant Father" as something that you can go read through to be more prepared throughout the process. It lays out each month and gives good advice on how to help her, and yourself prepare for what's coming. I'm going to read it through again as I know I've forgotten things since I read it a few years ago.

http://www.amazon.ca/Expectant-Father-Advice-Dads-Be/dp/0789205386

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions down the line. We'll most likely be going through a lot of the same milestones at the same time.

Future dad, wife is due in March, checking in. These books have helped me:

The Expectant Father

We're Pregnant!

The Birth Partner

and for a nice laugh: Man Vs Child

Also, your doctors understand that you are not an expert, and there are no such things as dumb questions at any doctor's visit. Yes, go to every visit, be in the room, take notes for your partner, and ask questions. A good rule of thumb for everything is "ask your doctor."

And... like, I understand that you don't want to stress your partner out, but at the same time open communication is really important. Take the time to listen to her concerns, make her ginger tea, and share ideas. It's OKAY to be anxious, as long as turn that anxiety into productive energy and not needless worrying.

The Expectant Father (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0789205386) is excellent. It's the one I recommend to all new fathers. There are two others by the same author--dealing with parenting a newborn and toddler respectively.

My husband read The Expectant Father. I skimmed some of it and thought it had a lot of really usefull information geared toward new dads. http://www.amazon.com/Expectant-Father-Advice-Dads-Be/dp/0789205386

My husband loved The Expectant Father.

THIS. I feel like my husband knows more than me right now because he's read The Expectant Father and burned through Mayo rather quickly.

It's a strange time because you're both experiencing different things. Physically your body is going through so many changes and you literally can't do the things you used to do. Your world changes immediately. His world changes too but he doesn't necessarily have the physical stuff to distract or occupy him. Talk to him about your fears and concerns and get him to open up about what's going on with him.

It took me awhile to realize my husband was going through his own set of issues because I was so wrapped up in mine. We were both freaked out together at first but then my morning sickness started to kick-in and I stopped being able to go out as much and slept ALL OF THE TIME...I think he was confused and didn't really understand what was going on and it was a HUGE inconvenience. But shit got real fast when I started barfing. SO is super scared of puking so annoyance quickly changed to waves of guilt. It took the morning sickness for him to realize exactly how physical these changes are for me and how miserable I was. His attitude completely changed. He's been nothing but fabulous and supportive ever since-not that he was terrible before...I just don't think he understood that there's a difference between lazy and literally being unable to keep your eyes open. As things have evened out and my energy has come back, we're finding a more even pace and are both very excited now. Everyone has to find their own balance. You're becoming parents and that's very different than just being in a couple. It's a lot of stress and emotional peaks and valleys but if you talk it out, you'll get through it together. Best of luck!

Oh see, I picked that up, and thought it was the cheesiest thing ever. There's some decent advice in there, but some of it just comes off as gimmicky. I mean "How to change your baby in a stadium," seriously? It's not a bad book, but I just felt it was lacking in information. If you're looking for a more light-hearted "ease yourself into baby books" kind of reading, then Be Prepared fits the bill. It was the first book I bought. I flipped through it, and relegated it to my "read after the baby is born" book pile.

I really liked [The Expectant Father] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Expectant-Father-Dads---Be/dp/0789205386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344493133&sr=8-1&keywords=expected+father) since it tackles different sections from pregnancy to labor/birth and beyond. It has crap like how to prepare for getting college fund started. What I really like is that during the different months of pregnancy, it gives you things to expect, like how your spouse is probably feeling, and the thoughts/emotions going through your own head, and how to just wrap your noggin around all of it and stay sane.

There's also a section on the types of food your significant other should be eating, and how you can help through the next 9 months.

This book has helped me quite a lot, I also have his other book for the first year. I managed to get them both for $5 at Value Village. He has one more for toddler years as well. Lots of solid information plus it talks not just about her or the baby but also about you and your relationship.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Expectant-Father-Dads-Be/dp/0789205386

Enroll in a pre-natal class and go with her. My wife and I found one that was free and run by our community centre. I have learned so much and it has been so important to learn that EVERY pregnancy is different.

Understand that the best thing to do is hope and expect a happy healthy baby, anything beyond that is all a bonus. While you are supporting her, try to find time for yourself. Becoming a dad is stressful and exciting and you'll want to blow off steam.

Finally and most importantly, realise that no one really knows what they are doing and are fully prepared with their first child. This is a learning and growing experience. Have fun with it.