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The Dad's Playbook to Labor and Birth: A Practical and Strategic Guide to Preparing for the Big Day
The Dad€™s Playbook to Labor and Birth is 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, and who may even feel uncomfortable about witnessing a normal birth. The book is written in a simple, straightforward manner and assumes that the reader is male and that the birth is taking place in a hospital--and that the mom will probably want an epidural. Its tone is lighthearted and often quite humorous. The chapters are arranged chronologically, from late pregnancy through the early postpartum period. Unusual features include advice on understanding a woman€™s needs by analyzing her personality and tips for the dad who is prone to fainting or nausea.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Theresa Halvorsen
17 books210 followersTheresa Halvorsen has never met a profanity she hasn’t enjoyed. She’s generally overly-caffeinated and at times, wine-soaked. The author of multiple spec-fiction works, including Warehouse Dreams and River City Widows, in addition to various short stories and non-fiction articles, Theresa wonders what sleep is. Because she didn’t have enough to do, she also started No Bad Books Press with S. Faxon, and edits for other spec-fiction writers. When she’s not writing, editing, publishing or podcasting with the Semi-Sages of the Pages, she’s commuting through San Diego traffic to her healthcare position. In whatever free time is left (ha!), Theresa enjoys board games, geeky conventions, and reading. Her life goal is to give "Oh-My-Gosh-This-Book-Is-So-Good!" happiness to her readers. She lives in Temecula with her amazing husband, occasionally her college-age twins, and the pets they’d promised to care for. Find her at www.theresaHauthor.com and on Twitter and Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 1, 2014
According to some reviews, humor in a book for dads about helping their partner through labor, is as taboo as putting photos of the actual birth on Facebook. This book is a GREAT prep course for dads. We've taken classes and I thought I was ready, but this book gave me more detail into how I specifically can help my wife during the potentially 36 hours of labor.
A great read for a soon to be dad, humor and all.
A great read for a soon to be dad, humor and all.
March 19, 2021
"Many men say they'll do anything their partners ask during labour. All the woman has to do is ask. Then Dad's surprised when Mom asks for nothing in labor. He's even more surprised when she's pissed at him afterward for not helping during the birth .What did he miss?"
Finally finished this book (2 months after the birth of my first child)!. What makes me like this book is the obvious fact that it's aimed at, well, MEN, and that the guide is written from a practical point of view that I found very much lacking in basically any other source of information that I could find on the web. As any prospective parent will know, there is a TON of information out there, from videos on breathing techniques and how to swaddle a baby but for some inexplicable reason all that material feels like the same re-used, depersonalised stuff. Also, it's aimed mostly at the mum (even if it's not their intent) and as a dad I just felt like these sources did not really connect with me. However, I feel like this book actually levels with me and tells it to me like it is, with a fair amount of humour thrown in too. It answers the questions that are somehow never asked in any of the YouTube videos and mum's websites, such as "what should I do when my baby comes out and they're ugly?" or "What if my partner is in so much pain that she behaves completely irrational and threatens to murder me whenever I get near (or if I stay back)?"
What made this book somewhat bitter to read was how it just assumes that there will be a TON of support available to the parents, as a matter of fact it will take it for granted that a team stands at the ready consisting of grandparents, neighbours, friends and a doula (I just learned that such a thing exists). It goes to no short lengths to remind the dad-to-be that yes, their partner is the one suffering through labour, but the dad will also get tired, and stressed (there is even a section on how not to faint), and as such, the father should also make sure to get adequate support and arrange for someone to be able to take over, if necessary. Then our baby got born in the middle of COVID-19 mayhem and nothing of the sort was available to us. In fact, 2 months post-birth and no friends or family have seen our boy yet. Which also means that the suggestion to just "ask a grandparent to take over for a while if you haven't slept in 48 hours and the baby keeps screaming in your face" is rather infuriating to read, especially when you are all by yourself and you haven't slept in 48 hours and the baby keeps screaming in your face.
The other thing I could critique is how the book just, ASSUMES that most women will want to have an epidural, which in our own culture is definitely not the case. The USA-centric perspective is palpable at times. The abundance of personal experiences makes up for it, though!
Finally finished this book (2 months after the birth of my first child)!. What makes me like this book is the obvious fact that it's aimed at, well, MEN, and that the guide is written from a practical point of view that I found very much lacking in basically any other source of information that I could find on the web. As any prospective parent will know, there is a TON of information out there, from videos on breathing techniques and how to swaddle a baby but for some inexplicable reason all that material feels like the same re-used, depersonalised stuff. Also, it's aimed mostly at the mum (even if it's not their intent) and as a dad I just felt like these sources did not really connect with me. However, I feel like this book actually levels with me and tells it to me like it is, with a fair amount of humour thrown in too. It answers the questions that are somehow never asked in any of the YouTube videos and mum's websites, such as "what should I do when my baby comes out and they're ugly?" or "What if my partner is in so much pain that she behaves completely irrational and threatens to murder me whenever I get near (or if I stay back)?"
What made this book somewhat bitter to read was how it just assumes that there will be a TON of support available to the parents, as a matter of fact it will take it for granted that a team stands at the ready consisting of grandparents, neighbours, friends and a doula (I just learned that such a thing exists). It goes to no short lengths to remind the dad-to-be that yes, their partner is the one suffering through labour, but the dad will also get tired, and stressed (there is even a section on how not to faint), and as such, the father should also make sure to get adequate support and arrange for someone to be able to take over, if necessary. Then our baby got born in the middle of COVID-19 mayhem and nothing of the sort was available to us. In fact, 2 months post-birth and no friends or family have seen our boy yet. Which also means that the suggestion to just "ask a grandparent to take over for a while if you haven't slept in 48 hours and the baby keeps screaming in your face" is rather infuriating to read, especially when you are all by yourself and you haven't slept in 48 hours and the baby keeps screaming in your face.
The other thing I could critique is how the book just, ASSUMES that most women will want to have an epidural, which in our own culture is definitely not the case. The USA-centric perspective is palpable at times. The abundance of personal experiences makes up for it, though!
January 7, 2023
This was a really useful guide. Straightforward and full of useful information, I feel much better prepared to help my pregnant wife when the time comes for childbirth in a couple months.
In fact, yesterday we went to her OBGYN. I asked a lot of questions based off the information from this book and the doctor was impressed. She even remarked to my wife about how well-prepared I seem. So the information here definitely checks out with medical professionals!
In fact, yesterday we went to her OBGYN. I asked a lot of questions based off the information from this book and the doctor was impressed. She even remarked to my wife about how well-prepared I seem. So the information here definitely checks out with medical professionals!
October 8, 2020
We live in a time where men play a role in labour and birth - this book is a superb guide for the big day for the support person - be it a husband, a girlfriend, mom, dad, brother, whoever....this is basically a guide for someone who wishes to become almost a dula for the big day.
December 31, 2020
DNF, a little too simple and definitely overuses gender stereotypes. Re: thinking about how your partner makes decisions, "For example, when shopping for shoes (we know, you try to avoid going along whenever possible)"
July 19, 2012
This is a great overview for dads who want to know how they can best help out their partner during labor and birth. It's a quick read, with short chapters and lots of bullets to make things simple. :) Theresa was our childbirth educator, and her practical down-to-earth style really comes through in this book. I've already given copies to all of my friends who are expecting their first baby!
March 5, 2013
A shorter and less specific view of childbirth from the father's point of view, this book tries to stay lighthearted, but sometimes comes off as not serious enough. There are some helpful tips offered for the big day, but all in all a light read that stays away from many of the gory details that could catch some dads off guard.
December 29, 2013
Informative. Straight to the point and balanced (for the most part). I found the humor to be a little irritating but not a reason to put the book down. Helpful as a reference.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews