The Expectant Father (Fifth Edition): The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be

by Armin A. Brott, Jennifer Ash Rudick

The Expectant Father is the best-selling pregnancy guide for men, trusted by millions of dads-to-be and their partners.

This reassuring month-by-month overview gives you the facts and advice you need to understand your baby’s development, support your partner, and prepare for the joys and challenges of fatherhood. It concludes with two special one on labor and delivery, and the other covering the first few months after your baby’s arrival.

The fifth edition of this New York Times best seller is updated with the latest information about fertility, prenatal care, and delivery; work-life balance (including the lessons learned from COVID-19); financial planning; and much more. It incorporates the expertise of leading OB-GYNs and researchers and the real-life experiences of hundreds of dads and moms.

The Expectant Father is a friendly, listenable, and inclusive companion for all dads-to-be. (Moms will love it, too!)

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Parenting, Fatherhood, Nonfiction, Self Help

Audible Audio

Published May 24, 2021

Reviews

[Nic Bushman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Literally had to check multiple times if this was written sarcastically as a parody book. The amount of condescension and out of touch tone is laughable throughout the entirety.

The author continuously belittles any woman’s role or feelings, while absurdly trying to state how underappreciated and tough her pregnancy is for a male.

Only continue to read the last 3/4 for entertainment with my wife on the Ludacris opinions and stances of the author.

[John Charette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does a good job prompting expecting dads to think through a wide range of action items and conversations before the baby arrives. The beginning is especially useful if you are in the U.S., as it highlights insurance, hospital billing, and other financial items you should get in motion early to avoid getting blindsided by delivery costs. As a checklist and conversation starter with your partner, it provides solid value.

That said, much of the middle of the book feels generic and overly broad. It tries to address too many potential situations, which makes the advice feel shallow rather than practical. From roughly months three through eight, I did not find much that went beyond common sense or added meaningful guidance.

The book becomes much more tactical again toward the end. From month eight onward, it focuses on due-date preparation and what to have ready at home for the new baby, which is genuinely helpful. I would not recommend reading this cover to cover, but the beginning and final sections are worth skimming for practical preparation.

[David Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to get you thinking about what steps you should be taking, or conversations to be having along the way through your partners pregnancy journey. Wish I would have listened one month at a time as I went. Seemed to be one of the few pregnancy books aimed at the father which I appreciated.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I’m ready now

[Kieran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book after my partner and I found out we were expecting our first kid. I wanted to be involved, and figured reading would be a good place to start, so I picked up what most people do — What to Expect When You’re Expecting (4th edition) — thinking that was the book to read. It wasn’t. I found it too clinical, almost like a textbook, and it didn’t really speak to the partner’s experience or wellbeing.

Shortly after, I picked up this book. While it follows a somewhat similar format, the way it’s written felt like it was actually for me — the partner. It gave me a sense of reassurance that was completely missing before. I found myself constantly reading ahead each month so I could be prepared for what my partner might be going through.

I can’t say enough positive things about this book. In moments where I felt unsure or like I wasn’t being helpful, it gave me practical ways to show up and support my partner. In my opinion, it should be required reading for all expectant fathers.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this series.

[Rhys Tiivel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book will leave any parent, not just fathers, feeling more prepared for the journey they have commenced and what to expect when the big day arrives.

The month by month breakdown was a more informative structure than the standard trimester format of these books.

I found the commentary on stigmas surrounding both motherhood and fatherhood in the closing section of the book really compelling, and a topic that needs far more public discussion and progress.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for soon to be dads! Sometimes men have a hard time following along with pregnancy since we aren’t the ones with the baby inside us forcing us to think about, and understand the pregnancy process. I liked that this book helped keep me on track with what was going on with my changing wife and our growing baby, and providing me with the knowledge I needed to participate in our OB appointments.

[Mark Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, easy to follow, very practical book! It combines a father’s real perspectives and experiences around pregnancy and early fatherhood with examples from primary literature. I found the narrative concise and easy to follow. It’s a good beginner’s manual for starting to learn more about what to expect during pregnancy (and childhood in general) as a new father. Would read again!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for fathers to be. Some of the info I didn’t find quite as helpful (outdated, even though this was the version from only five years ago), but a very good overall hit and gave me lots to think about.

A lot of info I had already gotten in other books/podcasts. But it was nice to get one specifically for me as a guy (all others I’ve seen have been specifically for the woman).

[Micaela Clauson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this since I made my husband read it. There’s a few helpful tidbits but this book tried to cover too much and there’s a lot of babbling and unnecessary information. I would have preferred this to be shorter and more straightforward.

[Mitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cannot relate to the fragile masculinity expressed throughout this book

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive but poorly formatted. Well-meaning but often insensitively off the mark in tone.

[Sirpease · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an informative read mostly on the time from conception to birth with some tips geared towards dad.

[Matthew Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a helpful guide through pregnancy. Lots of great, actionable advice. I would recommend this to anyone who is preparing to become a father.

[Ingolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too many specifics about health insurance in the US

[Gianni Hickerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful🤷🏻‍♂️

[Marcus Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to get prepared for pregnancy and Theo!

Book did a great job of doing this.

[bookreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too much NEED to know info that you probably don't already know but still good collection of knowledge.

[Sam Warchol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prepared me as much as possible, which in the task of fatherhood is inherently impossible.

Within the numerous “oh my god get out of my head moments” there were still some “that seems outdated” things from the older edition.

Regardless, still very helpful. Looking forward to hanging off to my fellow expectant dudes.