‘The most special experience of my life so far’
Author Steven Bell has first hand experience for proffering this guidebook for new ‘expectant fathers.’ In a gentle humorous fashion he introduces himself to the reader: ‘Regardless of whether you conceived via the old-fashioned way, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, or any other way, I feel that I have some insight to offer to other dads as they begin their journey to fatherhood. I must be honest: at the time of writing this content, my son is just over three months old, so I am still in my relative infancy (pun intended) of fatherhood. However I still feel that sharing my experiences can be helpful to other guys as they prepare for the nine months of pregnancy and the first few months following delivery, which is sometimes referred to as the fourth trimester. Luckily for me my wife is a pediatrician, so she was able to give me more of a heads up than some other dudes out there…’
And with that lighthearted tone, Steven opens his Part I with ‘Congratulations, sniper – the orgasm counted this time! Your sperm has successfully infiltrated your woman’s egg…’ Not only does the author offer ‘instructions’ on how to deal with the pregnancy changes in both partners’ lives, he proceeds to give sound advice for preparing for preparing for parenthood (‘it’s critical to remain pragmatic when faced with the challenges life throws at you…you and your lady are a team, and right now she needs you to be calm’), dealing with doctor visits and ultrasound information, the lifestyle adjustment, important planning (health issues, financial issues, selecting a name, etc), and then proceeds to walk us through the variations of each of the three trimesters bring until that day of delivery!
The author’s obvious comprehension of the healthcare profession (he is a grad student in that arena) makes his information more credible and reliable. His ability to address facts and possible problems of pregnancy admixed with tongue-in-cheek humor makes reading his sound advice accessible and entertaining. In addition to his frequent use of backup references, he makes available a way to obtain The Helpful New Dad: A Checklist by Month for download. Reading this book is a pleasure – even for those fathers whose children are now older – as it brings a fresh approach to the concept of parenting and the impact of raising children. Recommended.