Congratulations ... 12
Introduction: You’re going to be a dad ... 15
It All Started with The ‘Late Late’ Show: Tell-tale signs that she’s pregnant! 15
A Game of Three Parts: Trimesters 25
Chapter 1: The First Trimester: Times they are a changin’ 27
Trimester 1: Weeks 0–12 27
The ‘All-Day’ Infliction: Morning sickness 30
CATastrophe in Waiting: Toxoplasmosis 34
Take That out of Your Mouth ... The no-no foods of pregnancy 36
Won’t He Feel IT? Sex in pregnancy 38
What’s up, Doc? Well in advance of your new arrival 43
The ‘M’ Word: Miscarriage in pregnancy 47
Keeping Mum: The 12-week rule 54
Joe Public v Peter Private: Irish maternity care – an overview 55
Testing, Testing ... Scans and checks 63
What’s up, Doc? Monitoring mum 64
Join the Club: The waiting room 69
Chapter 2: The Second Trimester. When reality ‘kicks’ in 73
Trimester 2: Weeks 13–28 73
In My Day ... Handling advice 76
Nobody puts Baby in a Corner! Preparing a child forthe new arrival 77
Woof Time of It: Your dog and your unborn baby 79
I Can’t See Him as a Thor FitzGerald! The baby name game 81
Is That His Little ...? Finding out the sex of your baby 84
Seeing Things: Expecting multiples 86
The Name’s ‘Bond’: Bonding with your unborn baby 90
Small Change: The price of parenthood 92
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Choosing the right family car 95
Buckle up! Choosing the car seat 98
Chapter 3: The Third Trimester. The final stretch 105
Trimester 3: Weeks 28–Birth 105
‘I Love It When a Plan Comes Together ...’ The birth plan 108
The MANternity Bag: The expectant dad’s survival kit 112
Getting Anti about Attending: The antenatal class 114
In the Thick of It: Attending the birth 117
Grounded! Air restrictions 120
What’s up, Doc? Health concerns in the third trimester 121
Twigs and Berries: Preparing the nest 124
Kitting out Your Kid: The essentials 125
Prams, Trams and Automobiles: Choosing the right wheels 131
Chapter 4: Labour: The main event 139
Show Me the Baby ... Signs that she is in labour 140
Get that Kettle away from Me! How to deliver a baby ... 142
What’s up, Doc? The three stages of labour 145
Tongs of Praise: Assisted deliveries 148
Exploring Other Avenues: Caesarean section 151
Help Wanted: Pain relief in labour 153
I Like It in Here ... Natural methods for bringing out baby 159
Not the Cooking Appliance! Induction 163
Lights, Camera (Maybe?), ACTION ... The delivery 164
Afterbirth Antics: The third stage 179
Keep the Cord: Stem-cell collection 180
The Iceman Cometh: How are you REALLY feeling? 180
Chapter 5: Surviving the First Six Weeks: We are family ... 183
Home Alone: The final checklist 184
Get Into Line: Managing visiting hours 185
Mothering Mum: Postnatal depression 188
SAD DAD: Male postnatal depression 191
How to:
Change a nappy 195
Wind a baby 199
Bathe a baby 202
Stop a baby crying 206
Wolverine Rocks! Say no to rocking 209
Gone with the Sleep: Surviving sleep deprivation 210
It’s Breast to Bottle It ... The methods of feeding 214
Game on, Dad: Video games & fatherhood 223
Left Holding the Baby: Going back to work 225
Relight the Fires: Sex after birth 226
When Sex Can Mean More Babies!
The dad’s guide to contraception 228
What’s up, Doc? The six-week check-up 233
Dad’s the Final Word 235
Chapter 6: Men of the House 237
Role Reversal: The stay-at-home-dad 237
10 Survival Tips for the Irish SAHD 238
Putting Word to Web 241
Daddy Dragon 243
Chores Are All Done: Education & Innovation 245
Show Me the Money: What are your entitlements? 247
Chapter 7: Legal Issues: Everything you need to know but were afraid to ask … 257
Paternity Leave & Benefit 257
Parental Leave 265
Force Majeure Leave 269
Parent’s Leave 269
Maternity Leave for Fathers 271
Unmarried Dads and Guardianship Rights 271
Registering the Birth 276
Chapter 8: What’s up, Doc? The glossary 281
Useful Resources 289
References 291
Index 295
highly recommended
Tuam Herald
entertaining and reassuring – everything an expectant and new dad needs to know
Easy Parenting Magazine
definitely one of our must reads
Pregnancy & Parenting Magazine
'everything an expectant dad will need to know'
Maternity & Infant Magazine
'practical and easy-to-follow'
Maternity & Infant Magazine
'just the book to see ‘Daddy’ through'
Maternity & Infant Magazine
'help you celebrate and understand everything that’s going on ... full of everything you need to know'
Woman’s Way
'straightforward, humorous'
mummypages.ie
'a really wonderful resource for men'
mummypages.ie
'if you’re an expectant mum and are sick and tired of explaining the ins and outs of pregnancy ... then it might be a wise decision to give the man in your life the gift of ‘The Irish Dad’s Survival Guide to Pregnancy and Beyond'
mummypages.ie
'no topic is off limit in David’s book, there is an answer for every question an expectant father might possibly have'
mummypages.ie
'packed full of practical advice'
mummypages.ie
'we frequently get asked by our mums (and dads-to-be) where they can find information that’s aimed at men about pregnancy and parenthood and we’re delighted to say we have found just the book!'
mummypages.ie
'honest and real'
schooldays.ie
'I wish I'd had this book to read when I was pregnant - I found it a lot easier to read - and far less annoying - than some of the 'What to expect' type books I found myself reading and throwing on the floor!'
schooldays.ie
'just what expectant father's have been waiting for'
schooldays.ie
'written in a down-to-earth, straight-talking, no nonsense, humorous way, the book goes through everything the other 'pregnancy' books go through, but with Dad in mind, rather than mum'
schooldays.ie
'I would highly recommend it to any new Dad, or second, third, fourth (etc.) time Dad as a refresher guide'
schooldays.ie
'David Caren may become the male equivalent of Gina Ford, with every father-to-be hanging on his every word'
schooldays.ie
'covers everything nearly-fathers will need to know'
Irish Independent
'a down-to-earth practical guide'
Books Ireland
'refreshing ... accessible'
Sunday World
'filled with the most useful and most important information ... contains all the stuff one would have liked to know, but never knew enough to ask about'
The Irish Catholic
'be welcomed ... practical ... the fact that it's specific to Ireland elevates it above the majority of guides for expectant fathers'
Sunday Business Post
'it’s brilliant'
Tom Dunne Show
'humourous and practical'
Sunday World
'a handbook for all new members of the "expectant fathers" club'
Irish Times
'answers all those questions many fathers-to-be would never utter in the light of a pre-natal class'
Sunday World
'a fantastic read!'
Mums & Tots Magazine
'practical pointers and top tips for any new dad or dad to be in Ireland'
Mums & Tots Magazine
