Did your SO read any pregnancy or baby related books? Were they geared toward fathers or just the standard ones? Just trying to figure out if this would be helpful for DH or if it is unnecessary.
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We bought DH two but we found one to be extremely condescending and all they talked about was how if the dad was nice to the wife he'd "get some" and the other was just kinda boring. He has been reading the birthing book I'm reading (Dr. Sears) and uses a few of the apps on his phone and seems to like those better.
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@fussygal: My DH gave up on reading books geared toward dads because he felt the same about them. I recently found out he's been reading pregnancy/baby books and is reading Heading Home With Your Newborn right now.
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DH has agreed to read one and only one parenting or pregnancy related book, so I have to choose carefully. Personally I plan to pick a parenting one since I won't be pregnant long but we'll be parents forever. Also, we'll be taking at least one birth class (leaning towards Bradley method) whether he likes it or not so he'll learn there. I'll also be making him watch The Business of Being Born, so that'll help too. Beyond that, if he questions me on things, I'll find an appropriate article.
I do agree thatfrom what I've seen, booksgeared towards men on both pregnancy and parenting are often very condescending.
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Not about pregnancy I don't think (I didn't see much point in that, though he read things on the internet and got the Baby Center newsletters as he was interested in the baby's development), but we both read a couple parenting-related books (such as Bringing Up Bebe... love that book). He reads a *lot* of articles online (as do I), so he got and still gets most of his information that way.
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I didn't expect DH to read any parenting books, and he opted not to. It didn't bother me, and I keep him up to date on what I learn.
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I got him a book for Dads-to-be but he only got through the first chapter. Reading just isn't his thing. He got his information from me and when we attended classes at the hospital.
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He didn't read anything but he did a lot of his own research, particularly about labor. It was kind of cute...."I can't believe I'm asking this but, um, did you lose that mucus thingy yet?" haha.
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No, but with #1 we both used to read the weekly What To Expect app. With #2, neither of us can remember where we are.
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No, he depended on me to tell him anything he needed to know.
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So far DH has not read any pregnancy books, but he genuinely listens when I tell him interesting facts I learn or something I feel he needs to know. I imagine he will read some parenting books at some point though. He likes to read.
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We gift this funny book to all of our expecting friends, and DH was happy to re-read it when it was his turn. It's funny, not condescending but more of a sarcastic, jokey-but-real info book with funny graphics. It's like a faux-1950s men's manual.
http://www.amazon.com/Be-Prepared-Gary-Greenberg/dp/0743251547
Beyond that, he'll browse through other books, is hitting some classes, and just asks me anything else.
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Yeah I had noticed that most of the dad books seem to be cheesy or condescending. I guess we will just stick with my informing him or maybe I will suggest an app. I just didn't want to seem like a know it all about the baby and pregnancy.
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@mrs. 64: My favorite for whomever is going to be with you during labor/birth is Penny Simkin's "Birth Partner." It will help him understand what's normal and not normal and what you'll need at the various stages of labor. If he's not going to be with you during delivery, then maybe a funnier lighter option like "Show Dad How" from the Parenting Magazine people.
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He read "the expectant father" and seemed to like it.
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@mrs. 64: You could just recommend that he read the same books you're reading, so he knows the important info.
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Neither of us did, really. We both found Dr. Sears sexist and condescending to men and women. I liked The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, but that was more for me than DH.
We both found the Mayo Clinic's baby book very useful.
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He read the beginning of "Dad's guide to pregnancy for dummies". It was really good, but he's really not a reader, so it's not surprising that he didn't finish.
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