The Expectant Dads Survival Guide by Rob Kemp – Book Review

The Expectant Dads Survival Guide by Rob Kemp     (What to expect when she is expecting)

I have read of few books for dads on pregnancy and most have been quite jokey and blokey. Recently released this book was like a breath of fresh air.This book does have a really great sense of humour and speaks to dads in their language but it is no way flippant. The book is packed with expert tips from a male midwife, obstetricians, psychologists and ‘a man who knows a lot about car seats’

You can click through the image to buy on Amazon

Each chapter roughly follows the pregnancy as it should progress and gives an idea of how the child is developing in the womb, how your partner is feeling and why she is in the mood she is and it contains expert advice and tips to help you make the right decisions. Lots of dads also share their story.

I think this book is fab…so easy to read, interesting and useful. It also shows great empathy towards a woman’s experience and I felt the author really cared about mum being fully supported.

Some really useful parts of the book (often not addressed) are dealing with miscarriage, an explanation of the facts of life, a conversion chart for baby weights, a discussion of the dad dreaded nappies, a little chapter entitled when bump stops the grind (SEX!)  And many other really useful bits every woman would want someone sensible to chat to her partner about.

The book also has a brilliant glossary at the back so all those new confusing words are explained. The last words in this book go to the mums in a nifty little section entitled the ‘Dos and don’ts of being a new dad according to new mums.’  This is my favourite:

      Don’t sit next to your partner while she is breast feeding, put the TV on sports news move the remote put of reach then go upstairs   out of earshot while we’re left unable to move watching the bloody football for 40 minutes!

 Oh how I wish someone had told my fella this!

Overall, I found this to be a very funny, immensely sensitive and deeply informative read. I would highly recommend this book to new dads.

The Expectant Dads Survival Guide by Rob Kemp (Vermilion, 2010) Available from Amazon, Waterstones and other leading bookstores.

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