Table of Contents
How We Got Here xi
The Diaper Dude Philosophy xv
Chapter 0 Before the Countdown Begins 1
Prepping for Impregnating 3
She's Pregnant! 8
It's a Celebration, Y'all! … Or Is It? 10
What's Up, Doc? 12
Dude, Your Life Isn't Over 14
Chapter 1 The First Trimester 19
Where Are We Now? 21
Telling the Rest of the World 24
The Friendship Game 26
Hormones, Hormones, Hormones 28
The Porcelain Throne (aka Your Wife's New Best Friend) 31
Coping with Superpowers V Mood Swings 35
Sex: Will We Ever Have It Again? 37
Chapter 2 The Second Trimester 43
Wrapping Your Head Around All This 44
Ultrasound: The Must-See Movie of the Year! 47
Sex Status 49
Some Food Advice for Mom 52
Cravings and Sympathy (Weight) for the Devil 54
Go with the Flow 58
… And Then There's Boobs 61
Getting Connected with the Baby 64
Staying Connected with Your Partner 66
Chapter 3 The Third Trimester 73
What to Do When She Feels Like Crap 74
Makin' Dinner for Mom 76
Get Yer Ass in Class! 78
Choosing the Birthing Place 81
The Name Game 84
Baby Showers and You 87
Chapter 4 Birth 91
How Do You Know It's Time? 92
Getting to Know Your Hospital 94
Your Role During Labor 96
Staying Sane 100
The Baby's Here! 102
The ABCs of C-Sections 104
To Cut or Not to Cut 106
Baby Paranoia 108
The Little White Room 112
Chapter 5 Life with Baby 115
Bringing Home Baby 117
Baby-Proofing 121
The Wonderful World of Pets 125
Dear, Sweet Friends 129
Travelin' Man 131
Sex After Birth 133
Man vs. Myth 136
Chapter 6 Happy and Healthy Parenting 139
Get It Out 141
Listen, Stop Fixing 142
Use the Pause Button 142
Keep Things Fresh 143
Tackle Fear 144
Practice Romance 101 145
Questions 146
Temper Your Expectations 146
It's All About We, Not Me 147
Compromise 148
Conclusion: Welcome to the Club 151
Dude Weekly Pregnancy Updates Calendar 153
Sources 163
Additional Reading and Other Good Stuff 185
Acknowledgments 189
Index 193