Joe Kelly - Pregnancy for Dads

No one likes a know-it-all. Most of us realize theres no such thinghow could there be? The world is far too complicated for someone to understand everything there is to know. So when you come across a know-it-all, you smile to yourself as they ramble on because you know better.

You understand that the quest for knowledge is a never-ending one, and youre okay with that. You have no desire to know everything, just the next thing. You know what you dont know, youre confident enough to admit it, and youre motivated to do something about it.

At Idiots Guides, we, too, know what we dont know, and we make it our business to find out. We find really smart people who are experts in their fields and then we roll up our sleeves and get to work, asking lots of questions and thinking long and hard about how best to pass along their knowledge to you in the easiest, most-accessible way possible.

After all, thats our promiseto make whatever you want to learn As Easy as It Gets. That means giving you a well-organized design that seamlessly and effortlessly guides you from page to page, topic to topic. It means controlling the pace youre asked to absorb new informationnot too much at once but just what you need to know right now. It means giving you a clear progression from easy to more difficult. It means giving you more instructional steps wherever necessary to really explain the details. And it means giving you fewer words and more illustrations wherever its better to show rather than tell.

So here you are, at the start of something new. The next chapter in your quest. It can be an intimidating place to be, but youve been here before and so have we. Clear your mind and turn the page. By the end of this book, you wont be a know-it-all, but your world will be a little less complicated than it was before. And well be sure your journey is as easy as it gets.

Mike Sanders
Publisher, Idiots Guides

ALPHA BOOKS

Published by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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THE COMPLETE IDIOTS GUIDE TO and Design are registered trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-61564-435-3
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2013945265

16 15 14 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Interpretation of the printing code: The rightmost number of the first series of numbers is the year of the books printing; the rightmost number of the second series of numbers is the number of the books printing. For example, a printing code of 14-1 shows that the first printing occurred in 2014.

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Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted.

The author and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

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Publisher:Mike Sanders

Executive Managing Editor:Billy Fields

Senior Acquisitions Editor:Brook Farling

Development Editor:Kayla Dugger

Senior Production Editor:Janette Lynn

CoverDesigner:Rebecca Batchelor

Book Designer:William Thomas

Indexer:Heather McNeill

Layout:Brian Massey

Proofreader:Tricia Liebig

Introduction

So youre a dad-to-be. Congratulations! Im convinced that fatherhood is the most remarkable thing that can happen to a man. Theres a chance that someone gave you this book as a gift. Maybe youre looking at it now just to be polite. Maybe the person who gave it to you (a woman, perhaps?) is watching to see if you crack it open.

If youre skeptical, I dont blame you. Think about it: most dads through history did their fathering without ever reading a book. However, over the last century or so, boys have rarely been taught about helping a female loved one through pregnancy, taking care of infants, or raising older children. Did your father teach your about morning sickness or burping babies? Probably notbut then, your grandfather probably didnt teach that to your dad, either.

As a result, even in this age of changing attitudes about the roles of men and women, most men have few (if any) road maps for transforming from a guy who isnt a dad into that mysterious entity known as Dad.

So, what is that transformation like? Have you ever been on a roller coaster? Then you have a taste of what its like to become a dadexcitement, screams, wild laughter, panic, hanging on for the ride, and more. But unlike a roller coaster, which brings you back to the same place you started, fatherhood transports you to new adventures every day. Its also a bit hard to wrap your mind around, especially when youre still expecting.