Meyer Frank - From dude to dad: the diaper dude guide to pregnancy

I wake up to the sound of crying. Barely coherent, my brain still asleep, I glance at the clock and make out the time. Its 5 a.m. Crap.

I roll over to find my wife gone. In a slow-motion panic, I drag my body out of bed. As I struggle to open my eyes, which have been sealed shut by sleep, I am following the sounds of sobbing toward the bathroom when I hear something drop to the floor. Uh-oh: Has she received some late night bad news? Did somebody die? As I scurry toward the light, I catch a glimpse through a crack in the door of my wife holding what looks like a thermometer. Double crap.

Just as I psych myself up for an early morning CVS run for meds or cough syrup or whatever it is she needs, I hear the words. Were pregnant!

THUMP! It hits like a rock. All the color drains from my face and tears roll down my cheeks. Tears of joy or fear, Im not sure, but it is the moment Ive been waiting for my whole life. Its really happening. What do I know about parenting? Sometimes I forget to feed the dog. What if I forget to feed the kid!

Are you sure? I ask.

I took the test three times, she replies through the biggest smile I have ever seen in my life. As I gaze at this woman who will soon be raising our children and providing our family with wisdom and guidance, my life flashes across my brain. My first kiss with Carrie Gombetti playing spin the bottle in the garage at her birthday party. Sister Natalie, my high school Sex Ed teacher, who taught me that Id go straight to hell with no parole if I even thought about doing IT (which I was okay with as long as I got to touch some boobs at some point in my life). Scoring for the first time at a Friday night football game with Cindy Borovsky (and Im not talking about a field goal!). My first car. My first job. Sex. College. Meeting my wife. Proposing to her on one knee. Sex. Our wedding. Even better, our wedding night. The honeymoon. More sex.

So whats going to happen now? Will I ever be able to hang with the guys again? Am I allowed to have fun once Im a dad? What if we suck at this parenting game? Do they take your kids away? How will my wifes body change? Will we ever have sex again?

Any of this sound familiar?

Dude, relax.

If youre anything like me (and according to many women were all exactly the same), all of this stuff crossed your mind when you found out you were going to be a dad. Its normal. Dont worry. Youre going to be fine. But it wouldnt hurt to get a few pointers, a road map if you will, as to what lies ahead.

That is what this book is for.

One of the reasons I wrote this book was because when my wife got pregnant there wasnt much on the shelves for men explaining what to do when shes expecting. Oh, there were plenty of books for women about the ins and outs of childbirth, but the options for dads were slim. Either they were these clinical, scientific tomes that read like homework, or they were nudge-nudge wink-wink sarcastic in tone. Lots of dick jokes and boob humor. Not really my style and definitely nothing my wife would ever buy me. So I thought maybe it was time for something that tells dads what to do when their partner is pregnant in an honest, factual, fun way; a book that takes you step-by-step through all three trimesters, plus the prep to get there and the aftermath. Its Pregnancy 101 from the dudes point of view.

Throughout this book, youll learn what you need to know when she gets pregnant, how to handle the big news, how early you can start telling folks, and which doctor appointments are important for you to attend. Youll learn also how you can help your partner, how you can maintain a strong relationship with your significant other while helping her through pregnancy. And yes, we will discuss your sex life for the next nine months. Allow me to cut right to the chase on that one: youll still have one.

Dude, dont worry, life aint over.

As your kids grow up, being a dad is an ever-changing role, but probably the most baffling time is those first nine months when your wife or partner is carrying the child. So much information comes flying at you. And the idea that you two will become three is exciting... but terrifying. Again, dont worry: I went through this stuff three times and even started my own business based on what I learned from being a dad. In fact, it might help to know how I started that business, so you know where Im coming from and why I strongly believe you can maintain your own identity while still being a dad. Allow me to give you a little history lesson...