Topic Archive: dad

October 31, 2011

Why I chose a midwife – and then delivered with a doctor

When I got pregnant with my first child, I’d been with my OB/GYN for a couple of years and it was only natural I would stay with him for my pregnancy. He seemed like a friendly enough guy, very professional and associated with a big hospital in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. As the pregnancy progressed, I realized that I wanted to have a birthing experience like my mother-in-law (three natural child births albeit in three very different locations: a military hospital, a community hospital and a home birth) and NOT like my own mother (first birth knocked out by gas so she couldn’t remember anything, second birth panic stricken almost in the hospital elevator). In addition I wanted my husband to play an active role in the birth experience – much like my father-in-law (who delivered his third child while the doctor watched) and very unlike my own father who never set a foot in the hospital, but just dropped my mother off.

So we signed up for the Bradley Method, a husband-coached natural childbirth class. During this class our birth plan emerged – waiting until 42 weeks if necessary, no artificial breaking of water, no interventions (IV, pitocin, epidural, episiotomy), no constant monitoring = ability to move around during contractions, no early cord clamping etc. (more…)

November 8, 2010

The Cliches Are All True

By Charles (husband to Jessica)

Parenthood is hard. Seems obvious to say, but cliches are overused for a reason. And in five months of being a dad, what has become obvious to me is that the cliches are all true.

Pretty much every warning about the perils that awaited me, if I didn’t disregard, I at least minimized in my own mind. Not consciously, of course, but more with the sense that it would all just kind of work out, and not be hard, and they can’t actually be serious about that, can they?

Oh, they can, and they’re right.

Here’s a list of cliched-but-100%-factual parenting advice:

-The child will take over your life.
-You won’t get any sleep.
-You’ll be worried all of the time.
-Forget about seeing your friends when you want to.
-Forget everything you’ve learned about sex.
-Confronted with any situation, your first thought will be of your child.
-Your relationship with your wife will never be the same.
-Your relationship with your wife’s boobs will never be the same.
-It’s all worth it.
-The child will change every day.
-The smallest growth will make you immeasurably proud.
-You’ll do anything you can to make your child laugh. Anything.

Charlie is impossibly small, but occupies the largest space in my life, and in my heart, that anyone could. Which is also a cliche.

Episode 127 | February 11, 2009

Being Dad: Insights from a Male Perspective

Dads-to-be: What excites them? What are their top concerns? Worries? What don’t they want to talk about? What helps dads become better birth partners? And the difference between how men and women talk about pregnancy and birth. Sam Holt shares his insights on the male perspective of pregnancy and birth which he gathered while making the film Being Dad: Inspiration and Information for Dads to be. Also, your chance to win a PregTASTIC Pregnancy Package of goodies! ($10.00 discount off the already reduced price – if customers enter PREGTASTIC (all caps) in the coupon code box on the Being Dad website.)

Episode 70 | October 9, 2007

From Dude to Dad: Helping Your Partner

How can you help your partner go from DUDE to DAD? How can you make the baby more real to your husband? Do men really experience typical pregnancy symptoms? Guests: Authors Sandy and Marcie Jones together wrote two Great Expectations resource books: Your All-in-One Resource for Pregnancy and Childbirth, and Baby’s First Year.

Episode 57 | June 25, 2007

Annie’s Husband, Maternity Leave, Showers and More

Annie’s husband Rob joins our chat while providing another Dad’s PregTASTIC perspective. We’ll talk maternity leave and offer some ideas for you and your partner. Plus, baby showers, a henna tattoo and your chance to win!