The Irish Dad's Survival Guide to Pregnancy [& Beyond]

Originally from Dublin, and now living in Cork, David Caren is a freelance writer and author of the bestselling parenting guide, 'The Irish Dad’s Survival Guide to Pregnancy & Beyond’.  David’s first children’s book is the inspiring story of the Senior Women’s Irish hockey goalkeeper, Ayeisha McFerran. 

Congratulations ...  12



Introduction: You’re going to be a dad ...   15



It All Started with The ‘Late Late’ Show: Tell-tale signs that she’s pregnant!   15



A Game of Three Parts: Trimesters   25



Chapter 1: The First Trimester: Times they are a changin’  27



Trimester 1: Weeks 0–12   27



The ‘All-Day’ Infliction: Morning sickness   30



CATastrophe in Waiting: Toxoplasmosis   34



Take That out of Your Mouth ... The no-no foods of pregnancy   36



Won’t He Feel IT? Sex in pregnancy   38



What’s up, Doc? Well in advance of your new arrival   43



The ‘M’ Word: Miscarriage in pregnancy   47



Keeping Mum: The 12-week rule   54



Joe Public v Peter Private: Irish maternity care – an overview   55



Testing, Testing ... Scans and checks   63



What’s up, Doc? Monitoring mum   64



Join the Club: The waiting room   69



Chapter 2: The Second Trimester. When reality ‘kicks’ in  73



Trimester 2: Weeks 13–28   73



In My Day ... Handling advice   76



Nobody puts Baby in a Corner! Preparing a child forthe new arrival   77



Woof Time of It: Your dog and your unborn baby   79



I Can’t See Him as a Thor FitzGerald! The baby name game   81



Is That His Little ...? Finding out the sex of your baby   84



Seeing Things: Expecting multiples   86



The Name’s ‘Bond’: Bonding with your unborn baby   90



Small Change: The price of parenthood   92



A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Choosing the right family car   95



Buckle up! Choosing the car seat   98



Chapter 3: The Third Trimester. The final stretch   105



Trimester 3:  Weeks 28–Birth   105



‘I Love It When a Plan Comes Together ...’ The birth plan   108



The MANternity Bag: The expectant dad’s survival kit   112



Getting Anti about Attending: The antenatal class   114



In the Thick of It: Attending the birth   117



Grounded! Air restrictions   120



What’s up, Doc? Health concerns in the third trimester   121



Twigs and Berries: Preparing the nest   124



Kitting out Your Kid: The essentials   125



Prams, Trams and Automobiles: Choosing the right wheels   131



Chapter 4: Labour: The main event   139



Show Me the Baby ... Signs that she is in labour   140



Get that Kettle away from Me! How to deliver a baby ...   142



What’s up, Doc? The three stages of labour   145



Tongs of Praise: Assisted deliveries   148



Exploring Other Avenues: Caesarean section   151



Help Wanted: Pain relief in labour   153



I Like It in Here ... Natural methods for bringing out baby   159



Not the Cooking Appliance! Induction   163



Lights, Camera (Maybe?), ACTION ... The delivery   164



Afterbirth Antics: The third stage   179



Keep the Cord: Stem-cell collection   180



The Iceman Cometh: How are you REALLY feeling?   180



Chapter 5: Surviving the First Six Weeks: We are family ...   183



Home Alone: The final checklist   184



Get Into Line: Managing visiting hours   185



Mothering Mum: Postnatal depression   188



SAD DAD: Male postnatal depression   191



How to:

Change a nappy   195



Wind a baby   199



Bathe a baby   202



Stop a baby crying   206



Wolverine Rocks! Say no to rocking   209



Gone with the Sleep: Surviving sleep deprivation   210



It’s Breast to Bottle It ... The methods of feeding   214



Game on, Dad: Video games & fatherhood   223



Left Holding the Baby: Going back to work   225



Relight the Fires: Sex after birth   226



When Sex Can Mean More Babies!



The dad’s guide to contraception   228



What’s up, Doc? The six-week check-up   233



Dad’s the Final Word   235



Chapter 6: Men of the House  237



Role Reversal: The stay-at-home-dad   237



10 Survival Tips for the Irish SAHD   238



Putting Word to Web  241



Daddy Dragon   243



Chores Are All Done: Education & Innovation   245



Show Me the Money: What are your entitlements?   247



Chapter 7: Legal Issues: Everything you need to know but were afraid to ask …   257



Paternity Leave & Benefit    257



Parental Leave   265



Force Majeure Leave   269



Parent’s Leave   269



Maternity Leave for Fathers   271



Unmarried Dads and Guardianship Rights   271



Registering the Birth   276



Chapter 8: What’s up, Doc? The glossary   281



Useful Resources   289



References   291



Index   295