So much of the available pregnancy, birth, and postpartum information out there is geared toward the women giving birth that sometimes it can be hard to find birth resources for partners. Here’s a list of our favorite tips and birth resources for partners!
Birth Resources for Partners
Birth Resources for Partners: Books
A book by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash, The Expectant Father walks you through every stage of pregnancy and birth, giving you a month-by-month overview to help you support your partner, prepare for baby, and take care of yourself.
“Each chapter covers:
-What’s going on with your partner, emotionally and physically
-What’s going on with the baby, every step of the way from fertilized egg to newborn
-What’s going on with you, as you adjust to the new life stage of fatherhood
-How to stay involved: specific ways you can help (and feel included), from attending birthing classes with your partner to starting a college fund
This fully revised fourth edition also includes:
-More information about adoptions, multiples, infertility and assisted reproductive technology, and dads in the military
-A special section on labor and delivery: what to expect on the big day
-A special section on what comes next, in the first few months after the baby’s arrival
-A handy resource section, connecting you to the best information on every topic related to pregnancy and fatherhood”
The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide to helping a woman through labor and birth, and the essential manual to have at hand during the event. The Birth Partner includes thorough information on:
-Preparing for labor and knowing when it has begun
-Normal labor and how to help the woman every step of the way
-Epidurals and other medications for labor
-Pitocin and other means, including natural ones, to induce or speed up labor
-Non-drug techniques for easing labor pain
-Cesarean birth and complications that may require it
-Breastfeeding and newborn care
-and much more
For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, this book is indispensable.
“They used to say that there just isn’t a manual for becoming a great Dad – but now there is. Welcome To Fatherhood is indeed “The Modern Man’s Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Fatherhood,” just as promised. WTF’s two stated goals are getting better connected to Mama on her journey and getting better prepared for what comes next at each step along yours. In addition to delivering on these goals page after page after page, WTF goes even further and elevates you and your dad game up beyond merely holding on and surviving into confidently flourishing and thriving. Be the apple of your partner’s eye, the envy of the other pregnant couples and new Dads around you, and the guy everybody looks up to when they are wondering what it means to be a great Dad to a new baby.” Check it out here!
RELATED: Our Favorite Books for Childbirth Educators
“Sarah Ockwell-Smith offers a gentle, effective prescription for addressing the common sleep challenges encountered by parents of newborns to five-year-olds. Treading a carefully balanced line between the needs of sleep-deprived parents and those of the child, Sarah offers reliable, evidence-based advice including:
*How long we can expect our children to sleep at each stage of development.
*Why much of the popular advice on sleep is inaccurate and counterproductive.
*How to approach common issues including frequent waking, night terrors and bedtime refusal.
Sarah’s practical suggestions for each developmental stage include how to create a consistent bedtime routine and optimal conditions for sleep, the effect of diet, and how to use comfort objects effectively. This revised and updated edition includes new chapters providing specific advice on daytime naps (when and how to drop them) and how to take care of your own needs and emotions during the early years of disrupted sleep, because your feelings and health matter too.”
Birth Resources for Partners: Support Groups
Postpartum Support International “Help for Dads” – mental health support groups, helplines, and more
Boot Camp for New Dads – “Equips men of different economic levels, ages and cultures to become confidently engaged with their infants, support their mates and personally navigate their transformation into dads”
City Dads Group – “City Dads Group is a welcoming and diverse community of active and engaged fathers sharing parenting perspectives, knowledge and experiences.” Click to find a group in your area.
Birth Resources for Partners: Online Communities & Resources
Dad Central – resources to help you be involved and raise successful and confident children
Men’s Group – a community and conversations where guys can share what’s really happening in their lives
Front Row Dads – “Front Row Dads is for fathers who want to learn strategies to be more effective and efficient in fulfilling their role as husbands and fathers. Together we strive to be Family Men with Businesses, not Businessmen with Families.”
Dad’s Only Group – “With over 1000,000 members, this private Facebook group is basically the world’s largest dad group. Gather virtually with other dads to ask questions, share stories and connect in a positive, no-judgement-allowed environment.”
Dads Talk Group – “Advice for fathers. Ask a question, answer questions. Talk about nonsense if you like. No women are in the group, vent frustration, ask advice, give advice. Chat with other dads from around the world. Feel free to post as often as you want, and you’ll get yourself a little badge from Facebook.”
Birth Resources for Partners: Podcasts
The Modern Dads – “We’re telling the stories of modern dads. These are the guys that are not only involved in their children’s lives, but active and engaged in the decisions, the drudgery, the pain, and the joys of parenthood. We know modern dads are out there, and they come in all stripes. With each episode, we’ll talk about the issues modern dads are facing as we try to navigate work, parenthood, relationships, and play.”
Front Row Dads – “The show that tells true stories and gives practical strategies to win as a parent (and husband). Host Jon Vroman uncovers the habits, strategies, and routines that help dads win at home and in business.”
Dad So Hard – “People forget that being a dad is different than being a mom. Dad So Hard is a podcast sharing stories, advice and the rollercoaster ride that is fatherhood; from being a brand new dad to being an experienced one. Oh yea, and also trying to have your own life along the way.”
“Dad, Can We Talk?” – “This podcast speaks to all things fatherhood from a black father’s perspective. We discuss a variety of topics ranging from education to mass incarceration. The goal is to get dads to open up and be honest about the ups and downs of fatherhood and manhood. “Dad, Can We Talk?” is by dads, and for dads!”
