The Birth Guy's Go-To Guide for New Dads: How to Support Your Partner Through Birth, Breastfeeding, and Beyond

by Brian W. Salmon Doula, CLC, Kirsten Brunner MA, LPC, Chris Pegula (Foreword by)

Overview

A must-have baby shower gift for expectant dads! In this one-of-a-kind guide, dad, doula, and certified lactation counselor Brian Salmon and perinatal mental health and relationship expert Kirsten Brunner offer practical, modern-day survival tips for expectant dads and birth partners.

Gone are the days when fathers would nervously pace the waiting room while their partners gave birth. Dads are participating in childbirth now more than ever before. However, if you’re like many men, you may feel unprepared, uncomfortable, or even unwelcome in the birth room. For you, this book offers battle-tested tips to help you get in the game and prepare for one of the most incredible adventures of your life.

Based on the author’s Rocking Dadschildbirth course, this book will teach you everything you need to know about supporting your partner through birth, breastfeeding, and beyond. In this guide, you’ll discover pointers and advice you won’t find in any other childbirth or breastfeeding guide, including:

• A list of items to pack for the hospital that will help mom’s labor go more smoothly
• Stealth communication skills that you can utilize during early labor to support mom and keep her in a positive state of mind
• How to write a birth plan that the labor and delivery nurses will actually pay attention to
• What to say and do—and what not to say and do—when mom is in active labor and feeling all the feelings
• A detailed account of what to expect in the delivery room as a birth partner, and how to navigate the unknown terrains when things don’t go as planned
• How to help mom achieve proper nipple latch when she attempts breastfeeding for the first time

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you’ll find tips for maintaining a strong relationship with your partner before, during, and after the birth so that you feel closer than ever when you launch into the wild yet wonderful world of parenthood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684031597
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	02/02/2019
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	644,199
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Brian W. Salmon, Doula, CLC, also known as Brian the Birth Guy, is a doula, certified lactation counselor, and prenatal imaging specialist. He created the Rocking Dads childbirth class for birth partners, and the Facilitating Fearless Birth class for couples. He has partnered with over 20,000 couples in his ultrasound clinics, birth classes, speaking engagements, and hospitals as a doula. He is based in San Antonio, TX.


Kirsten Brunner, MA, LPC, is a perinatal mental health and relationship expert with over twenty years of clinical experience. She cofounded the website and workshop series, Baby Proofed Parents, which delivers sanity-saving and relationship-strengthening tools to expectant and new parents. She is based in Austin, TX.


Actor-turned-father-turned-designer Chris Pegula is creator of Diaper Dude, a high-profile line of hip gear for dads. He has since been featured on Rachel Ray, Ellen, The Nate Berkus Show, E! News, HGTV’s Gotta Have It!, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and numerous other TV and radio spots.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Introduction 1

1 The Basics 7

2 Preparing Your Relationship and Yourself for Parenthood 33

3 Planning and Packing for the Birth 51

4 Navigating Early Labor at Home 75

5 Supporting Your Partner Through Active Labor 95

6 Pushing, Childbirth, and Beyond 119

7 Navigating C-Sections and Other Unusual Birth Circumstances 137

8 Your New Baby and Breastfeeding Basics 161

9 Bringing Baby Home 189

Acknowledgments 199

Birth Guy's Glossary 201

References 207

Interviews

Salmon and Brunner reside in Austin, TX.

Editorial Reviews

As a pediatrician, I hear from fathers almost daily that they don’t feel they have a role in their growing child. Brian the Birth Guy empowers dads through knowledge of what to expect, focus on bolstering relationships, and problem-solving techniques to help manage dad’s new responsibilities. Luckily, this guide is also really helpful for moms too!”
—Sky Izaddoost, MD, FAAP, pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Primary Care - Stone Oak

Sky Izaddoost

Finally! A book for dads-to-be! This is a must-read for any partner about to jump into the perilous birth journey to parenthood. Evidence-based as well as anecdotal, Brian and Kirsten cover everything from how to get your relationship ready for a rocky labor ride, your important role in this messy but exciting process, how to cope with the postpartum reverberation, and beyond. I have worked with Brian through numerous births and he tells it like it is—this is the real stuff! Read this book and become her hero!”
—Kelly Morales, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist

Kelly Morales

Finally, dads have their own ‘What to Expect’ style guide made just for them. From pregnancy, labor and delivery, and navigating the first few months with baby, Brian’s guide is fun and easy to read. Best, it helps dads feel empowered and included in the entire process, even nursing!”
—Rachel Pitzel,Esq, content creator and social media influencer @xo.rachelpitzel

Rachel Pitzel

If an expectant dad wants to be a champion in the delivery room, they should definitely read this book. It is the only comprehensive guide available in bookstores that covers all aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding from a birth partner’s point of view. Brian Salmon’s many years of hands-on experience in the delivery and recovery room make him uniquely qualified to provide practical, time-tested pointers that you won’t find anywhere else.”
—Stuart “Dr. Stu” Fischbein, OB-GYN, founder of Birthing Instincts, and coauthor of Fearless Pregnancy

Stuart “Dr. Stu” Fischbein

This book should be read by every dad who truly desires to be a partner in this amazing journey of pregnancy.”
—David Ghozland, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist

David Ghozland

Authored by one of the few male birth doulas in the US, this book is a one-of-a-kind resource for expectant dads and birth partners. Inclusive in tone, this gem of a book shares birth and breastfeeding advice that can be useful to ALL expectant parents regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. The relationship and emotional wellness pointers provided throughout give much-needed support and guidance on labor and breastfeeding support, postpartum depression, and much more! The perfect baby shower gift for any dad-to-be, this book is the only resource fathers will need to be fully engaged birth partners and parents.”
—Robbie Davis-Floyd, PhD, author of Birth as an American Rite of Passage and Ways of Knowing about Birth

Robbie Davis-Floyd

Have now read the book and what can I say? Well, number one, wish I could say I wrote this. Often, I have felt dads were left on the sidelines either because they were passive or felt they were in the way. Of course, things have changed, and Brian has very succinctly described how partners can be both helpful and a participant in this most important experience in one’s life to build a healthy, lasting relationship for a family and marriage. I think this book is a must for all new parents-to-be. This should be an included part of every new OB packet. It will be for my patients.”
—Robert E. Schorlemer, MD, FACOG, clinical practice of obstetrics and gynecology

Robert E. Schorlemer

It should be mandatory that every soon-to-be father has to read this. Brian made the biggest difference with my husband on our fourth child. My only regret is that I didn’t know him sooner. I didn’t know that the birthing process could be so easy, and for the first time ever, I didn’t want to choke my husband in the delivery room! Brian changed my caveman into a caring partner that was so helpful and not annoying at all. Trust me, buy this for every man you know having a child soon, first born or not! It’s a huge game changer.”
—Erica Rico, morning show host, KKBQ-FM 93Q Houston

Erica Rico

Brian’s compassion, wisdom, sense of humor, and ability to put new parents at ease come through on every page of this book. As an advocate for new and working parents, I’m thrilled to see such a practical, honest guide to make sure new dads are as informed and engaged as possible, every step of the way.”
—Jessica Shortall, author of Work. Pump. Repeat, and TED speaker on the case for paid family leave

Jessica Shortall

This should be at the top of the baby shower list for any soon-to-be dad! I love Brian’s passion for equipping dads in this wild journey called Fatherhood. This book is loaded with useful information for those of us who want to be the best partner for our spouse and absolutely rock it as a dad!”
—Adam Busby, Star of TLC’s Outdaughtered, and father to quintuplets

Adam Busby

If an expectant dad wants to be a champion in the delivery room, they should definitely read this book. It is the only comprehensive guide available in bookstores that covers all aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding from a birth partner’s point of view. Brian Salmon’s many years of hands-on experience in the delivery and recovery room make him uniquely qualified to provide practical, time-tested pointers that you won’t find anywhere else.”
—Stuart “Dr. Stu” Fischbein, OB-GYN, founder of Birthing Instincts, and coauthor of Fearless Pregnancy

Stuart “Dr. Stu” Fischbein