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.

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• Congratulations ...  12Introduction: You’re going to be a dad ...   15It All Started with The ‘Late Late’ Show: Tell-tale signs that she’s pregnant!   15A Game of Three Parts: Trimesters   25Chapter 1: The First Trimester: Times they are a changin’  27Trimester 1: Weeks 0–12   27The ‘All-Day’ Infliction: Morning sickness   30CATastrophe in Waiting: Toxoplasmosis   34Take That out of Your Mouth ... The no-no foods of pregnancy   36Won’t He Feel IT? Sex in pregnancy   38What’s up, Doc? Well in advance of your new arrival   43The ‘M’ Word: Miscarriage in pregnancy   47Keeping Mum: The 12-week rule   54Joe Public v Peter Private: Irish maternity care – an overview   55Testing, Testing ... Scans and checks   63What’s up, Doc? Monitoring mum   64Join the Club: The waiting room   69Chapter 2: The Second Trimester. When reality ‘kicks’ in  73Trimester 2: Weeks 13–28   73In My Day ... Handling advice   76Nobody puts Baby in a Corner! Preparing a child forthe new arrival   77Woof Time of It: Your dog and your unborn baby   79I Can’t See Him as a Thor FitzGerald! The baby name game   81Is That His Little ...? Finding out the sex of your baby   84Seeing Things: Expecting multiples   86The Name’s ‘Bond’: Bonding with your unborn baby   90Small Change: The price of parenthood   92A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Choosing the right family car   95Buckle up! Choosing the car seat   98Chapter 3: The Third Trimester. The final stretch   105Trimester 3:  Weeks 28–Birth   105‘I Love It When a Plan Comes Together ...’ The birth plan   108The MANternity Bag: The expectant dad’s survival kit   112Getting Anti about Attending: The antenatal class   114In the Thick of It: Attending the birth   117Grounded! Air restrictions   120What’s up, Doc? Health concerns in the third trimester   121Twigs and Berries: Preparing the nest   124Kitting out Your Kid: The essentials   125Prams, Trams and Automobiles: Choosing the right wheels   131Chapter 4: Labour: The main event   139Show Me the Baby ... Signs that she is in labour   140Get that Kettle away from Me! How to deliver a baby ...   142What’s up, Doc? The three stages of labour   145Tongs of Praise: Assisted deliveries   148Exploring Other Avenues: Caesarean section   151Help Wanted: Pain relief in labour   153I Like It in Here ... Natural methods for bringing out baby   159Not the Cooking Appliance! Induction   163Lights, Camera (Maybe?), ACTION ... The delivery   164Afterbirth Antics: The third stage   179Keep the Cord: Stem-cell collection   180The Iceman Cometh: How are you REALLY feeling?   180Chapter 5: Surviving the First Six Weeks: We are family ...   183Home Alone: The final checklist   184Get Into Line: Managing visiting hours   185Mothering Mum: Postnatal depression   188SAD DAD: Male postnatal depression   191How to:Change a nappy   195Wind a baby   199Bathe a baby   202Stop a baby crying   206Wolverine Rocks! Say no to rocking   209Gone with the Sleep: Surviving sleep deprivation   210It’s Breast to Bottle It ... The methods of feeding   214Game on, Dad: Video games & fatherhood   223Left Holding the Baby: Going back to work   225Relight the Fires: Sex after birth   226When Sex Can Mean More Babies!The dad’s guide to contraception   228What’s up, Doc? The six-week check-up   233Dad’s the Final Word   235Chapter 6: Men of the House  237 Role Reversal: The stay-at-home-dad   23710 Survival Tips for the Irish SAHD   238Putting Word to Web  241Daddy Dragon   243Chores Are All Done: Education & Innovation   245Show Me the Money: What are your entitlements?   247Chapter 7: Legal Issues: Everything you need to know but were afraid to ask …   257 Paternity Leave & Benefit    257Parental Leave   265Force Majeure Leave   269Parent’s Leave   269Maternity Leave for Fathers   271Unmarried Dads and Guardianship Rights   271Registering the Birth   276Chapter 8: What’s up, Doc? The glossary   281Useful Resources   289References   291Index   295