Women having natural childbirth will scream!

These tips are from The Husband Book: A Guy's Guide To Marriage by Harry Harrison Junior, which I plan to give to my brother for his wedding.


Pregnancy and Childbirth

Meet her doctors. Let them know there's a husband who cares.

Never EVER tell her that she could lose a few pounds.

Remember, having a baby is nothing like it is on TV. It can take days.

Be prepared for a dry run or two to the hospital.

She will crave some very strange food at 2 AM: cottage cheese with French dressing and hot peppers and ginger snaps. Hold your breath and make it for her.

You will want to spend weekends watching the game. She will want to spend them in baby-supply stores. You lose.

Tell yourself that putting a crib together is training for putting a Big Wheel together.

Encourage her to exercise, to continue to take care of herself.

Commit yourself to giving her a back rub every night during pregnancy until your arms feel like they're going to fall off. This is where you can share her pain.

This is not a time to be bringing home Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Tell her how beautiful he is during pregnancy... even when she's big, grumpy, and sporting a truly odd hairdo.

Remember, the two of you will spend the nine months of her pregnancy on completely different planes.

Ask yourself how you would like to carry a baby around for nine months; throwing up, swelling, unable to sit up or lie down, being regularly patted by strangers, and prodded by doctors. She feels the same way.

Go to birthing classes with her. Pay attention. Help her practice her breathing.

Don't panic when there's all this chaos in the delivery room. Remember, the doctors have done this before.

The labor room will scare both of you. All that screaming is from the woman down the hall having natural childbirth.

Don't faint. Bad start.

Fill her room with flowers. Overspend. She'll never forget it.

You'll be incredulous at your wife's capacity for loving this child. It will blow you away.

Buy Dr. Spock's book. He has all the answers right now. You have none.

If it's a boy, don't assume your name will be his. She may love you a lot more than your name.

Don't worry. Her body will bounce back.