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

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.

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.