The Expectant Father

Author – Betty Parsons

Age Range – pre-birth to new-born

Key words – Promoting relationships

Having a baby is a major event for both fathers and mothers. While much of the information about this important period addresses the mothers-to-be, Betty Parsons’ ‘The expectant father’ is a very useful book for fathers (as well as for mothers) whether or not they also choose to join pre-natal groups or not.

Betty Parsons comes across as a well-experienced midwife having run mother and fathers-to-be groups for over 30 years. With communication and understanding as keywords in the relationship she discusses the conception of the baby, the actual birth stages through to the early times after the baby is born. Explaining all the technical terms in an easy understandable way she makes it clear that having a baby is a joint project between the parents, and that support and understanding between the couple is essential to make it a good experience. She structures the chapters by explaining the reasons for the potential change within the woman then proceeds to how that can have an impact on the relationship with the father and finishes off by how they might be able to solve these particular obstacles together.

Things can easily grow out of proportion in tense times, during the pregnancy, through the birth and the early times after the birth. Throughout the book Betty Parsons refers to mothers and fathers she has had on her pre-natal groups and what their needs and comments have been in those situations. This makes it a very relevant and practical book for fathers- (and mothers) to be. Having nice big writing, witty comics and being well structured makes this an approachable and pleasurable book to read.