An expectant father's detailed account of his first pregnancy
Enlightenment regarding the transformation an expectant father experiences during his wife's first pregnancy. Raw, detailed, and intimate insights demystify pregnancy and instill a sense of normalcy for all expectant parents.
During Steven's teenage years, he dreamed about marrying his soul mate and best friend, and becoming a father so he could partner with his wife to provide their children amazing childhoods. Once Steven's wife got pregnant, he immediately had an epiphany, which was to chronicle his wife's entire first pregnancy in a journal and give it as a gift to his first-born child once he or she turned 18 years old.
Before long, Steven recognized that in addition to his wife, he, too, was pregnant. While he obviously was not pregnant pregnant physically, he was undeniably pregnant emotionally and psychologically. Once you read this book, you will better understand exactly what Steven means by claiming he was emotionally and psychologically pregnant.
Steven gave his pregnancy journal to his first-born child on her 18th birthday. Years after his eldest child read his journal, Steven's debut young adult science fiction novel, Introspection: Transformation, was published. Shortly after his novel was published, Steven's eldest daughter insisted that he publish his pregnancy journal.
Steven was very flattered by his daughter's insistence to publish his pregnancy journal and subsequently created this proposal on Publishizer's crowdfunding platform. In addition to honoring his daughter's request, Steven's greatest motivation for publishing his pregnancy journal is two-fold: first, he wants expectant parents to recognize that they are both pregnant, and second, he wants expectant parents to understand that it is perfectly normal to experience fear, doubt, anger, depression, sadness, envy, and shame intermittently throughout their pregnancy.
While reading this book, you will also identify many instances where Steven's wife and he experienced joy, trust, courage, confidence, and love, which effectively counteracted all of the negative feelings he and his wife experienced throughout their pregnancy. While this book is neither structured nor intended to solely provide prescriptive guidance throughout pregnancy, it contains numerous insights that expectant parents will consider invaluable. Perhaps most importantly, this book will, at a minimum, provide one expectant parent insights into what the other expectant parent in the couple may be thinking and feeling throughout both expectant parents' pregnancies.
Key takeaways readers will gain from reading this book include:
Steven Hamburg's pregnancy memoir is structured chronologically by the dates of entries, similar to the following published diaries:
The structure of this book preserves the structure of the journal Steven Hamburg maintained throughout his first pregnancy. The book is organized chronologically by the dates at which each entry was written, and it contains a total of 140 journal entries. Due to how the book is structured, readers will inherently become intimately familiar with the psychological and emotional transformation Steven experiences throughout his pregnancy.
The book provides expectant parents insights into the transformations they may experience during their pregnancies. Additionally, the book provides readers invaluable tips on how to nurture and strengthen their relationships throughout their pregnancies, as well as tips on how to make their pregnancies as comfortable and successful as possible.
The outline of the book is provided below.
May 12th, 1996, Sunday, My First Entry
139 more journal entries beginning May 13th, 1996, and continuing through January 9th, 1997.
The book is ideal for both first-time expectant parents and anyone considering having children. It is also very relevant to siblings, other family members, and friends of expectant parents who want to better understand what they will experience throughout their pregnancy.
In 2010, there was a total of 6.2 million pregnant women in the United States. Additionally, approximately half of the women in the United States aged 15–44 who responded to a survey performed before 2002 indicated that they expected to have a child sometime between 2002 and 2013. These statistics were provided by Statista (https://www.statista.com), the Statistics Portal. These statistics indicate that not only will there be a sizable audience for Steven Hamburg's book upon its release, but there will also be new and sizable audiences for the book annually as more women become pregnant.
Per Baby Center (https://www.babycenter.com), approximately four million babies are born in the United States each year. Further, per The World Counts (http://www.theworldcounts.com), approximately 130 million babies are born each year worldwide. These statistics suggest that there are tens of millions of expectant couples and single pregnant women worldwide. These people are the optimal audience of Steven Hamburg's book since all of these people would greatly benefit from the book's insights and guidance.
Provided below are notable marketing activities Steven Hamburg will perform in order to promote this book:
LinkedIn: Steven will actively promote this book among his 16,000+ followers. Recent posts by Steven on LinkedIn have been viewed by as many as 10,000 people.
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: Steven will actively promote this book on a Facebook page, Twitter account, and Instagram account, each being dedicated specifically to this purpose.
Email: Steven will periodically build awareness towards this book through use of his email distribution list, currently consisting of nearly 6,000 valid opt-in subscribers.
Steven has delivered more than 50 public speaking engagements during his professional career. He is planning on delivering speaking engagements in support of promoting and selling his book. Additionally, Steven will actively seek endorsers to support the promotion of his book, and he will approach book stores and other venues to host book signing events. Steven has been performing these activities in support of his recently published young adult science fiction novel, and he will apply these experiences towards the promotion of this book.
While there are numerous books that focus on pregnancy, the ones provided below are most directly competitive to my book. The key difference from my book and these books is my book is presented in the form of a journal. The essence of each journal entry has been preserved, and the thoughts expressed and experiences shared are very raw and authentic.
Since my book consists of journal entries, my thoughts and experiences are presented in chronological order, which helps readers understand the emotional and psychological impacts my first pregnancy had on me throughout its progression. The book also enables readers to observe my wife's pregnancy through my perspective, which will help one expectant parent better understand and anticipate what the other expectant partner is thinking and experiencing.
Lastly, reading this book will instill a sense of normalcy into readers who are expectant parents because they will likely experience chaotic and repetitive thoughts and experiences similar to the ones I did during my first pregnancy. Pregnancy for many expectant parents can be alienating, and my book helps expectant parents gain a sense of belonging while reassuring them that what they are experiencing and thinking is very normal and healthy.
The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be
Authors: Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash
Publisher: Abbeville Press, 2015
Description: We are expecting! The twentieth-anniversary edition of this thoroughly updated and revised parenting classic remains the most informative and reassuring book for expectant fathers everywhere. In addition to sharing the wisdom of the ages, Armin A. Brott, Mr. Dad, presents new insight into the emotional, financial, and physical—yes, physical—effects of impending parenthood on men. Thanks to this handy reference moms-to-be will know their partner understands and supports them during this anxious and exciting time, and that he has all the tools he needs to be a fantastic, hands-on dad.
This information-packed, month-by-month guide incorporates the expertise of top practitioners in their fields, from obstetricians and birth-class instructors to psychologists and sociologists. It also draws from Brott’s own experience as a father of three and from the real-world experiences of the thousands of dads he’s interviewed. With the humor of New Yorker cartoons and Brott’s gentle approach, The Expectant Father serves as a friendly and readable companion for dads-to-be seeking confidence, guidance, and joy!
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Authors: Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company, 2016
Description: This cover-to-cover (including the cover!) new edition is filled with must-have information, advice, insight, and tips for a new generation of moms and dads. With What to Expect’s trademark warmth, empathy, and humor, it answers every conceivable question expecting parents could have, including dozens of new ones based on the ever-changing pregnancy and birthing practices and choices they face. Advice for dads is fully integrated throughout the book. All medical coverage is completely updated, including the latest on Zika virus, prenatal screening, and the safety of medications during pregnancy, as well as a brand-new section on postpartum birth control. Current lifestyle trends are incorporated, too: juice bars, raw diets, e-cigarettes, push presents, baby bump posting, the lowdown on omega-3 fatty acids, grass-fed and organic, health food fads, and GMOs. Plus expanded coverage of IVF pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, breastfeeding while pregnant, water and home births, and cesarean trends (including VBACs and “gentle cesareans”).
We're Pregnant! The First Time Dad's Pregnancy HandbookBe Prepared
Author: Adrian Kulp
Publisher: Rockridge Press, 2018
Description: Being a great first-time dad doesn’t mean being perfect. It means having the tools you need to be a supportive partner during and after pregnancy―which is exactly what We’re Pregnant! The First-Time Dad’s Pregnancy Handbook is all about.
From heartburn and headaches to birth and breastfeeding, We’re Pregnant! features practical, action-oriented pregnancy advice from the author of the Dad or Alive blog, Adrian Kulp, a (once clueless) dad who’s been there and done that―three times, in fact!
We’re Pregnant! addresses and alleviates the stress first-time dads face through candid pregnancy guidance.
The New Dad's Playbook: Gearing Up for the Biggest Game of Your Life
Author: Benjamin Watson
Publisher: Baker Books, 2017
Description: When it comes to the unknown territory of having a baby, moms-to-be have nearly unending resources to plan and execute a healthy pregnancy and navigate those first months and years as a parent with confidence. New dads? Not so much. They want to get in the game too, but, says Super Bowl champion Benjamin Watson, "I could find clearer direction for putting together a baby swing than for taking care of a newborn child."The New Dad's Playbook is every man's game plan to being the best partner and the best father, from pre-season (preparing for fatherhood) to Super Bowl (birth) to post-season (after baby is home). It helps men understand what their wives are going through physically and emotionally during and after pregnancy, allowing them to support their most important teammate. It tells men what to expect when their baby is home--and what to do when the unexpected happens. This tell-it-like-it-is book will take men from just winging it to winning it.
Becoming a Father: What New Dads Should Expect & 99 Baby Tips to Survive Your Newborn’s First Three Months
Author: Clayton Geoffreys
Publisher: Calvintir Books, LLC, 2014
Description: In Becoming a Father: What New Dads Should Expect & 99 Baby Tips to Survive Your Newborn's First Three Months, you'll learn everything an expectant father needs to know when caring for his newborn child. From when a baby begins developing his or her senses to what to feed your new baby, you will learn the essentials for being a new dad.
Birth Partner 5th Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions
Author: Penny Simkin
Publisher: Harvard Common Press, 2018
Description: The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide to helping a woman through labor and birth, and the essential manual to have at hand during the event. The Birth Partner includes thorough information on:
Dad's Guide To Pregnancy For Dummies (For Dummies Series)
Authors: Mathew Miller and Sharon Perkins
Publisher: For Dummies, 2014
Description: In today's world, men are more involved in their wives' pregnancies than ever before. This 2nd Edition of Dad'sGuide to Pregnancy For Dummies gives new fathers a hands-on guide that covers all of the logistical, physical, and emotional aspects of pregnancy. It is a wealth of information on topics, such as setting up the nursery, childbirth 101, and how to take care of your newborn. The book includes ideas for knowing the right time to break the news and the pregnancy timeline. Once the baby arrives,this handbook gives you the low-down on what you can expect during the first six months, such as how to change diapers and feed the little one.
You'll also explore much more in-depth topics such as the new technology behind ultrasounds, and the information that is gleaned from them, the lowdown on vaccination updates, information to take the fear out of cesarean sections, tips on prenatal depression, new developments on infertility treatments, and so much more!
Watch Your Junk and Other Advice for Expectant Fathers
Author: Benjamin Wallace
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016
Description: Watch Your Junk and other Advice for Expectant Fathers tackles the subjects that other baby books ignore:
- Why you shouldn't touch the wand in the sonogram room
- The exact moment your opinion no longer counts
- How friends and family will respond to the news
- How TV and baby classes have lied to us
- Which poop jokes to expect in the delivery room
- How to convert diapers into usable guilt
- How to insure your child says your name first
I chronicled my entire first pregnancy in a journal, which I gave to my first-born child on her 18th birthday. She urged me to share my journal with the world.
250 copies • Completed manuscript.
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250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Boyle & Dalton was founded in 2014 and publishes works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The world of publishing is changing, we're changing with it. Our founder Brad Pauquette, conceptualized a hybrid model that balances the financial and rights model of self-publishing with the quality controls and production excellence of a traditional publisher. Our designers and editors produce exceptional books that are distributed in both print and digital formats to all major retailers, including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Boyle & Dalton carefully consider all submissions for publication, based on manuscript quality. We do not accept erotica or children's books.
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250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Atmosphere Press is an independent publisher dedicated to author rights. We publish in all genres and have an exceptional editorial, design, and promotional staff. We stand for Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, and Kindness. We want our authors and their readers to be blown away when they first hold that book in their hands. It needs to look good inside and out, and feel good to the touch. And, of course, the words need to be top-notch, and our editors are devoted to making that the case.
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
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Provided below are portions for two journal entries in the book.
May 12th, 1996, Sunday, My First Entry
The story behind it all
Betsy, my wife, and I went to Boston, Massachusetts, on Friday, April 26, to attend her first cousin’s wedding. The wedding day was on Sunday, and the families of the bride and groom hosted a weekend full of events that guests joining from out of town could enjoy both before and after the wedding ceremony to remain entertained throughout the weekend.
On Saturday night, I was sent on a mission with Betsy’s sister, Judy, to find a good Italian bakery. Everyone was counting on us to return to my in-laws’ hotel room with some tasty and terribly fattening desserts. Everyone felt this would be the best way to end the day after gorging ourselves during dinner at an incredible family-owned Italian restaurant. Judy and I found a wonderful Italian bakery. We ordered numerous desserts we thought would appeal to everyone, and then we caught a cab.
We got in the cab and were very anxious to return to the hotel so that we could share in the fun of eating the incredible desserts we purchased. Soon after we began our cab ride back to the hotel, we realized the cab driver was very talkative and friendly, in that order. He asked us what we were going to be doing this weekend. I quickly responded by telling him that Judy and I were getting married this weekend. I thought that it would be amusing to act a little goofy and do a little improvisational role playing during the ride back to the hotel.
The cab driver was very excited for us and began to explain the wonders of marriage. He asked us several questions regarding the marriage. Judy quickly joined in my game and fed the cab driver all of the information that was consistent with Betsy’s first cousin’s wedding that would commence the following day. The cab driver then asked us if we were interested in having children. I told the cab driver that we were very interested in having children.
I then told the cab driver that I was very nervous that I, myself, would somehow be unable to get Betsy pregnant. Remember, we are still referring to Judy as Betsy. The cab driver explained how wonderful children are, and he informed us that he had two beautiful daughters. He further explained that he would not trade what he has with anyone or anything in the world. He then told me that if you want children badly enough, and you want them for all of the right reasons, nothing would stand in one's way.
He then went on to tell me how easy it was for him and his wife to conceive. Just before we reached the hotel, he began to share something very impactful to me. He told me that he knew he and his wife could have children whenever they wanted, and he expressed how blessed and extremely lucky he was to be granted this gift. He then stopped the cab in front of the hotel, put the car in park, and turned around to face Judy and me. He said, “Shake my hand. I am sure that my luck will rub off on you!” I shook his hand and gave him a tip that equaled the entire cab fare.
What do you know, we found out yesterday that Betsy is pregnant! Let superstitions be superstitions, but I cannot help but think that this cab driver was somehow, at a minimum, partially responsible for our good fortune.
Background
Betsy and I tried to complete the first and possibly most crucial step in having a baby for four months. Regarding the four months we attempted to conceive a child, we treated the first two months in a very relaxed manner. It was not until the third and fourth months that we exerted very conscious efforts to conceive a child. During each of the first three tries, Betsy expressed excitement thinking that each attempt would be the one where we would subsequently determine she was pregnant. However, we had experienced three strikes, and although in the broad scheme of things this was a very short amount of time, we thought that we were “out.”
As we failed month after month, I began to resent women, married couples, etc., who had newborn babies or grown children in their families. I recall that Betsy’s periods were slightly delayed each month we attempted to conceive a child. The first couple of months we had high hopes that Betsy’s delayed periods were indications that she was pregnant. Then, like clockwork, the cramps would set in, and soon after the pain surfaced, she would discharge the egg. Since Betsy was normally extremely regular, literally down to the hour, it was very difficult for us not to have high hopes each time her period was slightly delayed.
The next negative result, the culmination of our third attempt, was extremely difficult for us. It was difficult because this marked the end of the first month we exerted great effort to try to conceive a child. We quickly obtained a very negative attitude thinking something was wrong. We decided that if we were unsuccessful after the month of June, we would seek guidance from our physicians regarding what we could do to test our fertility and determine the likelihood of being able to have children.
The fourth month was upon us, and the fourth period since we began trying to have a baby was quickly approaching. A few days before Betsy expected to have another disappointing period, she noticed that the milk tasted like soap. Due to the milk tasting like soap, Betsy had her suspicions that she may be pregnant. However, because Betsy expressed her suspicions of being pregnant following each of the three previous attempts, she kept this to herself since she did not want to increase the intensity of our disappointment should our efforts had resulted in another failed attempt.
Back to today
Betsy performed a home pregnancy test yesterday using the E.P.T. home tester one day after her period was “scheduled” to occur, and we were shocked to learn that she was pregnant. Due to our skepticism, we decided to perform another home pregnancy test today, and thankfully it once again indicated that Betsy was pregnant. We were thrilled beyond words. In retrospect, after confirming Betsy was pregnant, we realized that attempting to conceive a child for four months was an extremely short amount of time.
August 3rd, Saturday
I am beginning this entry by recording a very important event that occurred a couple of days ago. Betsy gave me perhaps the greatest compliment a wife could ever give her husband. She expressed how bad an experience pregnancy can be due to how alienated and alone a pregnant woman can feel. She told me that I have been doing an excellent job, as a husband, by keeping her company, frequently reminding her how much I love her, what our pregnancy is all about, and how beautiful she is, both inside and out, and by being with her both emotionally and physically. It feels amazing knowing that Betsy is very pleased with how I have been supporting her throughout her pregnancy.
Last night, I went to bed a little earlier than Betsy did because I was extremely tired. I got into bed and took one of the five pillows while ensuring to leave her the required four for her pillow regimen. I nestled my head into the pillow and was quickly on my way to falling asleep. As I was just on the verge of falling asleep, Betsy came into bed. Instead of wishing me a good night or giving me a good night kiss, she whispered in my ear, “Steve, you are sleeping on my ‘crotch’ pillow.” I was horrified!
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