pregnancy 101methods of childbirth
In addition to the stages and phases of labor, there are also different types of births. While you will learn about all the varieties in your childbirth education class, you should know about the... Read more...
dads to bedo dads have pregnancy pains?do dads have pregnancy pains?
Ah
hah. So you thought that it was just your spouse who would gain weight
and experience morning sickness, bloating and nausea. Guess you haven’t
yet... Read more...
new dadsmanaging work and fatherhoodMost guys tend to think they will be able to handle being a new parent without too much stress
or aggravation. It's the wife that has to go through all of the discomfort of pregnancy and... Read more...
pregnancy 101intro to prenatal classesWhen you begin your prenatal or childbirth
education class, you will quickly learn that there are many childbirth
philosophies. Chances are, your class will focus on one philosophy and
teach you... Read more...
Every week at The Funky Stork, we provide you with fresh content to keep you in-the-know about your life as an expectant father, new dad or single parent.
This week's featured article is all about how you can help your partner stay fit and healthy during pregnancy.
Everyone
knows that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It
keeps you healthy, fit and sane. So, why do so many women stop working
out when they become pregnant? It's often because they are tired,
nauseous and unmotivated. But this is not the time to take a hiatus
from exercise. Rather, this is the time to start training for the
arduous task of childbirth. Would you sit on your ass and eat all day
for nine months before attempting to run a marathon? We didn't think
so.
While your pregnant
partner needs to remain active, she does need to modify her workouts.
Walking and swimming are both excellent cardiovascular activities that
can be practiced throughout pregnancy. At the same time, Pilates and
yoga are ideal for maintaining strength and flexibility.
What does this have to do with you? A lot. Your role is to motivate
your partner to stay active. You can start by offering to exercise with
her and printing out our easy-to-follow guides for PRENATAL PILATES and PRENATAL YOGA.
The Dual Income, No Kids life was a wonderful while it lasted. An abundance of money and time made traveling and date nights the rule rather than the exception. Now that you are starting a family, however, all of that must and will change. Going from DINK to Dad is a fundamental change that will touch every aspect of your life. Such a transition can be daunting, but if you know what to expect, you can prepare yourself ahead of time. Here are some of the major changes headed your way.
So you are a guy and you are about to become a father. Great. If you are anything like most expectant fathers these days, then you are probably planning on taking a more active role in parenting and childcare than fathers of previous generations. This means that you will likely be changing diapers in the middle of the night, bathing your baby and swaddling your newborn (don’t worry if none this lingo makes sense to you right now… it will soon). The point is this: If you are going to be doing a lot of the work, then why don’t you get to celebrate your impending fatherhood the way your wife or girlfriend does with a baby shower?
When your baby first arrives your bond may begin immediately, or for some it may take you both time to "grow on each other". One thing we know for sure is that bonding is essential for a baby.
Studies of newborn rhesus monkeys performed by Dr. Harry Harlow, show that these same monkeys when given a choice between two surrogate "mothers," one made of terrycloth, the other of wire and had food, overwhelmingly the baby monkeys chose the mother that could provide warmth and comfort. It was found that the young monkeys clung to the terrycloth mother whether it provided them with food or not, and that the young monkeys chose the wire surrogate only when it provided food.
Looking for the holy grail to fatherhood? Sorry, but we don't have it. What we do have, however, is a list of top 10 books for new dads. With each book, you'll be one step closer to achieving "World's Greatest Dad" status and you won't have to sacrifice your identity and personal style to get there.
Sick of reading books about pregnancy that deal with fathers as an afterthought? Here is a list of great books that are written exclusively for expectant fathers who are looking to get involved in the pregnancy process and who desperately need advice in dealing with a hormonally-charged pregnant woman.
pregnancy 101sex and pregnancyLike many other expectant fathers (and mothers, for that matter), you are probably wondering how pregnancy will affect your sex life. The good news is that sex is safe during ALL stages of pregnancy.... Read more...
dads to bedoes your wife hate you?My wife had a clarifying phrase she began to use early on in her pregnancy when she was hit exceptionally hard with morning sickness: All bets are off. The phrase was shorthand for a more complicated... Read more...
As if life wasn't hectic enough without the added responsibility of
supporting pregnant partner and preparing for a baby.
While being an expectant father is
an exciting time in your life, it is normal for you to feel overwhelmed
and to lack concentration.
Don't fret, the staff at thefunkystork.com (the best place to find pregnancy and parenting information on the web)
has prepared a week-by-week email alert system that will help you stay
on track throughout the pregnancy. Get your pregnancy information for dads from thefunkystork.com by registering for our Weekly Pregnancy Emails.
Everyone
knows that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It
keeps you healthy, fit and sane. So, why do so many women stop working
out when they become pregnant? It's often because they are tired,
nauseous and unmotivated. But this is not the time to take a hiatus
from exercise. Rather, this is the time to start training for the
arduous task of childbirth. Would you sit on your ass and eat all day
for nine months before attempting to run a marathon? We didn't think
so.
The Dual Income, No Kids life was a wonderful while it lasted. An abundance of money and time made traveling and date nights the rule rather than the exception. Now that you are starting a family, however, all of that must and will change. 
So you are a guy and you are about to become a father. Great. If you are anything like most expectant fathers these days, then you are probably planning on taking a more active role in parenting and childcare than fathers of previous generations. This means that you will likely be changing diapers in the middle of the night, bathing your baby and swaddling your newborn (don’t worry if none this lingo makes sense to you right now… it will soon). The point is this: If you are going to be doing a lot of the work, then why don’t you get to celebrate your impending fatherhood the way your wife or girlfriend does with a baby shower? 
When your baby first arrives your bond may begin immediately, or for some it may take you both time to "grow on each other". One thing we know for sure is that bonding is essential for a baby.