Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book attempts to debunk some of the myths about pregnancy and parenting while offering readers a glimpse into the lives and minds of firsttime parents, both before and after delivery. It examines how expectant and new parents define their own parenting styles and what it means to be a “good father” and a “good mother.” The book delves into the psychological experience of motherhood and the psychological experience of fatherhood and explores the couple's changing relationship. It breaks down the labor and delivery experience. The book analyzes women's expectations regarding pain, the length and difficulty of the childbirth process, and their partners’ abilities to comfort and assist them. It presents an overview of postpartum depression and other perinatal mood illnesses, their causes, symptoms and treatments.