Daddy

I am as grateful to my wife Ramyani and son Tanish for being my reservoir of strength. You make life more liveable.

Last but not the least, as always, I remain thankful to my readers! No contemporary Indian writer has perhaps experimented as lavishly with all his books as I have. You give me the strength to believe that the bestsellers’ chart is not the be all and end all. There is a beautiful world beyond it.

The Rainbow (#uba63302b-685f-5230-a7af-f095e226f206)

My heart leaps up when I behold

A Rainbow in the sky:

So was it when my life began;

So is it now I am a man;

So be it when I shall grow old,

Or let me die!

The Child is father of the man;

And I wish my days to be

Bound each to each by natural piety.

—William Wordsworth

Contents

Cover (#u3b3856ba-87d0-5e85-83c5-cdd213a595f7)

Praise from the Participant Dads (#u539c3b41-39d1-5477-afea-75e60ad56136)

About the Author

Title Page (#u6a9822d8-14e6-5a34-9aec-f70bda507ec5)

Dedication (#u6ca92734-ad84-5a76-9acd-965af8d881fb)

Acknowledgements

The Rainbow

Prologue

Section A: BECOMING DAD (#ua3f7134c-36e8-576e-bced-855561e91570)

1. Introduction (#ub3807b19-f052-565e-a740-e9ea647df8f2)

Why I wrote the book

2. I Want to Become a Dad…But Am I Ready? (#ue062bf6d-d46e-5c76-959c-becaf7205fbd)

My first paternal pangs

When to be a father (#ulink_55c751bc-a899-52f2-b273-10075f04f09d)

It’s written in the stars (#ulink_55a9761e-8462-554d-bc33-cf57cba99f52)

The clock is ticking… (#ulink_e0c1c284-0714-5012-aea2-d1c93b957b2f)

Things to remember (#ulink_df9abeb2-5d1a-5ecf-baba-371d84a57507)

Section B: WHAT A DAD NEEDS TO DO DURING PREGNANCY (#u6f45e365-821f-58fa-b676-47e8c296ab94)

3. You’re Expecting! What Next? (#ua74421c8-0658-5e02-90bd-f300a309b1dd)

Deciding the doctor and hospital

Make your home baby-friendly (#ulink_1692732a-8094-5f18-93e3-56c3af59cc80)

Scans and more… (#ulink_7a078df2-9f16-5802-ab32-a76ea5551e9b)

Stem cell banking (#ulink_00965060-56c4-5f20-8f4b-01b7aba9b1b5)

Things to remember (#ulink_72702bec-03f9-5920-b6f7-428322a0d696)

4. Giving Emotional Support (#u3cb76a38-a389-50cd-b8cd-243c2c22e77b)

She needs some tender, loving, care

Say goodbye to your social life (#ulink_4a34714a-b720-55c1-8695-4913ea7aecc3)

Put wife before work (#ulink_76b75bf5-59e5-540b-bdd0-12f2fddd20ac)

Help her through morning sickness (#ulink_bb0091da-bff9-5ac8-aa9e-92573a7bce6d)

Indulge her food cravings (#ulink_d10e986d-8232-5874-badb-afa1792740c6)

Pick up household chores (#ulink_e57adece-19d6-5fe7-b6b7-c5cc78030bf7)

Protect mother and baby (#ulink_16225655-f7df-5620-ba54-10dced2a670b)

Sometimes you have to sit back and let go! (#ulink_ad8b1cf7-b3aa-5033-9786-8710d303b05d)

Plan a baby moon (#ulink_aad9fd41-69b3-5476-9938-4d7a3f761761)

Section C: THE BIRTH (#litres_trial_promo)

5. Labour Day (#litres_trial_promo)