Getting Pregnant Book Feature: There are hundreds of books written for women about getting pregnant, but nothing for men covering conception right through to pregnancy. Until now. Haynes - producers of car maintenance manuals - have published an "Owners Workshop Manual" for BABY, covering "Conception to two years. All models, shapes and colours". And it's excellent.

The format and layout are exactly the same as their car manuals (including diagnostic flowcharts) and the information is equally detailed and reliable. Much of the medical information has been sourced from NHS Direct and the author is a doctor. What's more, 50p from every sale will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital.



  Not available in the U.S. or Canada.

 The first chapter is "Ignition (when and how to conceive)" including possible causes of infertility; oddly though there's quite a large section on erectile dysfunction and vasectomies (for subsequent contraception) but very little on sperm issues. I guess that's because the author wrote a similar manual on male health first.

From then on though the book covers "On-board diagnosis (stages, monitoring and complications of pregnancy)", delivery, child development and childhood ailments. All from a male perspective with insights into how the mother may be feeling and should possibly be handled!

The final reference section includes the diagnostic "fault finding" flow charts already mentioned which cover "Crying baby" through to "Itchy rashes" and a "Happy Mummy = Happy Baby" chart which includes the recommendation:
Do Say "Sit down I'll do this"
Don't Say "But you don't have anything to do all day!"
And how can you get by in life without a Nappy contents colour chart!

If you're trying to get your husband more involved in the conceiving and pregnancy process then this is a great way to do it. Or maybe he's just hungry for more information. Even if he's never owned a Haynes manual in his life, the no-nonsense approach of this book is sure to appeal.