dadwoven

The First Chapter

Nobody hands you a manual. So we wrote one.

A free 74-page guide for UK dads, from pregnancy to three months.

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Why you can read it

Checked against NHS, NICE, the Lullaby Trust and GOV.UK guidance

  • Always free
  • No sponsors in the health content
  • Written for UK dads

Health content in The First Chapter has been checked against guidance from the NHS (opens in a new tab), NICE (opens in a new tab), the Lullaby Trust (opens in a new tab) and GOV.UK (opens in a new tab). We do not take payment to include that content, or to leave it out. Your midwife, GP or health visitor still knows your family. The guide does not.

This is not medical advice. Call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.

Sound familiar?

The questions most dads end up asking. The First Chapter answers them.

  • What do I actually pack?
  • How do I help at 3am?
  • Am I doing enough?
  • What paternity leave can I get?
  • What happens on the first night?
  • How do we keep talking?

The First Chapter

Look inside

Real pages from The First Chapter. Swipe through on your phone, or rest on the stack.

A divider page from The First Chapter. It says Preparing before birth, and: This part is about getting ready. You do not have to do it all.
A page from The First Chapter titled The hospital bag, listing what to pack for the birth parent, the baby and you, and what to leave at home.
A divider page titled The birth and the first days. It says: You are part of this. Here is how to be useful, and what the first days are actually like.
A page titled The early weeks at home, with sections on feeding, sleep, crying and comfort, and when to call for help.
A divider page titled For you and your relationship. It says: You matter in this too. Sleep, food, worry, and the two of you.
A page titled Paternity leave and pay, covering who can get it, the money, how to tell work, and where to check the current rules.
The back cover of The First Chapter. It says: You do not have to have this all worked out.

74 pages

What's inside

A journey in five parts, from pregnancy to three months. Read it in order, or open the page you need.

  1. 01

    Before the birth

    What to get ready, what can wait, and how to pack so the bag is done.

  2. 02

    The birth and the first days

    How to be useful in the room, and what those first days are actually like.

  3. 03

    The early weeks at home

    Feeds, sleep, crying, and when to ask for help.

  4. 04

    Looking after yourself and your relationship

    Your rest, your food, the worry, and the two of you.

  5. 05

    Money, work and practical matters

    Leave, pay, and the admin that does not pause for a newborn.

Who it's for

dadwoven is for dads and dads-to-be in the UK, from pregnancy through the early years.

The First Chapter is the place to start. It covers pregnancy to three months. You might still be expecting, or the baby might already be here. You do not need to have read anything else first.

It is written for the dad. If you are supporting a dad, you are welcome to read it too.

WhatsApp

The guide is on WhatsApp

Open WhatsApp, go to Updates, search dadwoven, then tap Follow. That is the whole path.

  1. Open WhatsApp
  2. Go to Updates
  3. Search dadwoven
  4. Tap Follow

The guide is shared on that channel. Following is free, and you can mute the channel when you want quiet.

Get it free on WhatsApp (opens in a new tab)
QR code for the dadwoven WhatsApp channel (opens in a new tab)
On a computer, point your phone camera at the code.
Get the free guide (opens in a new tab)