From the moment the test reads positive, your head spins and your heart pounds. For some reason, no matter how long or how hard you've been trying to get pregnant, you're never quite prepared for the news. Fortunately, nature gives you nine months to get ready for childbirth.

While you spend those months pondering baby names, composing birth plans and assessing your pain threshold, what is your husband doing? Does he worry about seeing you in pain? How will he cope with a complicated delivery? Do you expect him to be your "coach" and sole supporter? If you do, then your husband should be prepared. And with a little effort, you can be the one to lead the way.

Once the pregnancy is confirmed, most women go on an all-out search for information. A wealth of pregnancy and childbirth knowledge lurks on the shelves of your local library or bookstore, not to mention the wisdom floating about in cyberspace at sites such as Pregnancy Today.

You'll find facts and figures on every subject from successful homebirths to the high-tech delivery of premature infants. As you read, keep an eye out for any information that may be helpful to your husband. Better yet, see if you can get him to read along.

"Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Suzanne Mccutcheon speaks to dads about their role quite a bit," says Karen Kohls, a certified childbirth educator and doula in Madison, Wis. But don't fret if your husband can't seem to find enough time or even desire to read through a book. Keep in mind that he can still benefit from the information you gather.

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