• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • mom

Did you know that men get pregnancy symptoms too?

by Caylie See Leave a Comment

parents-to-be

Studies show that 50 percent of men seek treatment for their “sympathetic pregnancies.”

Couvade, a derivative of the Breton verb couver—to incubate—is a legitimate syndrome in which your significant other, whose empathy you may usually appreciate, complains of the same or similar symptoms to you. Of course, he doesn’t have the actual pregnancy excuse, so it might be hard to fully sympathize with him in the throes (or throwing up) of your own experience.

Prodding aside, there are references dating back to 60 BCE of fathers being prescribed bed rest because they had signs mimicking labor—the most common consensus of symptoms with today’s modern father being weight gain, cravings, flatulence, toothaches, and even measurable hormone changes.

Dads have a bigger role from conception through birth than we typically credit them with.

Of course we know that a mother’s diet affects her baby, but new research links dad’s diet and lifestyle habits to baby’s long-term health as well. The study of epigenetics (stuff in our environmental that switches genes on and off) is an ever-evolving field, but more and more evidence shows how what dad eats, and what chemicals he may be exposed to, prompts changes in his genes, and subsequently his child health.

Although, we need a lot more research to fully understand the connection between fathers-to-be and a child’s health picture, it’s evident enough that dad’s choices live on in their children. And since dad is half of the equation, it makes sense that his influences may become baby’s. And perhaps it follows that he’s entitled to some of the symptoms of pregnancy too!

So, how does one treat this medical curiosity?

It’s never to late to modify habits and start to regain health! So, men planning to become dad’s should prepare their bodies in much the same way a mother-to-be would—building in moderate exercise, nutrition and lifestyle habits to offset their couvade symptoms, and help their kids inherit their optimal genetic legacy.

The best treatment for couvade itself is simply to use this as an opportunity to be gentle with each other. You’re both adjusting to this major life change, which can trigger all sorts of reactions (physical and otherwise). Just as a woman’s pregnancy symptoms usually dissipate with birth, so do dad’s. Conveniently, men rarely experience the actual birth pains!

Kudos to the men of couvade—they’re as participatory as it comes.

Filed Under: Pregnancy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Peaceful Discipline by Sarah Moore

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

how to be a good mother

How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect

By Sarah Moore

Aligned Parents webinar

By Paul Banas

Footer

Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Gentle Parenting: 5 Ways to Lead with Love
  • How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect
  • Best Parenting Books: 28 Books That Will Change Your Life for the Better
  • Aligned Parents webinar
  • How to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family

Search

© Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT