The Bump

Pregnancy is an emotional time for women, but it can also be an emotional time for men. In some studies, almost half of the men whose wives were pregnant experienced more real physical ailments—things like colds, stomach upsets, unintentional weight gain, irritability, nervousness, inability to concentrate, headache, restlessness, fatigue, and insomnia during various trimesters of pregnancy and the early postpartum period than did men whose wives were not pregnant. And some men even experience hormone changes when they live with and share intimate contact with their pregnant partner, hormone changes that seem to enhance or accelerate paternal involvement and responsiveness. And recent studies show that fathers are very important to baby’s development—about 10% of dads are depressed postpartum and when dad is depressed, baby is more likely to experience delays in language acquisition.

So unless you’re having your baby on your own, be sure to do all you can to stay connected during this very important time. And if you’re doing this alone, whether by choice or not, or even if you’re just not connecting, get help. This is a time in life when you, and your baby, need all the love and support you can get. 

Find information about pregnancy online at American Pregnancy. 

Pregnancy psychotherapy can help you understand the challenges ahead. Contact Dr. Sara today for your therapy appointment.