Being Pregnant
Prenatal Care: Not Just for Mothers Anymore
How can you increase your chances of having a happy and healthy pregnancy? Make prenatal appointments for the father of your baby.
A new study suggests that pregnancy stress affects the health of expectant fathers in different ways than it affects mothers.
Find out how after the bump…
ManSoo Yu, assistant professor with the University of Missouri’s Public Health Program, reports that pregnancy-related stress compromises the health of expectant fathers, subsequently impacting expectant mothers and their infants.
We know that anxiety and a lack of support during pregnancy can result in poor infant health. Yu points out that men play a huge role in supporting and caring for pregnant women and their well being impacts that care. For the most positive pregnancy outcomes, both parents should receive prenatal screenings.
“Too often, men are treated as observers of the pregnancy process,” reports Yu. “Acknowledging and addressing the emotional well-being of men as well as women is recommended. Providing prenatal care for expectant fathers can encourage men to have a proactive role in pregnancy, which will allow for better maternal and infant health outcomes.”
Yu reports that men typically process pregnancy stress financially and women, emotionally. The study also finds that men show their partners more tangible support, while women show their support emotionally.
“Understanding these differences will help practitioners provide better advice and services for expectant parents,” Yu finds. “For example, men could write budgets to alleviate financial stress and women can seek counseling to understand emotional stressors. Men and women can discuss and learn about potential stressors to become better partners and improve the health of each other and their infant.”
How have you handled stress throughout your pregnancy? How has your partner?
Has your health care provider asked about your partner’s well being?
What are your thoughts?
Go Back To Being Pregnant
3 Comments
Katie commented on May 15 11 at 7:31 pmI love this. Cort came with me to every. single. appointment when I was pregnant with Eddie, and has been with me to every. single. ped appointment for him as well.
I think this REALLY helped him feel part of it and less stressed.
Sherri commented on May 15 11 at 7:45 pmIt’s about time the dads get some attention! I love how this ties them in with everything…after all, they are half the parenting unit!
DadStreet commented on May 20 11 at 6:06 pmGreat article and it’s nice to see some recognition for what is supposed to be half of the term, “Parents”. I say this because the word, “Parent” has become synonomous with the word, “Mom”.
I tend to disagree with a point Yu makes about Dads being concerned with the “finance” and Moms caught up in the “emotion”. I think this is how things were back in the 50′s but I don’t think this is the case anymore. As someone who speaks to many Dads in the parenting community I’m seeing more and more that…Wait for it…Guess what? Guys have feelings too! When my wife was pregnant with both of our children it wasn’t finances I was worried about (No, we are not wealthy) it was the health and well being of my wife and babies. I supported her through Hypnobirthing classes, ensured she had the pregnancy plan she wanted and didn’t wait to get “invited” to things. Men shouldn’t be invited to events or activities around a pregnancy it should be assumed they are part of it. Until the paradigm shift occurs in the way society places expecations of the male as a parent and not just an assistant there will be little change in perception and subsequent action by future fathers.
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