Men and the Challenges of Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a challenging time for even the closest of couples. This is especially true of a couple’s first pregnancy, when neither of them has any first-hand experience with the process. Despite the preparations they may make, they are largely going in blind, unaware of what exactly to expect and how they will handle any difficulties or complications that may arise. Reading up about pregnancy or talking to friends will never truly prepare a couple for the magnitude of the situation they will encounter. Of course, the mother-to-be will experience the pregnancy in a much more dramatic way, but a father-to-be experiences changes too. Beyond potential changes in lifestyle, there is new evidence suggesting that a man may experience changes on a physiological level as well. In fact, when a pregnant woman goes through hormonal changes, new studies suggest that her male partner may go through similar changes—and even similar symptoms. Read more…