Your Pregnancy: Week 10 for Dad
By: ePregnancy
Dads, are you feeling a little bloated this week? A little moody? Maybe you are experiencing unusual heartburn? Well, you may be joining the ranks of such luminaries as Marco Polo; that is, men with Couvade syndrome, also known as sympathetic pregnancy.
Current studies show that men living with a pregnant woman may experience shifts in their levels of estrogen and testosterone, as well as prolactin and cortisol -- any of which is enough to create those pesky pregnancy symptoms. There is also evidence that men who have been dealing with infertility or who were adopted may be more susceptible to Couvade.
Whatever the cause, the symptoms are felt keenly by the men who experience them. So, dads: sip some peppermint tea, nosh on a few Saltines and bear with it. Even better, enjoy the fact that you are getting to experience something that by all accounts, you shouldn’t be able to! Since you're so in tune with your partner at this special time, you may find your bond with the mother and your child that much stronger. And don’t worry, the changes aren’t permanent. You’ll return to normal after the baby is born.