Couvades (also known as sympathetic pregnancy, or pregnant dad syndrome) is when a male (close to the pregnant woman) experiences some of the same symptoms as she. These symptoms can range from weight gain, morning nausea, “labour” pains and postpartum depression, among others.
Postpartum (and paternal) depression is something that relates not only to females (as many think) but to males as well. This is a common occurrence in our society with “ About 10 per cent of fathers experience depression before or after the birth of a child”. I believe industrialism is one of the main causes for this depression : many different stresses occur after a child is born, financial stress, lack of sleep, etc. Although there are stresses for any new parent I believe the stress on money really exaggerates them in our culture. Our culture has also established that the typical gender role would be for the father to work, as the mother is the one who goes on maternity leave, which may make him feel as though “might not be able to get in there and get involved or have the kind of role they envisioned”
A lot of ethnopsychcology study should be invested in determining how to prevent post partum (and all signs of couvades) as these are not only uncomfortable for the parents, but may “conveys risk to infants and young children”
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/05/18/postpartum-depression-dads.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couvade_syndrome
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I had no idea men had that kind of effect on the pregnancy or birth on their child, but its makes perfect sense. Most woemn in our socitey our off work for a whole year so the men no only have to feed the another mouth, but have the only income in the household.
ReplyDeletePostpartum is a new symptom. More and more men have the same feeling with their wives. I think you make sense what is it, and I think some people think right. Having a baby is a big thing, so why not give men a good rest.
ReplyDeleteNever new that Men could also have postpartum depression!! Females have it due to their hormones dropping at an unbalanced rate as well as all the stress!! It makes sence that men also have these major stresses, however i never knew it was considered postpartum!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post!!
I didn't know that postpartum was a new phenomenon! I have heard of this before, but never quite as fully explained... So then, if I'm understanding you correctly, you believe that the stress of industrialism is causing/influencing men to have sympathetic pregnancies? Wouldn't then any kind of stress (such as poverty) cause the same thing? Just a question, I'm not "questioning" your idea.
ReplyDeleteWow, didn't realize men could be that affected, but this could mean that they are more attached. I think that men could just as easily have the role of a stay at home dad.
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