The Pregnant Father

The role that the woman plays in pregnancy is obviously the main role, but it you want to look at it biologically, a woman cannot do it alone. The man’s contribution is indispensable from the beginning. The DNA of his sperm provides half of the baby’s complete DNA. And the father’s DNA determines the sex of the baby as well. If the father donates a chromosome Y it is a boy, if he donates a chromosome X, it’s a girl.

The sperm is obviously just a little bit of what the father contributes. The support the man gives the mother during pregnancy is just as important. Just the way that pregnancy is a time of tremendous change for the mother’s body, at the same time it is a time of change emotionally for both the father and the mother and it is a time of transition for the couple, which is turning into parents. Recognizing this fact will help both the mother and the father feel comfortable with the process and can help the process and help you to perform your roles better. Both parents have the capacity of making each other’s lives easier. Studies have shown that during pregnancy and the work of labor is associated with fewer incidences of complications when the father participates and supports the mother.

Reacting To The News Of Pregnancy
When a man hears the words of the woman announcing that she is pregnant, you probably feel pure joy and emotion…ok it is true that you will feel that way but in fact, you will probably feel some worry and maybe even some fear for the future. Don’t worry though; those types of feelings are completely normal. You may worry about how becoming a parent will affect your relationship with your partner. You may also worry about the financial aspect of the whole ordeal, or how you are going to be as a father. Just keep in mind that the feelings of your partner about having a baby are not very different from yours. So talk to her about what you are feeling.

So What About Sex?
One big question men have has to do with sex during pregnancy. Your sexual desire at this point, just like hers, may increase or decrease. Many men are worried that by inserting the penis inside the vagina will harm the baby or set off a preterm delivery. In a pregnancy without complications you have nothing to worry about in that aspect. Another common concern has to do with squishing the baby by lying on top of the woman. Once again though, if the pregnancy is normal, especially during the first months, you have nothing to worry about. There is a cushion of a liquid called amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby. Later on in the pregnancy, the size of the woman’s abdomen can make this position a bit uncomfortable for the man or it might be uncomfortable for the woman. If the woman agrees to it, take your time to find some alternative positions that are comfortable for her. Remember also that libido can come and go during pregnancy, or it can simply go. For some women, sex is an absolute no during pregnancy, so try to understand if your partner is not interested in sex sometimes.

In some cases, sexual relations during pregnancy are not a good idea. If the mother starts preterm labor for example and has the cervix significantly open, the wise thing would be to abstain from having sex. In the case of placenta previa with bleeding and in some cases of incompetent cervix giving up sex is also the wise thing to do. If your partner has one of these problems and if you are not sure about her situation, talk to the doctor. And keep in mind that direct intercourse is not the only of satisfying a sexual urge. Many times holding each other and touching each other can be very satisfying. Just remember that pregnancy will not last forever although we understand that it might seem like it.