Is It Normal For Fathers To Feel Anxiety During Pregnancy?

Even though it is the mother who is pregnant, many fathers also feel anxiety during pregnancy. It may sound funny, but the fact is that it is common for fathers to feel bad about such a big life change.

Some fathers even say that they overeat and have an endless list of other symptoms associated with pregnancy, such as acid reflux.

Is that normal?

This is perfectly normal, but anxiety can be associated with feeling abandoned. It is a way for the father to show that he too is expecting a child, not just the mother who has the child in her womb.

And that’s right. The father is also expecting a child. His body may not be going through the same changes as his partner, but his life has changed.

Pregnancy was also his decision; one that he planned with his partner. Before pregnancy, there was a period of projects and plans, questions and advice, everything was preparation for feeling ready to deliver a child to the world.

In fact, during that period it was nothing more than a plan to have a child, and both parents could participate actively.

But when pregnancy is a fact, it is the woman who gets most of the attention. Nobody worries much about the father, but he is also expecting a child.

This famous quote helps us to see that a couple are two people who are united. This means that the joy and pain that one partner has is also felt by the other.

This is one of the reasons why fathers feel anxiety and explain why they may feel the same symptoms as their pregnant partner.

• That fathers feel anxiety during pregnancy can sometimes occur because they see the baby as a rival. If there is something you are struggling with, try to be there for the child as much as possible. It will help you bond with it and protect you from these unpleasant feelings.
• If you have a tendency to feel abandoned, the arrival of the child can arouse old fears. Even if you and your partner have been together for many years and shared everything, the arrival of a child, even one that was planned, can lead to crises.
• You may have anxiety about fatherhood and the thought of living up to the image of the perfect father. Do not worry, you will get over it while the baby is growing up.
• You may be unconsciously jealous of what your partner’s female body can do, which may make you feel neglected.

• Talk to your partner and tell her how you feel.
• Try to relax. Do not let the anxiety that arises near the date of birth deprive you of your appetite, make you nauseous or cause pain.
• Ask your partner to do something together as a couple. You can go for a walk, go to the cinema or plan a romantic dinner.
• The best way to overcome these unwelcome feelings is to participate. Be by your partner’s side in any new experiences she encounters. Go with her to the clinic, to the medical check-ups and when she will be scanned. You both have the right to see how your child grows and listen to the heartbeat, see the child’s movements and see that it feels good.

Pregnancy is something you go through together as a couple. Both parents prepare for the arrival of the child in different ways. She has the baby in her womb and you are the one who gives her support at every step of the way and welcomes the baby to your life together.

Work together to buy everything the child needs and decorate the children’s room. Attend courses where you learn about pregnancy. You both have the same fears, the same anxiety and the same joy.