Pregnancy related stress uniquely affects expectant fathers

ManSoo Yu, assistant professor at University of Missouri, recently found that pregnancy related stress uniquely affects the health of expectant fathers. In turn, expectant father health directly affects mamas and their babies. According to the new research, health care services and prenatal providers should incorporate dad-to-be specific counseling and assessments in order to help reduce stress and promote positive pregnancy outcomes. Yu notes:

“Too often, men are treated as observers of the pregnancy process. Acknowledging and addressing the emotional well-being of men as well as women is recommended. Providing prenatal care for expectant fathers can encourage men to have a proactive role in pregnancy, which will allow for better maternal and infant health outcomes.”

Yu discovered many difference between men and women during the course of his research, such as:

• Men process pregnancy-related issues as financial stressors whereas women process them as emotional stressors.
• Men tend to receive more emotional support from their partners, while women receive more tangible support.
• During pregnancy, women appeared to have higher self esteem than men.

What this study means to you: According to the research, self-esteem, which was lower in men, is an important issue during pregnancy, because lower self-esteem is related to substance abuse, which in turn is related to emotional stress. With this in mind, fathers-to-be should attempt to minimize self-criticism about their abilities. Seeking pre-baby counseling or health assessments may be a good idea for dads-to-be. The research was recently published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. + Source [Photo © Flickr user dickdotcom]