When prospective fathers develop the same symptoms as their pregnant wives, they are said to suffer from couvade syndrome, or sympathetic pregnancy. Named after the French word couver, meaning to brood or hatch, it was described in 1865 by the British anthropologist Edward Tylor and consists of the prospective father developing physical and psychological symptoms—nausea, weight gain, fatigue, back pain, food cravings, abdominal bloating, mood swings, and in rare cases something resembling labor pains. The symptoms tend to subside after the baby is born.
Some studies have suggested that the syndrome is remarkably common, but estimates of its prevalence vary, in part because men may be reluctant to report their symptoms and physicians reluctant to ask. Tylor explained the syndrome as an assertion of paternity.
Several explanations have been proposed. Hormonal studies suggest that the expectant fathers develop measurable elevated levels of prolactin, cortisol, and testosterone levels. Some psychologists have considered suppressed aggression, heightened nurturing instincts, empathy, and anxiety. Possibly, the symptoms may simply be due to the partners sharing diet, disrupted sleep, and stress, especially since the symptoms tend to resolve after the baby is born.
Further reading
- Brennan, A., Marshall-Lucette, S., Ayers, S. & Ahmed, H. (2007). A qualitative exploration of the couvade syndrome in expectant fathers. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 25(1), pp. 18-39.
- Klein, Hilary (1991). “Couvade syndrome: Male counterpart to pregnancy”. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 21 (1): 57–69.