What happens to the father during pregnancy?

Many men also experience emotional changes during pregnancy, such as moodiness and depression. These symptoms may be linked to their worries about losing their partner's love and affection once the baby is born.

Men experience hormonal changes when their partners are pregnant.

Physical Symptoms

Researchers say that up to 60 percent of men experience some sort of physical symptoms when their partners are pregnant. (Dr. Jerrold Lee Shapiro, an expert on the subject of expectant dads, admits that he gained 30 pounds during each of his wife's two pregnancies.) These changes are most likely the result of men's desire to participate — to be more a part of the pregnancy, which will, after all, transform their life. They're preparing for their new role as a father.

Looking for Guidance

Although dads in most Western cultures are expected to actively participate in labor and delivery, they receive little guidance about their involvement. What should they do? How should they feel during the nine months? The roles played by their own fathers often don't give them clear direction. And sometimes good-natured kidding from friends and coworkers will increase, not lessen, their anxieties.

The tension may swell when men go with their partners to prenatal exams or other "women only" activities. Expectant dads feel awkward and wonder: Where should I stand? What should I look at? How should I feel about this other person touching and intimately examining my partner? Can I ask questions without appearing stupid?

Emotional Symptoms

It's not just pregnant women who experience pregnancy mood swings. Many men also experience emotional changes during pregnancy, such as moodiness and depression. These symptoms may be linked to their worries about losing their partner's love and affection once the baby is born.

Just as expectant moms may tend to fix up their homes to prepare for the baby's arrival, men often show predictable concerns and behaviors during pregnancy. One common concern is protecting the family. Some fathers take this literally by installing new locks or repairing anything broken around the house; others focus on whether they're earning enough money and may take on extra work.