Ain’t it a pain?

Not only is pregnancy an exciting and challenging time in the life of a couple, but for a small percentage of men, it's also a major pain. Literally.

Commonly called couvade syndrome, from the French word "couver" (to hatch), men who suffer this curious affliction experience some of the same symptoms and discomforts of pregnancy as their spouses. Although it may seem odd to us that men would actively participate in the physical rigors of pregnancy, such behavior is actually ritualized in some cultures, to the extent that expectant fathers undergo mock labor during the wife's pregnancy.

These dedicated guys believe their efforts will serve to protect the mother and infant, and strengthen the bonds between father and child. More power to them, I say. But having been through two pregnancies without actually feeling my backache, or feeling like I was trying to sleep on a basketball, I can only recommend that you skip the pain. Getting your wife through the trials and tribulations of pregnancy, with the inevitable discomfort, insomnia, bad dreams, nausea, swelling, shortness of breath, irritability and pain that come with it, will easily bring you enough suffering to assuage any guilt you may have about the relative ease of your role.

It's interesting to note that prior to the 1960s, couvade syndrome sufferers were considered genuinely sick. By psychiatrists. Fortunately, for those of you who may actually be experiencing this distressing phenomenon, it is no longer considered pathological. Good thing. Some studies estimate that between 22 to a whopping 79 percent of men experience at least some of the physical or emotional symptoms of pregnancy.

If you nipples start to leak, I'd worry. But if it's just your back that aches, or your ankles that are swelling, I guess you can chalk it up to the price to be paid for precious cargo. Don't worry: Soon it will all be over -- and it will be MORE THAN worth it.

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