Male Experience(s)

Abstract

In the Western World, the man’s role in pregnancy has long appeared somewhat limited. After the joint activity of creating the pregnancy, the man barely got attention till the birth, and even then, he was often portrayed as nervously smoking in the waiting room. Nowadays, that has become very different in some parts of the world, where men participate in birth, antenatal classes, and parenting courses. This chapter addresses the male partner’s reality, going beyond only his role during the birth or as a father-to-be. It will also look into the psychological and existential changes he faces throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum and discuss the physical (and even hormonal) changes that can happen to him and affect his sexuality. It also elaborates on the man’s sexual life during and after this life-changing experience. One reason to pay good attention to this area is that postpartum, the difference between the man’s and the woman’s sexuality can become a hot topic and even a severe couple problem. The other reason to address this area is that, in many places, midwifery is a nearly complete female profession that hence almost exclusively deals with women’s issues. However, for good, family-focused care, the midwife needs some understanding of the ‘male perspective’, as addressed in this chapter. This chapter is part of ‘Midwifery and Sexuality’, a Springer Nature open-access textbook for midwives and related healthcare professionals.