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FATHERS ALSO EXPERIENCE PREGNANCY SYNDROME
The period of pregnancy affects not only women, but also men. While the hormonal changes experienced by the expectant mother during pregnancy affect her very much, the expectant fathers are actually very affected by this situation. Some men cannot get used to the new state of their partner, or this can create emotional states and physical changes in them, such as during pregnancy.
Turkey Medicals member and Antalya Medical Park JCI hospital clinic department Specialist in Psychiatry Doctor tells what needs be known about the Kuvad syndrome…
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WHAT IS KUVAD SYNDROME?
Kuvad (couvade) syndrome is a disorder in which expectant fathers and their pregnant wives experience various physical symptoms during their pregnancy, during childbirth, or both periods. The word is derived from the French Basque word couver, which means to incubate, hatch. This term describes an interesting ritual performed by individuals of many non-industrialized cultures. This tradition consists in the fact that during childbirth the father goes to bed, fasts or stays away from certain foods, mimics labor pains, and often the attention paid to women giving birth is also shown to him.
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HIGH INCIDENCE
The conducted studies show that the prevalence of kuvad syndrome is between 12-64 percent. While the rate rises even more when symptoms that will not affect people’s lives are included, the data that have emerged show that the condition is not uncommon at all. Symptoms were the most common in the last 3, especially the last 1 month of pregnancy. As an example study conducted of expectant fathers, found that 25 percent of their wives sought medical help for stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal) complaints during their pregnancies. According to these studies, none of these complaints were found in expectant fathers 6 months before pregnancy and 6 months after childbirth.
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MEN WHO DEPEND ON THEIR MOTHERS LIVE MORE
According to the results of the conducted studies, kuvad syndrome was found to be more common in expectant fathers with an anxious nature, belonging to the black race and having a low socioeconomic status. Kuvad underlying reasons for social and emotional syndrome is examined, the candidate’s father to be abandoned by his father at a young age, unplanned pregnancy, low educational level, economic insecurity, ethnic-religious identity and identified factors such as marital discord. It has also been revealed that kuvad syndrome is more common in men who are very attached to their mothers and have had their first sexual intercourse after the age of 18.
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WHEN DO ITS SYMPTOMS APPEAR?
The symptoms of kuvad on expectant mothers are approximately the 3rd of pregnancy. it can occur at any time. Very rarely, symptoms appear before a person realizes that his partner is pregnant. Symptoms tend to decrease gradually from the beginning, but can usually have a second rise in the last 3 months, just before or during childbirth.
Symptoms in about a third of cases disappear before the onset of labor pains. But sometimes the symptoms can recur again just when it is thought to be over. In the other third, the baby becomes symptom-free as soon as he/she is born. In the rest, symptoms may persist for several more days. Also, the physical manifestations of kuvad syndrome may be accompanied by anxiety.
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HE HAS BOTH PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
The most common manifestations of the syndrome are gastrointestinal disorders. These include loss of appetite, toothache, nausea and vomiting (especially morning vomiting), indigestion, unidentified abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea. Symptoms such as depression, tension, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, weakness, and headaches are psychiatric symptoms. In addition, from time to time, the conditions such as stretching, as in pregnancy, and, although rare, abdominal swelling may also occur.
Although the causes of Kuvad syndrome have been investigated both on a psychodynamic and biological basis, the causes of its occurrence have not yet been fully elucidated. In the context of psychodynamic principles, factors such as the father-to-be’s unconscious envy of childbirth, identification with the mother-to-be, having mixed feelings about fatherhood, hidden homosexuality, perceiving the fetus as a rival are also emphasized.
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IT CAN PASS BY ITSELF
Most people with Kuvad syndrome do not need treatment. This is due to the fact that most of the cases pass by themselves without the condition being noticed. In addition, very few of those who experience kuvad syndrome are referred to a Turkish psychiatrist. In a person with this diagnosis, interpretive and supportive psychotherapy aimed at reducing anxiety can provide relief. Finally, the course of kuvad syndrome is generally good.
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Although the situation may recur in future pregnancies, this is not considered certain. If the father-to-be has signs of this syndrome in the next pregnancy of the spouse, a specialist should be consulted in no time.
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Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.
Physician's Resume:
Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.
Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.
In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.
Awards:
Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.
Certificates:
Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .
Professional Members:
American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.
Disclaimer:
Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.