Addressing Barriers to Effective Partner Support in Prenatal Care

Are you an expectant father anticipating your unborn child? It’s such an exciting time, but you may feel unsure about how to support your partner through this journey. You might be wondering, “My partner is having a tough time with the pregnancy — what can I do to help?”

The truth is, pregnancy is all about teamwork. Just because your partner has the baby bump doesn’t mean you can’t be deeply involved in every step.

Your involvement during pregnancy is crucial. Yet, you might be uncertain about what to expect or how to provide the right support. Even if you recognize the importance of being present, you may face barriers to effective partner support in prenatal care. These barriers can come from cultural norms, personal challenges, health system limitations, and socio-economic factors.

The good news? Understanding these barriers is the first step to overcoming them. In this article, you’ll explore typical barriers to effective partner support in prenatal care. Keep reading to discover practical ways to enhance your involvement and support your partner during this exciting pregnancy journey!

Understanding partner support in prenatal care

Partner support refers to how one partner assists the other in coping with difficulties or problems. In prenatal care, this support is categorized into four types:

• Instrumental support. Provide direct or indirect practical assistance, such as household chores, childcare, and financial aid.
• Emotional support. Offer reassurance and affection, reflecting a caring attitude.
• Informational support. Share relevant information and advice, including guidance on nutrition or medication.
• Maternity care. Engage actively in supporting your wife’s health by attending counseling sessions and participating in delivery planning.

When partners are involved in prenatal care, it benefits pregnant women, the unborn baby, and the partners themselves. For pregnant women, this support can alleviate their burden and reduce stress, which in turn lowers the risk of negative birth outcomes (e.g., gestational age and birth weight). For fathers, involvement boosts confidence in preparing for fatherhood and fosters early bonding with the baby.

However, despite its benefits, partner involvement in prenatal care often faces challenges due to barriers to prenatal care that hinder partners from supporting their pregnant wives effectively.

Common barriers to effective partner support

Understanding the barriers to effective partner support during pregnancy is crucial for male partners. Acknowledging these challenges can enhance their involvement, benefiting both the expectant mother and the baby.

Four key barriers to effective partner support during pregnancy are identified from the experiences of Iranian expectant fathers: cultural, personal, health system-related issues, and socioeconomic factors.

Cultural norms and expectations

In many cultures, traditional gender roles and patriarchal attitudes often discourage men from actively participating in pregnancy.

From the men’s perspective, involvement in prenatal care often raises fears of being perceived as less masculine or ridiculed for showing vulnerability. Meanwhile, many pregnant women view pregnancy as their sole responsibility and prefer to lean on their families for support during intimate moments like labor.

Together, these conflicting perspectives can diminish fathers’ engagement and support in prenatal care.

Personal challenges

As men come to terms with becoming fathers, it’s common for them to feel anxious about their new responsibilities.

During a first pregnancy, they often wonder how to offer support and feel uncertain about their roles. Many don’t realize just how crucial their involvement is for their partner’s and baby’s health.

On top of that, hormonal changes in pregnant women often lead to mood swings. If men can’t adapt to these changes, misunderstandings in communication can easily arise, especially concerning sexual performance. These worries can make it even harder for men to provide the support their partners genuinely need.

Health system barriers

This barrier highlights a broader issue: many health professionals perceive the presence of men as potentially disruptive.

Midwives and physicians often prefer that men stay out of the clinic or labor room because they worry that their presence might interrupt their work by leading to a flurry of questions during labor.

This restriction can limit men’s involvement in prenatal care since they miss out on accessing health information firsthand.

Socio-economic factors

Financial constraints and high costs often push men to work long hours or multiple jobs, making it difficult for them to participate in perinatal care.

Take, for instance, one father who works from 7 am to 8 pm. He expressed that if he were financially secure, he could cut back on his hours and come home earlier to support his wife.

Unfortunately, the high expenses associated with pregnancy-related procedures, like ultrasounds and exams, require him to put in extra hours, even on Fridays, just to make ends meet.

Ensuring partner support during prenatal care

Strong partner support during prenatal care is essential for creating a positive pregnancy experience and preparing for parenthood.

When partners actively engage in this journey, they can offer emotional, physical, and practical support, which really helps both the mother and the baby. Here are key ways to foster deeper partner involvement:

Read more: How to Provide Support During Pregnancy

Educate and involve partners early

Getting partners involved and educated early on is key to creating a supportive atmosphere for the birth process. When they participate in prenatal education, they gain a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This way, they feel more connected and ready to step up. 

Here’s how partners can educate themselves and get involved:

• Join prenatal classes. Enroll in prenatal care classes designed specifically for fathers to gain an understanding of what to expect during pregnancy and to give you a clearer picture of your role as a father.
• Attend appointments together. Go with your partner to doctor’s visits and antenatal screenings to stay informed and show your commitment to being part of the care process.
• Read and research. Explore books and reliable online resources about pregnancy and parenting to deepen your understanding.
• Communicate openly. Engage in honest conversations with your partner about concerns and expectations surrounding pregnancy and the transition to parenthood.

Challenge cultural norms

Traditionally, pregnancy and caregiving have been viewed as primarily women’s roles, but it’s essential to recognize that both are a shared journey. Each partner can actively participate, supporting one another and making decisions together.

Here’s how partners can challenge cultural norms and offer support:

• Collaborate on decisions. Sit down together and make shared decisions about your partner’s healthcare, from antenatal appointments to where to deliver. Talk through the financial side of things, too, like planning for delivery and postpartum care costs.
• Share preparation tasks. Even if certain tasks like cooking or picking out baby clothes are often seen as “women’s work,” stepping in to lend a hand can really show your support.
• Coordinate household tasks. Getting your home ready for the baby is a team effort. Whether you’re buying baby gear or setting up the nursery, doing it together prepares your space and brings you closer as a couple.
• Utilize paternity leave. If you have paternity leave, use it! Being present during the final weeks of pregnancy and in those early days after the baby arrives is a perfect chance for you to bond with your newborn right from the start.

Read more: Understanding the Benefits of Paternity Leave for New Parents

Address personal fears and insecurities

Pregnancy is an emotional roller coaster, filled with everything from the thrill of watching your partner and the baby grow, to the sudden mood swings and worries about what could go wrong. This is a normal feeling!

Being open about these mixed feelings and figuring out how to manage them together is really important for maintaining a supportive and balanced environment for both you and your partner.

Here’s how partners can address personal fears and insecurities:

• Express your concerns. Share your own fears and uncertainties about becoming a parent. Open communication helps manage anxiety and build trust.
• Seek external support. Do not hesitate to seek support from your partner, friends, or professionals if you feel overwhelmed or insecure.
• Regularly check in. Engage in conversations about your feelings and concerns, and listen to your partner’s thoughts and emotions as well.

Advocate for partner-inclusive prenatal care

Research shows that fathers often feel sidelined in childbirth education. While some fathers express a desire to participate, they feel that their role is often considered unimportant, leading to less involvement during the prenatal period. This highlights the need for a more inclusive approach that ensures both partners are involved.

As a partner, you advocate for inclusive prenatal care by choosing healthcare providers who truly value and welcome both partners’ participation in conversations about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.

It’s equally important to communicate your needs clearly. Have a conversation with your healthcare providers about how crucial it is for you to be included in the prenatal care process. Don’t hesitate to express any specific needs or preferences for involvement.

Manage socio-economic constraints

Relying solely on out-of-pocket payments for pregnancy-related costs can be tough. However, with some thoughtful financial planning, you can ease the burden of expenses related to medical care, prenatal services, and any unforeseen emergencies that may arise.

Here’s how partners can manage socio-economic constraints:

• Create a budget. Develop a budget that includes all anticipated costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth, such as medical expenses, prenatal care, and emergencies.
• Estimate costs early. Research and estimate the potential costs of prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal services to better prepare for financial needs.
• Explore insurance options. Investigate and utilize health insurance plans that cover pregnancy and childbirth costs. Ensure that the plan provides adequate coverage to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.
• Save funds regularly. Set aside funds regularly to cover anticipated medical and related expenses.

In conclusion

Effective partner involvement is essential for ensuring the health and well-being of both the pregnant individual and the unborn child.

Learning about your role as a partner through prenatal seminars, books, and online resources is the first step towards overcoming the barriers to effective partner support in prenatal care. Attend prenatal appointments with your partner as often as possible, and budget for pregnancy costs.

Make it a priority to attend prenatal appointments with your partner and prepare financially for pregnancy-related expenses.

On top of that, maintain open communication to understand each other’s feelings, concerns, and expectations regarding pregnancy and parenthood.

Together, these actions can challenge norms that view pregnancy and parenting solely as women’s responsibilities.

By acknowledging and addressing the barriers to effective partner support, you can enhance your involvement during pregnancy and strengthen your teamwork as parents-to-be.

If you would like to see more resources on supportive partner, check out the Parenting Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and other tools. Visit the Parenting Science Labs today.

Photo by Freepik