By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Men, particularly husbands, have been encouraged to provide emotional support to their partners by accompanying them to antenatal care visits, a move health experts say can improve maternal wellbeing and pregnancy outcomes.
According to the Vice-President of the Paediatric Society of Ghana and a consultant at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Hilda Mantebea Boye, attending antenatal sessions gives men the opportunity to interact with health professionals, ask questions and better understand the physical and emotional challenges their partners may face during pregnancy. It also helps men learn how to support women at home, particularly with nutrition and medication.
Dr Boye noted that pregnancy affects women differently and, for many, the experience can be physically demanding. Some women, she said, suffer from severe nausea, vomiting and general weakness, which can make daily activities difficult.
Speaking in an interview on the GTV Breakfast Show on Wednesday, 31 December 2025, she stressed the importance of a balanced diet during pregnancy, explaining that whatever a pregnant woman eats nourishes the baby. However, she acknowledged that nausea and vomiting can make eating difficult, sometimes limiting women to very small portions of food.
She said encouragement and patience from partners can help women cope better. “When women feel supported and know they are not alone, it becomes easier for them to eat and take care of themselves,” she noted.
Dr Boye also highlighted the emotional changes and cravings that often accompany pregnancy, describing how women’s preferences can change suddenly. While this may be challenging for men, she urged them to remain patient and understanding during the period.
She further explained that the presence of fathers during childbirth can have a positive impact, particularly in facilities with private delivery rooms. In such settings, men may assist by offering back massages to ease pain, providing emotional reassurance and helping with breathing exercises during labour.
Where physical presence is not possible due to work or other commitments, Dr Boye said staying connected remains important. She noted that simple gestures such as calling to ask whether a partner has eaten, taken her medication or how she is feeling can help reduce loneliness and anxiety.
She added that emotional presence is just as important as physical presence, explaining that listening, reassurance and encouragement play a significant role in helping women feel supported during and after pregnancy.
