By Ruth Serwaa Asare
Principal Midwifery Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Felicia Martey Dodoo, has advised men to play an active role in supporting their wives during pregnancy and after delivery.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show on the topic “Pregnancy, Delivery and Postnatal: The Role of Men,” she emphasized that male involvement is crucial.
“At that crucial moment, women need men to be emotionally supportive and present during antenatal visits,” she said. “When men attend clinic with their wives, they also get informed about the pregnancy, which helps them make the right decisions in difficult situations.”
Mrs Dodoo added that beyond emotional support, men should help with nutrition, home responsibilities, and even watch out for danger signs after delivery.
On intimacy, she dispelled misconceptions that sex is unsafe during pregnancy. “If your wife is not clinically indicated to avoid sex, sex is not prohibited in pregnancy. As long as she is fine and not bleeding, intimacy is safe. Some men are afraid they will hurt the baby, but it is not true,” she explained.
She further noted that intimacy late in pregnancy could even aid labour. “Semen contains prostaglandins, a hormone that softens the cervix and can help prepare a woman for active labour,” she added.
Mrs Dodoo encouraged fathers to attend prenatal classes, join support groups, and be hands-on at home, stressing that modern men are increasingly playing this supportive role.
