- The ARC - California Edition -

What Is A Man To Do?

It seems to me that most every article related to a healthy pregnancy is targeted at the woman. The macho, virile, and domineering man is almost totally ignored by these messages. During a woman’s pregnancy, authors somehow expect men to passively go about doing whatever men do while the woman is targeted with endless amounts of health information, suggestions and warnings.

But what is a man to do? My neighbors Bob and Shirley are expecting their first child. "Hi, Bob and Shirley. What’s going on?" I softly say, as I discover that I have arrived during some sort of debate between the two.

"Hi Mr. Leibert," Bob snaps, and then he quickly continues. "I've got some chores I want to get done today and she doesn’t want to help me. In fact, now she has her own agenda of things SHE wants ME to do. I want to spray the yard, and drain the car antifreeze today. She wants me to clean the litter box, and to disable the seat belts in her car."

"But that pesticide and the antifreeze are reproductive toxins. If I get exposed to them, it could put our baby at risk of being damaged," as Shirley jumps in with her points. "I read that a pregnant woman should not be exposed to insecticides, cat feces, and other materials that can harm a developing baby. And those seat belts are just too darn uncomfortable."

"You are right, honey," Bob responds softly. "No pesticides, no other toxic chemicals, and I’ll handle the cat litter, but the seat belt is the most effective way to protect mom and baby."

I could see that I was no longer needed as together they already knew what was best. Shirley knew about reducing exposure to reproductive toxins, and she knew that cats can be a carrier of a disease that is very toxic to a developing baby. Bob was well read, too. He knew that the most common cause of death in women of childbearing age is auto accidents and that studies have conclusively proven that it is much safer - for both mother and baby - to fasten your seat belt than to leave it undone.

And this is just a start. Think about it yourself. What type of similar things can increase the risk of damage to mother or fetus that are within the house. Similar things, such as chemicals and solvents are under the sink and in the bathroom. Should a man remove these potential toxins that should not be used by the mom-to-be?

A man can also look for loose carpets or rugs that he can repair or make skid proof. Unlit hallways or stairways are also a risk to mom and baby. Let’s get that corrected now.

Since a pregnancy changes a woman’s center of gravity, it will affect her balance and the things that she used to not notice become a risk to them. Getting in and out of a tub is a lot harder as the fetus grows. A man can take steps to make sure the tub and shower are equipped with nonskid surfaces as well as sturdy handbars for the woman to use for balance.