The Secret to Safe Births? Husbands Who Step Up at Home
For years, many Nigerian men believed that their only duty in marriage was to provide financially, leaving domestic responsibilities and emotional support to women, even during pregnancy. But the experiences of men like David Akiode and Igbagboyemi Oladele are proving that mindset wrong.
Akiode once held firmly to the idea that touching a broom or pot made him “less of a man.” That belief was shattered when his wife, Wunmi, suffered a miscarriage that doctors linked to physical stress from handling chores during her pregnancy.
Devastated and determined not to repeat the mistake, Akiode transformed into a hands-on partner during her next pregnancy, cooking, cleaning, and standing by her side at every antenatal visit.
This shift not only eased Wunmi’s stress but led to a smooth, complication-free delivery, deepening their bond as husband and wife.
For Oladele, a Lagos-based software developer, shared responsibility was never new. He had always seen his wife as a partner, not a housemaid. So when pregnancy came, stepping in more was natural, running errands, managing chores, and creating space for her to rest.
His quiet but steady involvement gave his wife peace of mind and helped her feel supported emotionally and physically.
Maternal health experts affirm what these men’s experiences reveal: pregnancy is not just a woman’s burden; it is a shared journey. When men take an active role in reducing stress, complications like miscarriage, preterm labour, and hypertension are less likely. And when fathers are present, bonds with both mother and child grow stronger even before birth.
Around the world, research, from the World Health Organization to local Nigerian studies, confirms that male involvement is not only an act of love but a public health necessity.
Fathers who help with chores, attend clinics, and provide emotional reassurance improve maternal outcomes and promote safer deliveries. Beyond medicine, they also reshape cultural norms, proving that true masculinity lies in partnership, not distance.
At the heart of every pregnancy is not just the well-being of the mother, but the future of the child. When fathers step up with care, empathy, and shared responsibility, they help secure a healthier pregnancy, a safer delivery, and a stronger family bond.
This is in the best interest of the child to be welcomed into the world by parents who are united, supportive, and present. True fatherhood begins not at birth, but in the daily choices that protect both mother and child.
