TERRIBLE morning sickness, insatiable cravings and vivid dreams are just some of the pregnancy symptoms experienced by one expectant mum – and her partner too.
Georgia Guest, 23, has claimed her partner, Aaron Smith, 24, endured weeks of nausea, heartburn, cravings and vivid dreams while she was carrying their second child.
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Aaron, a self-employed gardener, experienced Couvade syndrome – also known as sympathetic pregnancy – where a partner’s symptoms and behaviour mirror those of the expectant mother, including minor weight gain, altered hormone levels, morning sickness and disturbed sleep patterns.
This meant that rather than Georgia curled around the loo with nausea or making late-night visits to the shops to satisfy her cravings, it was her boyfriend instead.
The full time mum-of-two, from Croydon in London, said: “Aaron had such strong pregnancy symptoms – it was like we were both expecting.
“Not only did he have morning sickness and intense cravings, but he suffered from heart burn, vivid dreams and night terrors.
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What is a sympathetic pregnancy?
- Properly known as Couvade syndrome, it is where healthy men whose partners are expecting start experiencing pregnancy-related symptoms.
- These can include physical ones like nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, bloating, appetite changes, respiratory problems, toothaches, leg cramps, backaches, and urinary or genital irritations.
- There can also be psychological changes, such as changes in sleeping patterns, anxiety, depression, reduced libido and restlessness.
Source: Mayo Clinic
“He found it all very strange and was in disbelief at first but his symptoms continued and he found it quite funny.
“It made him very sympathetic and understanding of what I was going through.
“I would say it was worse for him because he had never experienced anything like it – the constant nausea, the urge to eat something sweet and feeling rather grumpy at times if he couldn’t.
“He had volcanic heartburn and it definitely got to him at times, but it was something we had a giggle about together.
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“We were amazed by his ‘fake pregnancy’ as it was so odd, but it kept me busy it was like looking after a pregnant lady.
“Thankfully it all stopped when our little girl was born.”
The couple have two young children together – Eleanor, four, and baby Emmi, one.
Georgia said: “I was pregnant with my youngest Emmi, but before I realised I was expecting it was my partner, Aaron, who suggested I take a test.
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“When he was around me he kept feeling very nauseous and strange – so I did a pregnancy test and it was positive!
“We thought it was funny that he had all of the pregnancy symptoms before me.”
Aaron added: “My symptoms started before we even thought Georgia might of been pregnant.
“I was suddenly feeling very sick and at first I thought nothing of it. I just assumed I was a bit under the weather.
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“The sickness would settle after a while, but when I was around my girlfriend it would get worse.
“I also started to get hot flushes so I explained it to Georgia and I said: ‘I know this may seem strange but do a pregnancy test’.
“She rolled her eyes thinking I was winding her up, but it came back positive. We were so happy.
“Weirdly sickness didn’t go.
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“I just kept thinking: ‘How on earth does my body know my girlfriend is pregnant?'”
But as the pregnancy progressed, Aaron’s feelings only intensified.
Georgia continued: “For the first couple of months Aaron struggled with quite bad morning sickness – so much so that it made me forget about my own queasiness and kept me amused.
“He would be so ill before leaving work. I’d be rushing around trying to find him mints to suck to stop him feeling so poorly.
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“On one occasion he even had to get his boss to pull over the work van so he could escape to a bathroom.
“He would then feel perfectly fine for the remainder of the day.
“But it was nice for my partner to come home and explain how he had so much sympathy for me and for other pregnant women – he knew exactly how I felt!
“He had such a tough time of it, bless him.”
Aaron admitted: “It carried on for a few months and I felt terrible – I was having hot flushes, I couldn’t stomach my tea in the morning and Georgia and I were taking turns running to the bathroom at the same time.
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“We were amused by it.
“Georgia would be stroking my back and giving me mints to help take the sickness away before work.
“On the way to work I would be panting trying to hold myself to together some mornings.
“I had to tell my work buddy to pull the van over and even he would say: ‘You would think you were pregnant’. Then it would subside by the time I would get back in from work.
“I would praise Georgia for doing so well, holding it together and running around after our little one.”
Aaron’s appetite and taste buds changed completely whilst Georgia was pregnant.
She said: “He is such a savoury person and would cringe when I would offer any sweet snacks usually.
“But as soon as I was pregnant he craved sweets and cakes so badly that he would constantly be doing shop runs for the goodies.
“The ladies at our local shop always had a giggle and said: ‘Oh, has she sent you out again?’ – thinking it was me needing the sugar fix.
“They were surprised when he explained his haul of treats was for himself – and not his pregnant partner.
What are the common signs and symptoms of pregnancy?
- Nausea or being sick
- Tiredness
- Feeling emotional or upset
- Sore breasts
- Needing to pee more frequently
- Experiencing strange tastes and smells
- Strong cravings
Source: NHS
“Aaron would devour packets of fizzy sweets and took plenty of trips downstairs for a midnight snack – usually a New York cheesecake.
“Then the heartburn started – it was quite horrendous and we would sit in bed cuddling each other and feeling a bit sorry for ourselves.
“We’d share cake and sweets and a bottle of Gaviscon.
“Aaron would be all over the place and would ask: ‘What’s happening to me?’ but we both found the whole thing such a laugh.”
Aaron revealed: “As the months passed I had a sudden craving for fizzy sweets, cheesecake and I loved slush puppies – anything sugary.
“Before Georgia fell pregnant I hated anything sweet.
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“Georgia was excited when I came home with a big goody bag and then was surprised when I said it was for me – she thought I was winding her up.”
Georgia’s pregnancy was far from smooth-sailing.
She explained: “It was very up and down and emotional.
“We had a scare at 28 weeks. I was heavily bleeding and the hospital had to give me two steroid injections in case baby came early.
“It was very frightening but we supported each other and kept spirits high.
“I was monitored a lot and at the 36 week check up we were told they needed to get her out in a weeks’ time as she looked to be around 4lb and they said my placenta might have stopped working.
“It was very upsetting, but Aaron stayed strong for me.
“I went to the hospital to be induced and a couple of days later had our beautiful daughter, Emmi, on the 12th of September 2018 at 12.58pm. She weighed 6lbs 8oz.
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“Thankfully when Emmi arrived Aaron’s symptoms disappeared and now we’re pretty much back to normal.”
The couple have been best friends from the age of eleven, and Aaron believes their shared pregnancy symptoms are down to their close bond.
He said: “I loved it, I felt like I got to really enjoy the pregnancy with my girlfriend and got to share the same sort of experience she was going through and it really helped me be sympathetic of how she was feeling especially when she felt very ill.
“Most nights I had the strangest of dreams and night terrors or I would find that I just couldn’t get comfortable.
“I had worse heartburn then my girlfriend, nothing would shake it.
“When Georgia went shopping while I was at work it was me asking her to pick up Gaviscon and telling her not to forget cheesecake, sweets and a chocolate bar.
“It was honestly a great experience – it really brought us closer together and we had something to have a good giggle about.
“Georgia looked after me as much as I was looking after her.
“Once she gave birth to our daughter, Emmi, the sickness stopped, but the heart burn and the sweet tooth remained – I still get up for midnight cheesecake.”
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