This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Men often underestimate the challenges of pregnancy, but a recent experiment by popular YouTuber Kabi WaJesus has shed some light on the difficulties expecting mothers face.
On September 17, 2019, Kabi took the 'Husband Pregnant for 24 Hours' challenge, donning a faux baby bump to experience firsthand the struggles of pregnancy.
While the empathy bump doesn't completely mimic the nine months of pregnancy, it gave Kabi a taste of how difficult it can be to perform simple activities like picking up keys, sitting down, and getting into a car.
Writer Benjamin Percy shared a similar experience in an experiment published in GQ, where he spent nine weeks in a pregnancy suit that mimicked the weight and size of a pregnant belly.
"When I first agreed to this experiment, I thought women would respect me for it, pat me on the back, and say what a sweet, understanding man I am," Percy wrote. "Instead they seem to take glee in my discomfort and relish pointing out the suit's inadequacies."
Like Percy, Kabi struggled to sit and stand, and even simple tasks like eating became challenging due to the 'bump' in the way.
"Let me just say that carrying a pregnancy is not easy," Kabi said, echoing Percy's sentiments.
At the end of the day, Kabi commented that he hoped the challenge would help men understand the struggles of pregnancy better.
Do you think that by wearing an empathy bump, men will understand the struggles of pregnancy better?
