'Sorry I can't come in today, I've got morning sickness', says father-to-be

Harry Ashby, 29, has been diagnosed with a condition that mimics his fiancee Charlotte Allsopp's pregnancy.

The illness means that Harry is entitled to time off from his position as a security guard, can claim sickness benefit and gets the same medication as his partner.

The dad-to-be suffers from Couvade syndrome, which means he suffers the same pregnancy symptoms as his fiancee.

Have you suffered from Couvade syndrome? Leave your comments below.

The condition has resulted in him gaining a stone and a half, battling exhaustion, back pain and a number of food cravings.

He has even been handed the same medication as women to combat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Harry, from Birmingham, said: "I hated the feelings at first but now I think every man should go through it because it helps you understand what your missus is facing.

"Charlotte and I are on the same wavelength. We have the same issues with weight gain and after she rubs oil to stop stretch marks on her belly she does the same for me.

"She doesn't have to tell me what to buy for dinner because we crave the same foods - things we never ate before but now can't get enough of, like Chinese meals and orange Lucozade.

"People keep telling me I've got a round belly. I tried the gym but nothing has made it go away.

"Now I know I am having a sympathetic pregnancy I don't care. It's amazing to be going through it with her."

Hairdresser Charlotte, 19, discovered she was pregnant with their first child, a baby girl, earlier this year.

Two months later Harry began mimicking Charlotte's pains, as well as craving similar foods.

At first she thought her fiancee was joking, but realised he was serious when he was forced to take time off from his security guard role.

She said: "I'm glad he is experiencing this because it shows him what it is like. But I do get a bit tired of looking after Harry when he is meant to be looking after me.

"It proves women are tougher than blokes when it comes to pregnancy.

"He started throwing up on the mornings and we'd lie on the sofa and moan about the same time about our aches and pains.

"My breasts were getting bigger and so were his. He's always been slim and would go to the gym as he models in his spare time but suddenly he was craving fatty foods."

The couple began researching the symptoms online before going to a doctor in Erdington.The GP confirmed that Harry was suffering from Couvade syndrome - a sympathetic pregnancy.

Harry added: "I'd be at work and be hit by a wave of nausea so bad I'd rush to the loo and need a cold compress.

"I felt exhausted all the time and had an aching back. I even had to take a couple of days off work.

"I helped Charlotte with her morning sickness and she helped me but it wasn't until I stood on the scales and realised I put on a stone and a half that I started panicking.

"I've been told I'm the first man in the UK to be signed off work for being pregnant."

His security firm boss, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "When Harry told me he was expecting, I said he could take time off when the baby was born.

"I never expected him to be absent before then. I have kids and nothing like Harry's condition happened to me.

"But when he told me what the doctor had said I gave him the time off. Me and the lads did laugh about it."

Charlotte's due date is January 2 and Harry added that he was dreading the birth.

He said: "I'm a bit nervous as some men who have Couvade syndrome also had bad labour pains when their partners give birth.

"But the main thing we are concerned about is that we have a happy, healthy baby girl."

See also: The Royal Baby, round one.

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