The Transition to Parenthood: How a First Child Changes a Marriage : why Some Couples Grow Closer and Others Apart

Over a seven-year period, Dr. Jay Belsky, a professor of human development at Penn State University, conducted a major study of 250 couples entering the transition to parenthood - the period that runs from the third trimester of pregnancy to the child's third birthday. His conclusion: The birth of a child is one of the greatest challenges to a couple's marriage - financially, emotionally, physically, and sexually. For many new parents, the impact is supremely negative: The workload at home increases, with women resenting the heavy new burden; communication between husband and wife diminishes and may never be the same again; sex may all but disappear. Yet for other couples, the marriage survives and is even strengthened. By examining the experiences of three representative couples, The Transition to Parenthood defines the qualities and capacities couples need to navigate the transition successfully. Couples will find the answers to questions that plague them during the transition, and will take comfort in knowing that they are not alone in feeling lost and confused during a time that they had expected to be one of blissful contentment.