Pregnant dads will surely turn the world topsy-turvy

But fiction is about to make an even more surprising leap into fact. Remember when Arnold Schwarzenegger got pregnant in the 1994 comedy “Junior”? Yes, that’s coming too. Sorry guys, but the big news is that scientists reckon the possibility is imminent. You, too, might soon be sporting a big “Arnie tummy” – and without the need for prosthetics.

A recent lab experiment showed that a foetus could survive in an artificial womb. It’s a big step forward, and promises an earth-shattering breakthrough for couples who can’t have a baby the conventional way. Certainly further studies are needed at this stage, but early results have the scientists convinced that, within the next 20 years, male pregnancy could be possible and safe.

Don’t panic, guys. If male seahorses can handle giving birth (while swimming), so can you. Besides, it won’t happen tomorrow. On the other hand, it didn’t take long before “Star Trek” touch-screens and face-to-face calls became part of our everyday lives. Likewise, the day will come when birth by artificial womb, or ectogenesis, is a reality. Will it turn the world upside down? We can’t answer that until it happens, but things will certainly never be the same. Here are 10 big changes we can expect if men can get pregnant.

l The romantic proposal “Will you bear me a child?” could become one of the woman’s marriage conditions.

l No more inequality in employment: Male and female job candidates could both require a lengthy pregnancy leave.

l “Maternity leave” a thing of the past: With paternity leave too, might as well just make it gender-free “pregnancy leave”.

l Plus-size men’s fashions: Leading designer brands like Gucci, Givenchy and Chanel will spearhead the trend for collections that reveal/conceal the male “bump”. Guys in uniforms, especially policemen and soldiers, will deserve our sympathy as they doff their super-tight uniforms for something loose and flouncing.

l Sudden lifestyle changes: Guys must go without alcohol for a whole nine months. What will they drink while watching football on telly instead of cold beer? Gatherings of male friends could turn into milkshake parties.

l Chat changes: Gossiping at the water cooler will be dramatically different. No more rating the sexiest legs in the office or discussing the hip new hangouts in town. Instead it will be “What supplements should I take” and “Is it kicking yet?” 

l Jealousy and insecurity taking over: We’ve heard about men cheating on their wives during pregnancy. Men will now be fretting that the rule of karma might catch up to them. And seeing his wife’s head spin at the sight of a hunk with a six-pack of abs could be the undoing of the poor bloke with the “big tummy”.

l Bonding with kids: When a father welcome his little angel into the world, it’s totally different from Mum’s feelings while it grew inside her. Any dad who actually carries the baby inside will undergo acute role reversal. The mother hen is no longer the mother. Men will be the ones asking the kids, “What time will you come home?” and “Who’s the friend you’re going out with?”

l Niche market in music: Songs on motherly love won’t be good enough any longer. Songwriters will have to come up with tear-jerking tunes about fatherly love as well. Maybe Thailand’s “songs-for-life” genre can come up with laments about dads making all sorts of sacrifices through nine months of pregnancy.

l Fathers breastfeeding: Now interior designers will have to include breastfeeding rooms for men in their plans too. We shouldn’t make too much of this, though – if men can have babies, breastfeeding is the least of their problems.

It will be a while before the concept of artificial wombs is widely accepted, even if it’s less controversial than cloning in terms of ethics. Surely women are likely to vote in favour of it but, if it’s not to be, the notion’s failure won’t be due to ethical issues. Rather, it’s the men who raise objections. Carrying a baby for nine months feels like an eternity and might strike them as a form of torture. Should the day come, however, they’re going to love their mums and wives so much more!