The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Couvade \Cou`vade"\ (k[=oo]`v[.a]d"), n. [F., fr. couver. See
   Covey.]
   A custom, among certain barbarous tribes, that when a woman
   gives birth to a child her husband takes to his bed, as if
   ill.
   [1913 Webster]

         The world-wide custom of the couvade, where at
         childbirth the husband undergoes medical treatment, in
         many cases being put to bed for days.    --Tylor.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

couvade
    n 1: a custom among some peoples whereby the husband of a
         pregnant wife is put to bed at the time of bearing the
         child