As I am writing this, I am 23 weeks pregnant with my first child. I admit I am a bit more sensitive these days, but I definitely should have developed thicker skin before I became pregnant.
You see, I’ve found pregnancy to be a time when women are vulnerable to a variety of insensitive comments. It seems that being pregnant is a signal for people to make comments or offer uninvited suggestions which may offend the soon-to-be mother. Even though people may mean well when showing their concerns about the whole pregnancy adventure, they really need to be more careful of what they say to an expecting woman.
Here, now, is my top 10 list of things that have actually been said to me, most of which should not be said to any pregnant woman.
10. “Do you want a boy or a girl?” OR “Are you disappointed it’s a girl/boy?”
Honestly does this question really matter? What is the point of even asking this question? My main concern is the little one, his or her health, and the happiness this bundle of joy will bring to me, regardless of the gender.
9. “Are you sure there is only one baby in there?”
This person might as well have said, “Wow, you sure look fat.” What I would have liked to say back to this person was, “Wow, thanks so much for saying that. I was wondering whether anyone had noticed my bump, but now I know just how huge it is.”
8. “Damn your hormonal.”
Um, no. I am an intelligent woman feeling annoyed about something. Just because I happen to be pregnant doesn’t mean you can combine this with an unpleasant pregnancy symptom. In case you’re interested, pregnancy mood swing comments are more aggravating than time-of-the-month comments. And besides, sometimes, I’m just in a bad mood.
7. “Ooh should you be doing/drinking/eating that”
It’s a sip of coffee people, not a pot of coffee. Apparently drinking coffee, soda, using hair dye, eating McDonalds, or pizza, standing too long, sitting too long, nail polish, green tea, etc. are all things that are making me a horrible mother already. Horrible because I do not refrain myself from almost everything on the planet.
6. “Are you sure that your due date is correct? You look like you’re going to have this baby tomorrow.”
Honestly this comment made me want to go on a diet, if it was even possible to go on a diet while being pregnant!
5. “How much do you weigh now?”
4. “You’re going to do _(Fill in the blank)_ right?”
3. “Wow! You still have a ways to go!”
2. “I was ripped open from end to end”
1. “You don’t even look pregnant, you just look FAT.”
This is great ! I am 25 weeks pregnant definitely made me feel more comfortable! Like I’m not the only one that thinks the same !
OMG! I have been asked/told some of these things and sometimes they really make you think and almost make you depressed. A person’s comment can have a lot of mental effect on a pregnant lady especially due to hormones and stuff!
Thank you for this great article jessica! Keep em coming