'You Look Small!'
'When I Was Pregnant, I Never …'
You might think you are talking about how when you were pregnant you never had to worry about silly dietary rules or weight gain guidelines or spent so much money on fussy maternity clothes. But it just seems smug, especially to a pregnant lady who is just doing the best she can to not eat all the burritos.
'Are You Going to Breast-Feed?'
Never was a question more fraught with booby traps than this one. Many women want to breast-feed but can’t. Some women don’t want to. The point is that it’s different for everyone, and a woman’s plans are her own.
'Can I Touch Your Belly?'
This is such an awkward question. Touching someone’s stomach is a violation of her personal space, because, yes, that stomach still belongs to her. Also, don’t just touch a pregnant woman’s stomach. As a general rule, it’s not polite to grab anyone’s body parts, even a pregnant person’s.
'Looks Like You Could Go Any Day'
When I was pregnant with my first child, strangers, acquaintances and my husband’s co-workers started telling me that I looked like I was going to “pop” any day. So, it was really awkward when I told them I still had three more months to go. For most pregnant women, by the time they look like they could “go any day,” they are miserable and tired. They don’t need to be reminded about how big they look.
'I Never Pictured You as the Maternal Type'
I heard this several times when I announced my first pregnancy, and, invariably I replied, “Well, I wasn’t a mother then, and I am now.” And, while you may be surprised at who in your friend group is popping out babies, it’s never the best idea to passively imply that you think they aren’t cut out for parenthood. By now, it’s too late.
'Sleep Now, Because You Won’t Once the Baby Comes'
Yes, this is the 21st century. Being a mother is not the enigma shrouded in a puzzle that it once was. We all know that being a mother means extreme exhaustion. Hollywood, television and the horror stories on a million blogs have prepared all mothers-to-be for the exhaustion. And if they aren’t prepared, idle warnings by acquaintances sure won’t help. Also, I have it on good authority that pregnant ladies don’t sleep well either.
