As much as we would all love to be surrounded by a group of supportive people who cheer us on and want nothing for the best of us, unfortunately, toxic friendships are a fact of life — we'll all come to the realization that we're in one sooner or later. And when you're pregnant, friends' abusive behaviors may become more apparent than ever before. After all, you're stressed, big changes are happening in your life, and you probably don't feel your best — and sadly, this is when those in your life either shine or disappear into thin air.
Before your baby-to-be arrives, now is a great time to get rid of toxic friends — meaning anyone who brings more bad than good into your life and gives you all the negative feelings when you spend time with them.
Signs of a toxic friendship
How to end a toxic friendship
Sometimes, there's nothing that can be done to save a toxic friendship, and instead, it's time to figure out how to walk away. Ending a toxic friendship doesn't require a big conversation if you don't want to have one; you can always slowly distance yourself until they're no longer in your lives anymore.
If you do feel that a "breakup conversation" needs to happen, it's possible to accomplish that in a drama-free way. It can be as simple as letting them know that while you do cherish the time you've spent together, you need to focus on yourself right now. Pregnancy gives you a great excuse to do just that, after all.
Being pregnant is the perfect time to figure out what and who is important in your life, because your free time is about to become very limited, and you'll want to know that the people in your life have your back.
"I don’t tolerate toxic, selfish people in my life anymore. We all go through bad times in our lives and times when we need a little more than we can give, and that's OK," mom Kristina Wright wrote for Mom.com. "Friendship, real friendship, is about being there for each other. But I no longer make excuses or time for people who are so wrapped up in themselves that they can't be a good friend to me."
