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Top 10 Things You Should Never Say to a Pregnant Woman
How Not to Annoy and Offend a Pregnant Woman
By: Kelby Carr on: Sat 26 of May, 2007 [15:29 UTC] (26685 reads)
You shouldn't try to grab a pregnant woman's belly.

During my pregnancies, it never ceased to amaze me the rude and inappropriate things people would say to me. It's like somehow, once you are pregnant, all typical rules of civility go out the window. Suddenly, it's perfectly acceptible for people to call you fat or comment on your reproductive organs or sex history. Hello? Well, here are 10 things you should never say to a pregnant woman. And for you pregnant women, each one includes a snappy comeback to use on offenders.


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"Wow, you're huge!"

Hmm. Pregnant women just love hearing that. Really. About as much as you like hearing how big your butt is. It always amazed me how many people said this without blinking. If you ever said this to a non-pregnant woman, you'd be smacked upside the head. I'm not sure why people think it's OK to tell a pregnant woman she is big.

Snappy comeback: "Yeah, you're huge too. At least I'm pregnant. What's your excuse?"

"Should you be eating that?"

No, she probably shouldn't be eating that. So what? Is it poison? Is it pot brownies? No? Why remark on it, then? Being pregnant means growing another human being inside your body. It means that sometimes, your body wildly craves something questionably nutritious.

When a pregnant woman has been eating fresh veggies and yogurt for days, and someone questions her decision to nibble a slice of pizza, what happens next is really up to fate. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Snappy comeback: "Should you be so nosy?"

"Was your baby conceived naturally?"

What exactly does that mean? Aren't all babies natural? Unless you're talking to your best friend, this question is completely and utterly inappropriate. It also insinuates that there is some difference in a baby conceived without assistance and one that required extra effort on the part of the parents.

On top of that, it's a highly personal question about her and her husband's reproductive organs and sex life.

Snappy comeback: "No, it actually is an alien that was injected into my uterus. Quite unnatural, really."

"Are you sure you aren't having twins?"

See annoying comment number 1 above. This is a roundabout way of saying, "Wow! You're huge!" in a more passive aggressive way. If you were already talking about the pregnancy and she didn't mention the slightly noteworthy point that she has two (or three or four) babies in her, not one, then she either doesn't know or isn't. So don't ask. Because what pregnant women hear is, "Gee, you're big!"

Snappy comeback: "Oh, I didn't realize you are psychic. Can you also tell me the sex of the babies? And the day they will be born?"

"Oh! Can I feel your belly?"

The answer is no. Simple as that. If you're a stranger, it's actually, "Hello no!" Period. End of discussion. And if you're one of those especially rude people who grab random pregnant bellies, you are really playing with fire. Let's see, the woman is uncomfortable, size-challenged (let's not say big) and hormonal. Do you really want to grab her and see what happens?

In normal life, no one would dream of grabbing a stranger's belly. As with all of these examples, ask yourself if you would really treat a non-pregnant person the same way.

Snappy comeback: Don't say a word. Just grab his or her belly and jiggle. Hard.

"When are you due?"

This question seems innocent enough, but it falls under two categories, both with their own levels of annoyance. One, the person you ask might just not be pregnant. Unless you see a maternity shirt that says, "Baby on board," I wouldn't make any assumptions. (You do remember what they say about the word assume, right?").

Women who have just had a baby usually still look pregnant for even a couple weeks or so. I can assure you. You don't want to be the one to ask the moody, tired, hormone-plummeting post-partum woman when she is due. You could get hurt.

The second category of bad here is the actual pregnant woman who has been asked that question, oh, 5,271 times. Today. Is it really that important? Do you really need to know? She will probably volunteer that information anyway.

Snappy comeback: "When are YOU due?" (works best on women, obviously, who are not pregnant)

"If you think it's bad now, wait until the baby arrives"

This usually is applied to numerous issues, but primarily any pregnant woman's complaint over lack of sleep. Trust me. A pregnant woman who hasn't gotten a decent night's sleep in weeks due to Charlie horses, nauseau, heartburn, peeing like 20 times a night and any other assortment of pregnany symptoms will not want to hear it only gets worse.

The delivery is supposed to be the reprieve from the trials of pregnancy. Plus, it is just making light of how hard it is now.

Snappy comeback: "Well, I can just bring the baby to your house for a night and get a good night's sleep."

"Let me tell you my labor horror story!"

OK, no one ever says this first. They usually just launch right into it. This banned question is especially upsetting to first-time pregnant women. They are already freaked about just how scary labor really is. Don't add to the anxiety.

Snappy comeback: "Great story! Let me tell you about (choose one) my last bowel movement/the last time I had morning sickness/that strange feeling I get in my breasts."

"Are you ready for a baby?"

No. Who ever is? Most pregnant women are terrified and uncertain about the answer to that question, at least a little. Don't give a pregnant woman more to stress about. When the baby arrives, she will take one look at her child and know she is more than ready.

Snappy comeback: "Are you ready for a kick in the shin?"

"Wow, you look tired!"

Duh! She hasn't gotten a decent night's sleep since, well, conceiving. Of course she looks tired. It probably took every ounce of her energy to just get out of bed this morning. Then she probably threw up.

Pregnant women already feel big, ugly, have some of the oddest things happening to their body and, yes, are exhausted. It's so hard to feel pretty. Instead of pointing out how badly a pregnant woman looks, why not say how beautiful she is? That is one sure-fire way to lift a downtrodden pregnant woman's spirits.

Snappy comeback: "You look like crap too. What's your excuse?"

Due to the popularity of this list, you can now keep it handy when you're out with the new t-shirt with the Top 10 Things You Should Never Say to a Pregnant Woman. The back of the shirt declares, "Don't Mess with Maternity!"

What's the worst thing someone ever said to you during pregnancy? Did you come up with a great comeback? Is there something missing from this list? Registerexternal link or login to share your rude pregnant commentsexternal link.


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author message
shellie23 points 
beyond the rude comment from an 80 year old woman
on: Wed 11 of Jul, 2007 [06:23 UTC] score: 0.60 Vote: 1 2 3 4 5

I have 6 children — all mine, all single births and fairly stair stepped in age — when I was pregnant with Atticus(#6) I was at cost co with all my kids and this 80 year old lady stops me and says (I kid you not) "do you think you could just shut your legs?" so I asked her if she could shut her mouth her reply, as she was pointng to my 18 month old at the time who is Down Syndrome, she says "well you could have another one of those" I replied with an "I could only hope" but the person in back of me piped up and said "what I'm scared of is that she could have one like you" she finally left as a parent of a Down Syndrome child you find the unbelievably rude and stupid comments don't stop after the pregnancy never tell a parent of a handicapped child "I'm sorry" because we're not.



author message
admin
Re: beyond the rude comment from an 80 year old woman
on: Wed 11 of Jul, 2007 [10:43 UTC] score: 0.60 Vote: 1 2 3 4 5

Wow! I think that just might beat all!! I definitely know what you mean about the rude comments after baby arrives.... With our first, she could be decked in all pink and people would constantly comment on what a cute boy she was! Worse yet, try going out in public with newborn twins. Forget about it! I almost smacked some people... rolleyes

Quote:
I have 6 children — all mine, all single births and fairly stair stepped in age — when I was pregnant with Atticus(#6) I was at cost co with all my kids and this 80 year old lady stops me and says (I kid you not) "do you think you could just shut your legs?" so I asked her if she could shut her mouth her reply, as she was pointng to my 18 month old at the time who is Down Syndrome, she says "well you could have another one of those" I replied with an "I could only hope" but the person in back of me piped up and said "what I'm scared of is that she could have one like you" she finally left as a parent of a Down Syndrome child you find the unbelievably rude and stupid comments don't stop after the pregnancy never tell a parent of a handicapped child "I'm sorry" because we're not.



author message
Taylor_Blue3104 points 
Re: Re: beyond the rude comment from an 80 year old woman
on: Sat 21 of Jul, 2007 [01:18 UTC] score: 0.59 Vote: 1 2 3 4 5

Quote:
Wow! I think that just might beat all!!
I definitely know what you mean about the rude comments after baby arrives.... With our first, she could be decked in all pink and people would constantly comment on what a cute boy she was! Worse yet, try going out in public with newborn twins. Forget about it! I almost smacked some people... rolleyes


Quote:
I have 6 children — all mine, all single births and fairly stair stepped in age — when I was pregnant with Atticus(#6) I was at cost co with all my kids and this 80 year old lady stops me and says (I kid you not) "do you think you could just shut your legs?" so I asked her if she could shut her mouth her reply, as she was pointng to my 18 month old at the time who is Down Syndrome, she says "well you could have another one of those" I replied with an "I could only hope" but the person in back of me piped up and said "what I'm scared of is that she could have one like you" she finally left as a parent of a Down Syndrome child you find the unbelievably rude and stupid comments don't stop after the pregnancy never tell a parent of a handicapped child "I'm sorry" because we're not.

That was quite the story. I can't believe that an old person of all people would even say that to you. That is what is wrong with the world today is that people think that we want to hear their opinions. I am trying to raise my kids...if you can't say something nice then don't say it at all...

Kelby ... I would put my daughter all in pink and people in the grocery store would still ask me...is that a boy?? OMG My exhusband hated shopping with me because he didn't know how I could handle all those comments. But it still happens to this day.



author message
totanaliz2203 points 
Touchy feely
on: Thu 07 of Jun, 2007 [09:48 UTC] score: 0.61 Vote: 1 2 3 4 5

I have to say that the comments didn´t bother me too much, as I guess I was so excited I welcomed the attention. But the one thing that sure did annoy me was being patted and touched. I have to agree that if you aren´t pregnant, other people wouldn´t dream of touching your stomach! Seems like fair game once they spot that bump though. I never did really figure out how to deal with it at the time... wish I had read this article first!



author message
kieransmom464 points 
I heard all those, too!!!!
on: Sat 26 of May, 2007 [20:46 UTC] score: 0.59 Vote: 1 2 3 4 5

I had to put up with every one of those ten, too! AND the ones that Taylor said, how funny it is to be able to laugh at it now. Through my entire pregnancy I worked in a very busy Mexican restaurant in Myrtle Beach (if you ever vacation there, it's called Fiesta del Burro Loco, AWESOME food!) anyway... being a server, I had to put up with a ton of creepy strangers. One table was a well-dressed married couple without children. I went over to take the drink order, and she said, "Oh I see that you are starting to show! Congratulations!" Which didn't bother me, I liked that kind of attention, but then her husband piped up and cracked, "You're pregnant? I thought you were just FAT." So needless to say, I hocked up a good one and spit in his ice before I put his diet coke into his cup. In retrospect, I should have spit in hers too because she laughed at what her stupid husband said. Never offend the pregnant woman who is in charge of your food and drinks.



author message
Taylor_Blue3104 points 
That is funny!!
on: Sat 26 of May, 2007 [16:32 UTC] score: 0.60 Vote: 1 2 3 4 5

Those are great. Funny thing is I have heard all of those. I hate it when people feel your belly thinking it's public property. I think that my favorite one was..."Wow you can't even tell you are pregnant from the back." or "Are you sure you aren't due tomorrow??". What a nice way to make a pregnant woman feel wonderful.




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