We’ve all been there. A few weeks post partum, finally brave enough to tackle a “quick” Target trip away from the baby. Feeling quite proud of yourself for not completely melting down, the woman checking you out innocently asks “Oh! When are you due?”
As if pregnancy isn’t hard enough, comments from strangers – OK let’s face it, family and friends, too – can send us into crazy hormonal rage. Our contributor team compiled the worst comments we received while pregnant.
While approaching the due date:
- “Any progress?” No, I don’t want to talk to you about my cervix. Thanks.
- “Have you tried eating spicy food?” No, because that DOESN’T WORK.
- “Wow. You’re still pregnant!”
- “You should go have sex! That will work!”
- “You haven’t had that baby yet?”
- “How dilated are you?”
About the gender:
- “It’s a girl, because girls steal your beauty.” So you’re saying I’m ugly?
- “Are you going to try for a girl?”
- “Another boy? Oh, I am so sorry!”
- “Two boys, huh. Your house is going to be… busy.”
Size matters:
- “Wow you look huge these days!”
- “You’re so much bigger then with your first two. I mean… you are carrying differently.”
- “Are you having twins?”
- “My sister had triplets, and I don’t think she was even that big!”
- “You carry it well.” Because as a pregnant woman, I am entitled to check out your body as you age or change and evaluate it?
- “You’re not due until November? God! You’ll be huge!”
What’s in a name:
- “Well I will have to get used to calling a baby that name.”
- “I once knew someone named that. They were a murderer/drug dealer/smelled bad.”
- Straight up hysterical laughter after sharing what the baby’s name will be.
What’s next?
- “Are you done after this one?”
- “Will you be getting your tubes tied?”
- “You know how this happens, right?”
- Anyone (especially your husband) talking about “the next one” … That goes for 6 months postpartum as well.
Unsolicited advice/judgment:
- “You know, when I was pregnant…”
- “You’ll have this one in the hospital, right?”
- “I bet you will have a big/colicky/hyperactive baby.”
- I hated comments and expectations that pregnancy was super fun and glamorous, and I should treasure every moment. It was often gross, uncomfortable, painful and emotionally taxing. Stop making me feel bad for not loving it.
- How about strangers telling you the aaaallll the gory details of their birth/labor/post birth sex life OR telling you horror stories about babies that died/got hurt/had horrible diseases… nightmares for preggos!”
What comments or advice did you find most irritating during pregnancy?
