From the moment you make the news of your pregnancy public, it seems everyone around you becomes an expert on the subject. And as your belly grows, so does the number of people who believe it’s their responsibility to offer you advice on what you should and shouldn’t be doing. During my first pregnancy, these wannabe OBs constantly annoyed me. I’m a meticulous researcher by nature and had already either verified or refuted most of what they were telling me. But now that I’ve reached the halfway point of my second pregnancy, I’ve heard enough! Speaking on behalf of all mommies-to-be out there, here are five things we don’t want to hear. The next time you see a pregnant woman, think before you speak–with all of these raging hormones, we can’t be trusted not to bite your head off!
Wow, you’re big! It’s no secret that pregnancy packs on the pounds. And the last thing any pregnant woman needs is to be reminded of that fact. More than likely she’s already beating herself up about the extra weight at every prenatal visit. Let her enjoy that cookie dough ice cream now. She’ll have plenty of time to burn it off later when she’s chasing her little one around the house!
Let me tell you my labor story… Especially if it’s her first pregnancy, most women are justifiably anxious about childbirth. They’ve already watched enough YouTube videos and episodes of A Baby Story to scare themselves–they don’t need to hear about your experience on top of it. The truth is, every experience is different, so there’s no need to freak anyone out with your 72-hour labor horror story. Save it for a post-delivery glass of wine.
Should you be eating/drinking that? I’ve found that this advice most often comes from people who’ve either never been pregnant, or who were pregnant so long ago that that their advice no longer applies. Trust that the mom-to-be you’re talking to has a good relationship with her doctor or midwife and is more than aware of the food and drinks she should avoid.
You shouldn’t be on your feet. Unless she’s been put on bed rest by her doctor, being pregnant does not mean being sentenced to nine months of sitting on her behind. In fact, being active during pregnancy can facilitate a smooth labor and delivery. Mommies: ignore this, unless it’s coming from your partner who is offering to take over all the household chores!
Enjoy your peace and quiet now, because you won’t have any when the baby comes. While this is probably true, it’s one of the worst things you can tell a mom-to-be. Don’t spoil her dreams of cuddles and coos by telling her that her bundle of joy will actually be a tiny terror who’ll deprive her of sleep!
