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Things I will never say to a pregnant woman – because they are either not true, (or they are true – but I don’t want to be beaten with a stick)
They would say – “Sleep now while you can!”
And I would think – “If could sleep now I would, you moron.”
Being reminded (when you’re already dead tired) that you have three years of sleepless nights ahead is NOT helpful OR funny. And EVERYONE says it… EVERYDAY. It is old. Yes, now that the baby is here I am still dead tired, but “collecting” a bunch of sleep before he got here wouldn’t have helped even if I could have slept.
They would say – “It’s fine, you’re eating for two now!”
And I would think – “No, I’m hardly eating for one. All food the is gross. Sure, you might be witnessing me take a third potato, but potato is literally all I can eat – so shut up.”
…and similarly (but different), a few months later – “Oh, eating for two now eh?!”
“No. I am just this large. And I will sit on you and crush you if you don’t shut up.”
Do not comment on a pregnant woman’s eating habits. She’s probably going to throw it all up anyway, and if you provoke her, she might aim at you next time.
Related: Check out this ultimate pregnancy and baby planner!
They would say – “Enjoy some time with your husband before the baby comes!”
And I would think – “My husband isn’t even sleeping in the same bed as me, because I have replaced him with pillows in an effort to get some of that sleep you speak of. Plus I’m working 118 hours per week to try to pad our bank account before I quit work. I don’t even remember what he looks like.”
It’s just plain not helpful to remind a pregnant woman how much her life is going to change. She’s probably already nervous about that stuff. On top of that, perhaps you should prioritize time with your husband! Don’t ignore him just because you have kids.
They would say – “Kids are so expensive…”
And I would think – “Then if you really wanted to be helpful, you’d give me money instead of advice.”
(Besides, it doesn’t have to cost THAT much to raise kids – read this: Preparing for baby on a budget or this 5 ways to save thousands raising kids.)
They would roll their eyes and say – “Well, you won’t have time for that anymore after the baby comes!”
And I would think – “Tell me more about how my life is dissolving into a hopeless pit of nothing but laundry and desperate attempts to make a tiny human sleep…I can’t wait for that!”
They would say – “When I had my first/ second/ third baby my vagina blew up/ got shredded/ fell off completely and there wasn’t even time for drugs.”
And I would think – “Do you want to see me cry? Doesn’t it look like I’m already committed here?”
Listen – unless the details of your scary birth story are specifically solicited by the pregnant lady, don’t share them with her (or at least wait until after she has had her baby). And even if they ARE specifically solicited, tone it down a bit.
Those stories aren’t that bad once you’re on the other side of having done it, but it’s impossible to understand that until you do it. For someone staring down their first ever labor and wondering if she’ll ever be normal again down there, these stories aren’t that encouraging (to say the least).
Related: How to Heal Faster After Vaginal Birth
Related: How to Choose the Perfect Baby Name
My point is – can’t we be just a little positive?
Maybe I’m making a bigger deal out of it than I have to, but honestly, I wasn’t 100% sure I really wanted to have a baby (- that’s a post for another day). Comments like these just solidified my anxiety regardless that they were meant as jokes (or at least stated light-heartedly).
There’s a good chance that a first-time pregnant woman is uncomfortable and nervous – or at the very least, sick to death of hearing how exhausted she’s about to be.
Say something encouraging
Say, “Your life is about to change in the most amazing way.”
Say, “Nothing you have EVER done up before will compare with what you’re about to do”.
You don’t have to lie to be encouraging – you could say, “Those first few weeks are hard. But they are totally worth it.”
Or even “Try to remember, at 3 am, that this is the only season of your life where your tiny little baby will need you like this. Between the yawning and the crying (the baby is crying, you’re crying), take a moment to just hug him and enjoy him. Because this season will pass all too soon.”
Related: The baby sleep tip that will change everything
It would be great if more people would tell first time moms that this will be the best thing they will ever do in their lives.
(And maybe it wouldn’t hurt to mention that even if your vagina DOES fall off, it grows back. 99% of the time. Because you know. That’s a real fear.)
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