| | | | What Not to Say to a Pregnant Woman |
By Susan M. Keenan
Pregnancy is a very exciting stage in a woman’s life. A variety of physical changes create a totally new image of the woman. Some of the changes are met with grace, and others with tears. Once she gets over the initial weeks of morning sickness, she can concentrate on the more positive changes.
Some of these changes are accepted as a matter of course, no blinking of the eyes or scrunching of the forehead. Other changes, however, are not met with quite such aplomb. In fact, certain changes constantly make us aware of them when we are pregnant, so it is quite difficult to ignore them.
Let’s face it, how many of you can remember not being able to squeeze through a doorway at the same time as someone else once you became pregnant? Or maybe you remember how disappointed you were to finally get asked to be a bridesmaid only to have your dress special ordered and fitted? Better yet, how many of you remember the first time your husband made the mistake of saying, “Don’t worry, honey, I still love you even though you’re fat”?
For some women, it is extremely difficult to notice the changes that come with a pregnancy. In particular, the weight gain, even if within the realms of normal, may prove to be traumatic. After all, how many of us have spent countless weeks and months dieting to maintain our idea of our ideal weight and size?
Therefore, when talking to a pregnant woman, especially in the early stages of her pregnancy, it is essential to tone down your comments and steer away from touchy topics. Comments that just don’t qualify as something to say to a pregnant woman are listed below.
ü “You look as big as a house.”
ü “Wow! How much weight did you gain?”
ü “Gosh, are you having twins?”
ü “You must feel so fat.”
ü “You better keep an eye on that husband of yours.”
ü “How can you stand to go out in public?”
Fortunately, most people are a bit more conscious of the need to be sensitive to the feelings of a pregnant woman. Hormones are all over the place and the tiniest thing can set off a crying spree.
Remember that pregnancy is a time of change for every woman. It may take a conscious effort or a bit of biting the tongue to remember to be kind with our comments. However, our efforts are sure to be appreciated.
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