Preg-zilla | Pregnancy Etiquette RequiredAs I near the last couple of weeks, I have some pregnancy etiquette tips on how not to upset a pregnant woman with insensitive comments, a social media faux pas or an invasion of privacy. Although these seem like common sense, if I had a dollar for every violation that happened over the last nine months, my baby girl would have quite a nice start to her educational fund.

5 Pregnancy Etiquette Tips

  • Don’t make public announcements about my baby. If I call you and tell you the baby’s gender, name, future godparents… keep it to yourself. Consider yourself important and special enough to be called personally. Don’t post it on Facebook or Tweet about. You are getting an advance special notice – wait until we announce it publicly before spreading it around.
  • Don’t mention that I look ready to pop or that the doctors might have made a mistake and I am carrying twins. Again, keep it to yourself. Next time I might respond that I am not pregnant at all just to make you feel bad and think twice! In my case, I am 5’2” there is not a lot of room to grow but out. Even if I weren’t, do you really need to make any pregnant woman feel bad about how big they are? “Wow, you got fat” is not appropriate in any situation.
  • Don’t invite yourself to an ultrasound, doctor’s appointment or the delivery room. And don’t assume that you are automatically invited because I was invited to yours or you were in the delivery room last time. This is between me, my body, and this baby. I get to decide who sees what when.
  • Don’t touch my belly or ask to touch my belly. Again this is a wait-for-the-invite situation. My belly, my decision. And if I do invite you, please warm up your hands first!
  • Do whatever I ask of you with a sense of urgency. This is particularly for dads and partners. When I ask to open and assemble the car seat/stroller, don’t just put it on your list. Do it as soon as humanly possible. My nesting hormones are working overtime and you need to keep up unless you want them to come to head with an all-out irrational crying jag on how you aren’t ready for this baby!

Whenever you interact with a pregnant woman, think twice about what you say or do. Pregnancy Etiquette is required. While we may not be officially considered Preg-zillas, the potential is there!

photo credit: lincolnblues via photopin cc