Sister-Sister is back with another post about pregnancy! Here first guest post on pregnancy can be found here. Enjoy!
I am officially in the third trimester now, and things are going fine: baby's a-kicking, heartburn's a-boiling, and feet are a-swelling. In the last couple of weeks, I feel like the bump has popped out quite a bit more. Prior to that, I would look more or less pregnant depending on what I wore. Some days a loose top would just about obscure the bump, allowing me to blissfully walk around like a normal person and not be the subject of commentary.
Oh yes, commentary on my size, shape, and general baby ideas has started coming much more frequently. People see a pregnant lady and they can’t help themselves. I first encountered this on a plane.
Did any of you get “special” commentary while you were expecting? Or about the baby after it was born?
I am officially in the third trimester now, and things are going fine: baby's a-kicking, heartburn's a-boiling, and feet are a-swelling. In the last couple of weeks, I feel like the bump has popped out quite a bit more. Prior to that, I would look more or less pregnant depending on what I wore. Some days a loose top would just about obscure the bump, allowing me to blissfully walk around like a normal person and not be the subject of commentary.
Oh yes, commentary on my size, shape, and general baby ideas has started coming much more frequently. People see a pregnant lady and they can’t help themselves. I first encountered this on a plane.
LOUD PASSENGER WHO WORKS IN GYMNASTICS EQUIPMENT SUPPLY AND HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT GYMNASTICS EQUIPMENT TO HER OTHER SEATMATE FOR AN HOUR: What are you having?ME, STARTLED: Oh, I don’t know yet. It’s too early to tell.LOUD PASSENGER: Well, don’t find out!ME, ALARMED: Oh, why?LOUD PASSENGER: It’s supposed to be a surprise. Also, my husband and I chose names that you can’t make nicknames out of, so keep that in mind.ME, ANNOYED: Will do.About a month later at a street fair/market thing, I innocently bought a stuffed grape leaves sandwich.
VERY OLD MOTHER OF FALAFEL GUY: How many month?ME, AMUSED: Oh, about four and half, five months!VERY OLD MOTHER: My daughter, she look like you at nine month.ME, CRESTFALLEN: Ah.VERY OLD MOTHER: You will have a big baby!This week, an electrician at work saw me taking the stairs.
ELECTRICIAN WHO IS USUALLY VERY NICE: Good for you, keeping in shape.ME, TIRED: The elevator is so slow.ELECTRICIAN, EXAMINING ME APPRAISINGLY: No, that’s good, you’ve got to exercise.And a co-worker saw me in the staff lounge.
CO-WORKER I BARELY KNOW: Valerie, today is the most pregnant I’ve ever seen you.ME, EXHAUSTED: Every day is the most pregnant I’ve ever been.I get that everyone has opinions about pregnancy, from being pregnant themselves, having pregnant family members, or watching lots of episodes of “A Baby Story.” And I know that most people have the best intentions. But sometimes, I just want to blend in, and not have this part of my life be so front and center. But it is front and center, right there in the old belly.
Did any of you get “special” commentary while you were expecting? Or about the baby after it was born?
I don't really mind special commentary while I'm expecting...I think people are just in awe of the fact that you are carrying a baby, building a human! I generally feel special when I'm pregnant so comments are okay. HOWEVER, post baby comments about my size/shape deserve a good ol' face slap!
ReplyDeleteOh man. I was working in college athletics at the time (basketball season) and EVERY WEEK, the fans who would see me at each game would say, "Wow, no baby yet?" or, "Still pregnant, huh?" Or, "I thought for sure you'da had that baby by now." My response (fake cheerful smile) "Nope, still two months to go!!" I know they all meant well and just wanted to start conversation.
ReplyDeleteOh yes. I very nearly had to punch multiple baristas when they tried to translate my orders into caffeine-free versions ('and here's our list of herbal teas!'). Step off. (I didn't so much mind comments on me looking super-pregnant, because I was pretty impressed with my belly at the time, but people trying to monitor my behavior really pissed me off.)
ReplyDeleteMy personal "fav" was when a co-worker said, "You sure you aren't having twins??" Thanks! That's what every pregant-with-one-baby lady wants to hear. That she's big enough to have at least 2 in there.
ReplyDeleteHang in there Valerie!!! After the baby is born then people just oogle over the baby and all the attention goes from you to the baby!
I actually was one of those women who didn't show much during her pregnancy. I was self-conscience about it all along because I am plus-sized and actually wanted people to know that I was pregnant and not just getting fatter! LOL I certainly felt pregnant so I guess it didn't matter what people though/said, but one of my coworkers told me (when I was 37 weeks), "Wow, today is the first day that you actually look pregnant". Um, ok, thanks I think? Funny thing was that later that day my water broke and Jacob came 36 hours later!
ReplyDeleteDon't have any advise but had to say I love the comment of "Today's the most pregnant I've ever been" Great comeback (at least for 1st baby) I'm gonna use it when that time comes
ReplyDeleteSomeone came to visit our new baby and told us he was "so much cuter in person." Uh, thanks.
ReplyDeleteWorking at multiple elementary schools, I've had LOTS of comments from all my co-workers. Many "experienced" moms. One will tell me, "oh, your going to have a big baby!" the next days someone else will say, "you are way to small to be at 30 weeks!" I try to smile and remember that ever woman's body does this differently. It REALLY helps me to go to prenatal yoga. A room full of us all looking completely different!! And yes, I get tired of the comments. There will be fewer comments on you after baby is born, and some folks will be so insensitive as to comment on baby. Yes, my little boy was, and still is, tiny. My sisters second child is huge. Neither came out that way - both were "average" they just grow differently.
ReplyDeleteHang in there! We are in the home stretch. See you soon, I think!
Thanks everyone! I am glad (?) that I am not the only one to hear some of these silly comments. It seems like lots of people want to comment on whether a woman is looking big or small in pregnancy. Which is so frustrating, because how do you control that?! Big or small, showing or not, I'm sure the mom-to-be has the situation in hand. :)
ReplyDeleteTelegaWoman, the "cuter in person" comment is a classic!
Molly, thanks! Yes, will see you next week I hope!