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How to Properly Talk to a Pregnant Woman in Her Third Trimester
- Sep 12, 2009 at 9:24 PM
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- Comments (19) Total Views (789) Everyone can see this journal post.
You see a pregnant woman, quite heavy with child. It is apparant that she soon will give birth.
Inappropriate Responses
BAD: Boy, you sure are big.
WORSE: How much bigger are you going to get anyway?
LIKELY TO GET YOU MAIMED: WOW you are HUGE are you sure you aren't having twins? Haha!
Appropriate Responses
GOOD: You'll be giving birth soon. How exciting!
VERY GOOD: Lovely belly! Is there anything I can help you with or anything you need?
EXCELLENT FOR HUSBAND: You look like a fertility goddess.
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You see a pregnant woman, quite heavy with child. You know her expected due date has come and gone. But she doesn't seem concerned and seems content to wait.
Inappropriate Responses
BAD: How long to they intend to let you go?
WORSE: That's what inductions are for you know. Get that baby out already.
LIKELY TO GET YOU MAIMED: Do you intend to stay pregnant forever? What are you waiting for?
Appropriate Responses
GOOD: Enjoy these last moments! Tell you what, let me treat you to lunch and let's talk.
VERY GOOD: Have you gotten everything you need? How about we have a spa day and I'll paint your toenails for you.
EXCELLENT FOR HUSBAND: Babe, just tell those busybodies the baby will come when it is good and ready. Or do what I would do...flip them off.
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Your pregnant friend tells you that she's going back to work very soon after giving birth (part time, full time, or flex time).
Inappropriate Responses
BAD: Are you crazy?! What for?
WORSE: Suppose something goes wrong and you have to have surgery or you are incapacitated? What makes you think you'll have any energy to do anything at all?
LIKELY TO GET YOU MAIMED: How come your husband doesn't make enough to support you? Maybe you shouldn't have gotten pregnant.
Appropriate Responses
GOOD: If anyone can do it you can.
VERY GOOD: I know you'll have your hands full, but if you ever need anything give me a call!
EXCELLENT FOR HUSBAND: I support you 100%.
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Your pregnant friend tells you that she's going to go natural...no drugs or augmentation of any kind.
Inppropriate Responses
BAD: Are you crazy?! What for?
WORSE: Haha. You'll be begging for pain meds in record time.
LIKELY TO GET YOU MAIMED: Don't be silly. Why would you put yourself through that? Just do it like everyone else. What are you trying to prove?
Appropriate Responses
GOOD: A lot of people do that these days. All the power to you!
VERY GOOD: I don't know much about going without meds. Can we talk about it more?
EXCELLENT FOR HUSBAND: I support you 100%.
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Your pregnant friend tells you that she's going stay home and give birth with a midwife.
Inppropriate Responses
BAD: Are you crazy?! What for?
WORSE: That's just plain reckless. Suppose there is some emergency?
LIKELY TO GET YOU MAIMED: I suppose that's fine if you want to risk a dead baby.
Appropriate Responses
GOOD: A lot of people do that these days. All the power to you!
VERY GOOD: I don't know much about homebirth. Can we talk about it more? I'll help if I can!
EXCELLENT FOR HUSBAND: I support you 100%.
Comments:
Maybe you should put up a sign on the fridge for him that says something like, "if all else fails, tell her that you support her!" Hugs, hun! Try to enjoy it, even the frustrating stuff, it's almost over and you'll miss it.
Inspiration came from several places, not all personal.
My husband actually told me I look like a fertility goddess :) I was reveling in that for weeks :P LOL
Some of the things are stuff that I've seen other women complain about. Makes me mad by proxy :)
A friend of mine was giving me crap about going back to work and played the c-section card.
My husband thought that every woman was incapaciated after birth, I had to set him straight!
Every since my MIL tried the "dangerous" card in my second trimester and I had my husband tell her to butt out or I would ... I haven't discussed my birth plans with anyone. I don't need the stress.
LOL! Hubs told me that I was looking like "those statues of pregnant women, fertility statues?" when I was in the third trimester, too. It was sweet and funny because it reminded me of reading that your husband had said it. Yours said it in a more romantic-sounding manner, than the way mine was posed, I'm sure, lol.
I thought the "are you sure you aren't having twins" comment was so cute, until people said it to me when I was pregnant. After getting a dose of my own medicine, I realized that wasn't really cute after all.
I love it! I'll have to print this out and keep it on hand when Januray comes =-)
All the pregant women in the world owe you thanks. LOL
I love this :) It's so true, and thanks for the chuckle, I needed that.
SO true~When I was 8 months pregnant, people kept asking if I was having twins, nope just a big baby!
And if you're the schedule girl at a clinic that sees pregnant women ALL THE TIME; don't frown at your computer screen and then say "and what are we seeing you for?" when you walk up to make an appointment for freaking NEXT WEEK!
I'm having issues with the new schedule person at the practice I go to. :-P
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I wish I had had a manual with mine that included that ever-handy, always appropriate response for husband guide. :O)
Too funny. How much of what inspired this are you hearing, anyway?
I'm not your husband (I don't even play him on TV), but I support you 100% percent.
- roachiesmom
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