Pregnancy Woes . . .

I have been pondering over some thoughts for several months now and have been trying to figure out how and if I should share them.  After many tears, a few laughs and realizing that some people just don’t think before they speak I have decided that I am ready to share . . . Are you scared yet?

What is up with people making comments on the physical appearance (size) of a pregnant ladies body? No one with manners or any amount of decency walks by an obese person and comments on the size of their body, or says to the person with hillbilly buck teeth that their teeth are crooked and sticking out of their mouth, or anything like unto these examples.  Socially you just don’t do things like this, thinking these thoughts is one thing, saying something to your husband is another, but you don’t make unsolicited negative comments to another person about their appearance; it just isn’t nice!

So why do people feel it is OK to make comments about a pregnant ladies growing body to her face?  In a matter of a couple of weeks here are a few of the many comments from well meaning friends and acquaintances:  “When I saw you the other day, you didn’t even look pregnant.”   A few days later at church, our Dentist who is a real jokester says to me, “So when are we going to have another Strong running around?”  I responded, “January”.  A little embarrassed he said, “No, really?” In disbelief that I was pregnant, and that his teasing hadn’t gone as planned.  I patted my tummy, which was very much a pregnant belly and said, “Yep, I’m pregnant.”  So was I just looking fat? Because at that point I had gained 20 pounds and couldn’t even think about wearing anything other than maternity clothes.  Or the comments I have heard on many occasions recently (now that I am 8 months pregnant and gained more weight than I care to tell), “You finally look pregnant” or “Really, you can’t be that far along”.

Ok, these comments were innocent and I believe were intended to be compliments but to the one who had been working so hard before I was pregnant to attempt to get back to a pre-baby weight (4 kids later) and almost finally able to find clothes that fit and didn’t make me look pregnant it has been really depressing to gain any weight, to not fit into normal clothes and to see my waistline and bust line grow and grow.

The comments that left me scratching my head and wondering what was intended were doled out in one evening about 30 minutes from each other. “You are sure looking voluptuous tonight.”  “You sure are blossoming.”  What???  I wish I was quick witted and could have come up with some snarky comment back but alas my mother taught me manners and to be kind and I was left a little speechless.

So really I have come to the conclusion that any comment with regards to how big or small a pregnant lady is, is really an insult. And with extra hormones running rampant the comments are not going to be taken in the tone they were intended.  So next time you have the urge to comment on the size of any part of a pregnant lady's body (unless it is the size of her heart for being willing to accept the responsibility for one of Heavenly Father’s spirit children), BITE YOUR TOUNGUE!  There are plenty of other aspects of pregnancy to talk about with an expecting mother other than how well she fills or doesn’t fill out her maternity clothes. 

With this said I will get off my soap box and return to my previously scheduled posts, when I get a spare minute, to share with you a truly "Thankful Moment": Thanksgiving (even if it is already December). :)