This blog post will be organized into two sections. The first being questions that you are allowed to ask me/Sean during the pregnancy - and the answers to them. The second being questions that you are not allowed to ask me or any other pregnant woman ever. [Yes, there is such a thing as a "bad" or "stupid" question - so don't ask them] I, or my friends, have been asked all of the questions that I have included.
Good Questions and Answers
What's your due date?
Our guess date is January 8th
When did you find out?
On my birthday!!! Happy Birthday to me!
How far along?
13ish weeks
When and will you find out the gender?
Yes we will find out in 2 more months
How is this pregnancy compared to the previous?
It's like comparing apples and oranges. I pretty much slept through my entire first trimester with Evette but now that little one is running around and requires much more of my time. Overall - it wasn't too bad. Mostly tired, a little bit nauseous. I'm pretty much back to normal now.
Can I come pick up Evette so you can take a nap?
Yes!
Cravings?
Not really. Right now I want eggs Benedict - anyone wanna make me some?
Can I make you some Eggs Benedict?
Yes!
Names picked out?
Only girl names - boys are trickier. And no, we're not going to tell you because if you have your baby before me and steal my name I will cry.
Another all natural birth?
That's the plan!
Is Evette excited?
Yes!! She pats my belly and says "Baby!" all the time. We got some older sibling books and we read them dozens of times a time. The baby is one of her favorite things to talk about
Bad Questions and why they are bad
Was this planned?
Really? How awkward is this question and why is it your business? Don't ask this question.
Are you excited? Is Sean?
Ummm if you expect anything other than "yes" you're crazy. Don't ask this question.
Another one? Already?
Apparently. Don't ask this question.
Do you have to go to the bathroom all the time?
When has it ever been appropriate to talk about bodily functions? Don't ask this question.
How much weight have you gained?
No. no. no. no. this is not appropriate. Remember how you're never supposed to ask a woman her weight? Just because she is pregnant doesn't mean that she isn't a woman or human or doesn't have feelings. Seriously. Any questions regarding my weight, size, girth are completely off limits. Don't ask these questions.
Are you sure you're not having twins?
Thanks for telling me I look like a ginormous elephant. Don't ask this question.
Should you really be eating that?
Me, my body, and my midwife get to discuss what I eat and how much. Period. The end. Don't ask this question.
Horror Pregnant stories....
This is not a question but I don't wanna hear any of it. None. Not even if it's "relevant." Absolutely not. Yes, I have heard enough scary pregnancy/birthing stories to last a lifetime - no, I do not want to hear another. Don't ask share these stories.
Shouldn't you be working out more/less?
None of your business. Don't ask this question.
Can I touch your belly?
No. It's still my body. Don't ask this question.
EXCEPTIONS - If you are a close friend of mine I will probably/have already talked about all of these questions and you probably know more than you want to. Also, I will also probably let you touch my belly. That's what close friends are for - but let me divulge all this information.
Good Questions and Answers
What's your due date?
Our guess date is January 8th
When did you find out?
On my birthday!!! Happy Birthday to me!
How far along?
13ish weeks
When and will you find out the gender?
Yes we will find out in 2 more months
How is this pregnancy compared to the previous?
It's like comparing apples and oranges. I pretty much slept through my entire first trimester with Evette but now that little one is running around and requires much more of my time. Overall - it wasn't too bad. Mostly tired, a little bit nauseous. I'm pretty much back to normal now.
Can I come pick up Evette so you can take a nap?
Yes!
Cravings?
Not really. Right now I want eggs Benedict - anyone wanna make me some?
Can I make you some Eggs Benedict?
Yes!
Names picked out?
Only girl names - boys are trickier. And no, we're not going to tell you because if you have your baby before me and steal my name I will cry.
Another all natural birth?
That's the plan!
Is Evette excited?
Yes!! She pats my belly and says "Baby!" all the time. We got some older sibling books and we read them dozens of times a time. The baby is one of her favorite things to talk about
Bad Questions and why they are bad
Was this planned?
Really? How awkward is this question and why is it your business? Don't ask this question.
Are you excited? Is Sean?
Ummm if you expect anything other than "yes" you're crazy. Don't ask this question.
Another one? Already?
Apparently. Don't ask this question.
Do you have to go to the bathroom all the time?
When has it ever been appropriate to talk about bodily functions? Don't ask this question.
How much weight have you gained?
No. no. no. no. this is not appropriate. Remember how you're never supposed to ask a woman her weight? Just because she is pregnant doesn't mean that she isn't a woman or human or doesn't have feelings. Seriously. Any questions regarding my weight, size, girth are completely off limits. Don't ask these questions.
Are you sure you're not having twins?
Thanks for telling me I look like a ginormous elephant. Don't ask this question.
Should you really be eating that?
Me, my body, and my midwife get to discuss what I eat and how much. Period. The end. Don't ask this question.
Horror Pregnant stories....
This is not a question but I don't wanna hear any of it. None. Not even if it's "relevant." Absolutely not. Yes, I have heard enough scary pregnancy/birthing stories to last a lifetime - no, I do not want to hear another. Don't ask share these stories.
Shouldn't you be working out more/less?
None of your business. Don't ask this question.
Can I touch your belly?
No. It's still my body. Don't ask this question.
EXCEPTIONS - If you are a close friend of mine I will probably/have already talked about all of these questions and you probably know more than you want to. Also, I will also probably let you touch my belly. That's what close friends are for - but let me divulge all this information.
And an adorable picture of Babbs just because.
I think we should collaborate on how to respond when people ask these bad questions; it could be fun and useful. "How much weight have you gained?" "Oh, probably about as much as you've put on these past six months." "Can I touch your belly?" "Only if I can rub yours for good luck." I got a version of the "Should you be eating that?" question the other day from someone who regularly eats microwave dinners while she was currently eating Taco Bell. I won't judge if you won't judge but if you judge my homemade casserole while eating fast food, I will judge you. This same person has asked me on two separate occasions how much weight I've gained. I mean, seriously, come on.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, those are sme insane "bad questions"!!! People are so funny. I'm sure I've asked some bad ones in my day too, but it kills me how awkward people can be. Right after Iris was born I had tons of strangers ask me how the baby weight was coming off, and say things like "you don't look too bad considering." I was giddy enough that I didn't really care, but it made me feel awful for all those women who have to deal with that in even more excess.
ReplyDeleteAnd PS, that is the coolest birthday present ever! It'll be a great story for your little one someday :). Congratulations again, we are so very excited for you!
ReplyDeleteMay I have permission to share your AWESOME "Do Not Ask" section the next time we are expecting? Loved it. Congratulations on little one #2 ;)
ReplyDeletecongratulations on baby #2!
ReplyDelete