Pregnancy Etiquette

At the risk of sounding blunt and offensive, I'm going to let you in on a little secret in order to save pregnant women everywhere (including myself) frustration. Here it is: No woman likes being told she's huge. Let me repeat that: No woman likes being told she's huge. Contrary to popular belief, this does not change when a woman is pregnant.

Now, if you've already told a pregnant woman she's huge, don't fret. You didn't know better. That's why I'm here. But it doesn't end there. There are actually several seemingly innocent variations that come across exactly the same way. So here is a list of some of the more common no-no's I've heard: "You're about to pop!" "You couldn't possibly get any bigger!" "There's no way you'll make it to your due date!" or, after hearing your due date, "Are you having twins?" No matter how you spin it, it comes across the same: "You're huge." And no pregnant woman considers that a compliment.

So, you might ask, what can I say to a pregnant woman? I'm glad you asked. I've come up with a list of acceptable pregnancy-related remarks to help you out: "You look great!", or "I'm/We're so excited for you!" or even, "Do you know what you're having?" are usually safe bets. If you want to go out on a limb, I've even heard "You're all baby!" comes across with a positive connotation.

So there you have it. Pregnancy Etiquette 101. And just for kicks, I'll throw in that many pregnant women do not like it when you spontaneously rub their belly. Just so you know.