You said WHAT to a Pregnant Woman?!

Kathryn Gibbs Photography

There is an myth of how fragile the emotional state of a pregnant woman is. That she is difficult, angry and just plain crazy. I agree with some of it. I wasn’t the difficult, hard-to-please kind of crazy; I was more the ‘cry-at-the-drop-of-a-hat', over sensitive kind of crazy.

When you break it down, between the hormones, fear, joy, exhaustion and anticipation, she doesn’t know how to feel. I can attest to that. I was pregnant with Mason, in my first trimester, over Christmas in 2010. We hadn’t told anyone yet, so I was trying to keep in the crazy. I remember watching TV with my mom and bawling at a Canadian Tire commercial. I couldn’t even speak about the commercial or I would tear up. Anything sentimental would open the floodgates.

Here is the video:

Another reason some women are seen as crazy or over emotional can be from the unsolicited tips, questions and comments from strangers, friends and family. I found this list of what not to say to a pregnant woman from parenting.com. 
The top ones I experienced were:

• You don't look that pregnant! (Trust me...I am.) 
• Are you going to nurse/cloth diaper/co-sleep…(It’s my choice regardless.)
• Can I touch your belly?

Believe me when I say you’d be lucky to be asked permission. Many people seem to think your baby belly is public domain. Imagine rubbing theirs back? I bet it wouldn’t go over well.

In case you are trying to compliment a pregnant woman; here is another list of tips on what may be insulting. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but there are many sensitive subjects! Check it out here from Huffington Post.

This isn’t meant to discourage complimenting a woman at what can be considered the most beautiful part of life, but tread lightly. She means well…try carrying a watermelon under your shirt for months with all the lovely side effects, and forget seeing your feet…

Keep strong mamas, and those who deal with mamas, it will all be worth it!

-A

Frabz.com

Motherhood Myths

Frabz.com

 

If you don't agree with the myths of motherhood, you must be doing it wrong. Maybe you just weren’t cut out for motherhood. OR…you are HUMAN.  

I found a great list on mommyish.com. The highlights that give me flashbacks are below.

Motherhood means being deliriously happy all the time

Delirious? You betcha! Happy? Check! Both simultaneously, 24/7? No way. To assume it’s all going to be sunshine and rainbows is naïve. It is hard work. Sleep deprivation was the hardest for me. At 4am, while I would be rocking my baby back to sleep for the eighth time…he’d smile at me. My first thought was always ‘you're lucky you’re cute.’

Your maternity leave is like a vacation

Maybe if you are vacationing at a resort that has alarms that go off every 3-4 hours and you have to decipher what they mean and how to make it stop…all day and night. Forget relaxing, sleeping, showering and eating regularly. Not happening.

If you’re not completely fulfilled by motherhood, something must be wrong with you

Team Umizoomi

Babies are wonderful. Being a mother has made me a better person. However, I am still an independent thinking, thriving human being. I need more mental stimulation than cooing with my infant, or watching endless episodes of Team Umizoomi (Mason LOVES Team Umizoomi.) and that is ok.

Don’t let mom guilt consume you. Does it all seem scary? Maybe. But it’s the biggest thrill of my life. Watching your children grow, learn and love is all you can ask for.

-A