My Best Parenting Advice: “I’m Not Fat, I’m Pregnant!” by Blythe Lipman

As you all know…I Love Babies! No matter where I am, when I see a baby, my face lights up and a smile as big as Texas appears. And I just have to go up to the parents and see if I can get the baby to smile.  And if it’s not too obnoxious, I give mom and dad my business card and let them know that I am available if they need a little coaching or answers to any questions that might arise. As we all know, Babies Come Without Instructions !

I’ve had the good fortune to share my expertise for over 35 years with moms groups, including  pregnant women, women with more than one baby and sometimes even grandmas. And during the discussions, inevitably we talked about the things people said or did to them while they were pregnant.  While I thought I heard them all. Here are a dozen  that had me shaking my head in awe!

1. When is the baby due? You look really big. How much weight have you gained?
2. Are you sure the due date is right, looks like you’re ready to pop.
3. Is your husband a big guy?
4. I had a friend who was as big as you and she had triplets even though the doctor said it was only  one baby.
5. You must have tons of stretch marks. Can i see them?
6. Can I touch your belly?
7. Was this baby planned?
8. I hope you’re having a boy. They’re much easier to raise than girls and vice/versa.
9. It will probably take you two years to lose all that baby weight.
10. Did you know breast fed babies are smarter?
11. I hope you’re going to get an epidural because labor really hurts.
12. It will probably take you two years to lose all that baby weight.

While pregnancy is a beautiful time in a woman’s life, it is also complicated and highly emotional. If the morning sickness and the hormones are not enough to put a woman over the edge. The body is constantly changing and everything feels different. And while most people mean well with their questions and comments, one wrong word can bring on those tears. So remember the next time you see a pregnant woman, count to three before those words come out of your mouth no matter how good they may sound to you. The best thing to say; ” You’re pregnant, how wonderful!”

Blythe Lipman, President and Founder of Baby Instructions based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a nationally recognized baby and toddler expert, a parenting consultant, an author of three award-winning books, Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions,  More…Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions, and Help! My Toddler Came Without Instructions, a teacher, a caregiver, a keynote speaker, a blogger AND host of Baby and Toddler Instructions, a weekly Parenting Internet talk radio show which airs live every Wednesday at 11:00 am EST on itunes and toginet.   She is owner of the online parenting magazine My Best Parenting Advice and the site Baby Instructions.

My Best Parenting Advice: “Oh, You’re Pregnant!” by Blythe Lipman