Shit To Stop Telling Maltese Mothers-To-Be
Having a child is a miracle. Pushing a baby out of your body is one of the most life-changing experiences ever. It’s also super scary and anxiety-inducing.
Going through pregnancy is no easy feat, and you get to experience a bunch of crazy hormones and it feels like you’re now a Maltese version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Apart from dealing with all this, pregnant women also have to deal with all the crazy stuff strangers say to them.
We spoke to new Maltese mothers about all the weird things people say when you’re pregnant, and here are nine of the top things they mentioned.
1. “Are you sure you’re not having twins?”
Yes, I’m pretty sure that my body is carrying one mini-human and not two.
This one is a bit rude, kind of softly implying that we look huge. Our body is ever-changing and it might trigger insecurities.
2. “Have you been trying for long?”
We don’t really know the situation people find themselves in, and asking such a personal question is a bit invasive.
Some people are more comfortable waiting a while before getting pregnant, while others just jump into it instantly. Either way, it’s none of your business.
3. “Can I touch your belly?”
Can I touch your face, stranger? No you cannot, for obvious reasons. Some of us feel trapped and cornered under pressure.
People might answer yes to this question when they actually mean no. Not because they’re OK with you touching their belly, but because they feel cornered. Please stop doing this; it’s invasive AF.
4. “You look so big!”
Oh wow. Thanks?
Being pregnant sometimes messes up your body image. It makes you feel a bit insecure to see your body change so drastically in such a short period of time, so maybe refrain from commenting on body weight in the future.
5. “You’ll lose the baby weight… eventually”
Again, this one really throws us under a bus.
Dealing with ever-changing hormones is already a nightmare, not to mention the super weird stuff now your body is doing to you.
Commenting on body weight is already insensitive when someone isn’t pregnant, let alone when they’re carrying a child.
6. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”
No, I want a kraken.
This is a bit like asking someone if they would be less happy if their child turned out to be a boy or a girl. It’s a pointless question.
Let’s face it; it’s not like you can decide beforehand what you’re going to have.
7. “I didn’t know you were married”
And I didn’t know that we’re still living in the 14th century.
8. “Cherish your naps, you won’t sleep anymore!”
Oh really? Thanks.
Not all babies are the same. Some sleep throughout the night while others have non-existent sleeping patterns. Kind of like regular grown-ups.
New mothers-to-be are often already scared shitless and a little bit insecure about how they will handle this new situation, so please don’t add to the pressure.
9. “Do you want another serving? You are eating for two after all!”
Please stop trying to feed us all the time.
The belly gets bigger because there’s a human being in it, not because the stomach is bigger. Some people are really bad at saying no and you’ll only end up doing more harm than good.
Overeating might cause a lot of unpleasantries for the mummy to be, if we’re hungry, we’ll eat. But thanks anyway.
BONUS: “Will you breastfeed or bottle feed?”
This is hands down the most awkward question ever. Not to mention the judgement it holds. It might be asked out of genuine interest, but really all it causes is extreme discomfort.
Do you know any mummies-to-be? Tag them in a comment below!
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