Last night I posted a tweet that fuelled
quite a large debate amongst a number of you.
After being out and seeing some friends,
I was left feeling a little flat and a weeny bit anxious.
For someone who today is 26 weeks
pregnant (Happy Birthday Baby J!) I apparently I have a relatively small bump.
This isn't the first time I've received
comments to this avail.
In truth, it's pretty much daily that
someone (friends, strangers... anyone really!) feels the need to touch my
stomach (so weird) and share their words of wisdom about the size of my baby
bump.
I must say that I personally don't agree
with the masses, having watched my body turn over the past 26 weeks from
relatively toned and slim to what I only can describe as 'swollen' (that's my
polite way of saying fat)
The Hubs also doesn't agree...
Especially as now when we snuggle up he can barely fit his arms around me.
Neither does my mum and she knows best
of all. I'll never fully understand how she's been able to buy me clothes at
any age, at any size and they'll fit me perfectly (I've not been consistent so
this is harder than it sounds!) She knows my body well and would be the first
to say if she thought something was wrong.
I suppose the issue here isn't so much
about the size of 'my' bump... It's more about the public (I suddenly feel
like a politician) and their openness and confidence in dishing out their uneducated
opinions about it.
I know people mean no harm, but surely
they should be bright enough (especially as they're all seemingly qualified
medical professionals... Can you feel my anger?) to realise that pregnant women
are scared, anxious and most importantly hormonal.
The last thing we need is a complex
about the size of our bumps?!
It seems that many of you agree with me,
and many of you have experienced this unnecessary overstepping of what is
polite and acceptable in society.
What I was interested to learn last
night following my twitter post was that it doesn't just stop at small bumps.
Oh no.
People also like to share their opinions
of big bumps, high bumps, low bumps and in same cases 'odd' shaped bumps!!
(Surely not?)
As I mentioned earlier, I don't mean to
rant or sound too harsh it's just that I'm a worrier. Thankfully I'm seeing my
midwife this afternoon who I'll ask to measure the bump to ensure all is well.
If I didn't already have the appointment, last nights comments (from 'the public',
not from you lot) would have driven me to make a last minute booking.
I'm sure all is well. But who needs the
added stress?
Maybe next time someone comments I
should respond with a comment about their appearance?
"You've got a small bump"
"Thanks, haven't you got big
ears!"
I don't think that would go down too
well, but at least they'd get the point!!!
My advice on the matter? Ignore people,
most likely they are trying to engage with your pregnancy in some way and don't
know what else to say than to comment on the bump... I just wish they'd say
nothing at all!
After all, my mother always
taught me that if you've got nothing nice to say, to say nothing at all!
Interesting post - I never really minded people mentioning my bump, and it varied from being small and neat to big depending on who was commenting :) with my oldest daughter though not be person who didn't know me commented when I was out - I don't think most people knew I was pregnant under my coat! And that was worse - I was paranoid that my bump was invisible somehow. So when people mentioned it with my 2nd bump I enjoyed it xx
ReplyDeleteI could have written this. When I was pregnant I wasn't even really showing at all by 20 weeks and when I was 2 weeks overdue with H my bump was still very small. Everyone commented. One stranger even asked if I was worried that their might be something wrong with my baby because my bump was so small. It seems when you are pregnant people feel it is perfectly acceptable to say anything they like to you, no matter how rude it is! Used to make me very angry. However, I think in a round about way it was a good thing. It was preparation for all the unwanted attention, advice and rude comments I've received since Holly was born. I'd far prefer people would just mind their own business though, but unfortunately it hasn't worked out that way. Some people are just rude. As long as you and baby are happy and healthy, that's all that matters.
ReplyDelete*there
DeleteSilly iPad!
Thank you both for your comments, it is tricky as you know people mean no harm but it is so easy to worry. I wish people would mind their own business too and stop thinking that just because your belly is protruding it is a signal that it is ok to comment! No one would ever tell me if I put on weight suddenly or had a terrible hair cut and I don't think it is too different!! It's true though, none of this matters. The only important thing is that the baby is well :-) I suppose it's also true that all the attention is good prep for what'll come when Baby J arrives in 16 weeks time!!
ReplyDelete