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Pregnancy Etiquette

Commuting While Pregnant
Pregnancy

Would You Wear a "Baby on Board" Button?

If you rely on public transportation to get to and from work, pregnancy adds a whole new dimension to your commute.
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If you rely on public transportation to get to and from work, pregnancy adds a whole new dimension to your commute. While struggling to get a seat (or surrendering and standing) is never a pleasant experience, when you're carrying an extra little person, entering combat with your fellow passengers is the last thing you want to do.

We recently spotted a woman on an NYC subway wearing one of these "Baby on Board" buttons. On the plus side, it confirmed her expectant state and cleared up any awkward "Is she or isn't she?" musings from fellow commuters; she was immediately offered multiple seats. On the other hand, it looked a little silly.

In London, "Baby on Board" badges are distributed by Transport For London (TFL) for the express purpose of ensuring that pregnant women are offered a seat when they're traveling on the Underground or the bus. While no such practice is in place in the US, we want to know . . . would you take matters into your own hands and buy a "Baby on Board" button for yourself?

Source: Cafe Press
What to Say to a Friend Who's Had a Miscarriage
infertility

The Dos and Don'ts of What to Say to a Friend Who's Had a Miscarriage

Whether you've experienced a miscarriage of your own or had a friend struggle with losing a baby, you know what a difficult and emotional time it is.
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Whether you've experienced a miscarriage of your own or had a friend struggle with losing a baby, you know what a difficult and emotional time it is. Knowing what to say and how to react with sensitivity and compassion is an incredible skill to have as a friend. We chatted with Robbie Miller Kaplan, author of How to Say It When You Don't Know What to Say: The Right Words For Difficult Times — Miscarriage to discuss the dos and don'ts of how to react during this challenging time.

Keep in mind that a miscarriage is a death like any other, and the best thing you can do is be a source of patience and compassion for the parents who have gone through the loss. While you can't bring back what was taken from them, you can be a supportive presence on the path to healing.

Source: Thinkstock

Don't: Suggest That Another Baby Will Make It Better Don't: Try to Offer a Reason For the Miscarriage Don't: Tell Her She Should Be Grateful For What She Has Do: Just Listen Do: Be Honest Do: Extend Some Comfort
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What to Do and What Not to Do During Pregnancy
Pregnancy

The Dos and Don'ts to Staying Sane Throughout Pregnancy

From the day you discover that you're pregnant, you're faced with big decisions, small annoyances, and unsolicited advice galore.
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From the day you discover that you're pregnant, you're faced with big decisions, small annoyances, and unsolicited advice galore. Follow these five dos and don'ts to keeping your cool for the next nine months.

Your Weight Is No One's Business But Your Own
Don't: Share information about your weight with anyone other than your doctor. While well-meaning family and friends are often quick to recall their own personal experience and joke about your expanding belly ("Are you eating enough? When I was three months, I was twice your size!" or, "Are you sure there aren't twins in there?!"), it often just ends up putting unnecessary thoughts in your head. Adhere to the advice of your doctor, and if anyone asks about your weight gain, answer with an innocent, "Gee, I don't know, I haven't stepped on a scale in awhile."

Do: In actuality, keep tabs on your weight gain without being obsessive. You'll drive yourself crazy if you weigh in more than once a day (and remember, just like pre-pregnancy weight, you're likely to fluctuate depending on water retention, whether or not you've just eaten, etc.), but it's smart to have a gauge on how you're pacing.

Social Media Self-Control
Don't: Feel the need to share every ghastly or unexpected pregnancy symptom (or even worse, detail of childbirth) with your entire social network. Each time you start to make a status update or tweet, think about who your friends or followers are. Do you really want an ex-boyfriend or work cohort to know about your aching, swollen breasts? Probably not.

Do: Confide in close friends who have children of their own — it'll often help turn a "What's wrong with me!?" moment into a good laugh.

Keep reading for more modern rules for pregnancy.

NYC Parking Rules For Pregnant Women
Pregnancy

New York City Considering Giving Pregnant Women Special Parking Privileges

Expectant mamas may soon get a free parking pass in one of the country's most traffic-challenged cities.
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Expectant mamas may soon get a free parking pass in one of the country's most traffic-challenged cities. A New York City councilman is proposing legislation that will provide special parking placards to pregnant women experiencing physical or mobility challenges. The permits will allow the doctor-designated mamas-to-be with free parking in no-parking or no-standing zones until 30 days after their expected due dates.

According to Councilman David Greenfield, "New York is a tough place to get around. If you have a difficult pregnancy, it's even tougher. This should make it a little bit easier."

Over the last few years, we've seen malls and baby emporiums offer designated "Parking for Expecting Moms" spots, and a few years ago California considered, but ultimately voted against, offering a five-month disabled parking permit to pregnant women. Do pregnant women really need special parking privileges?

Source: Flickr User drcorneilus

Kim Clijsters Confronts Pregnancy Rumors
Pregnancy

Have You Ever Been the Subject of Pregnancy Rumors?

It goes without saying that you should never ask a woman if she's pregnant, but that doesn't mean everyone listens.
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It goes without saying that you should never ask a woman if she's pregnant, but that doesn't mean everyone listens. Someone should have reminded former tennis champ Todd Woodbridge of that before he texted a common friend suggesting that fellow tennis great Kim Clijsters is expecting. In the text, Woodbridge noted that 2009 US Open champion, who's victory marked her return to the sport after giving birth to daughter Jada, "looks really grumpy and her boobs are bigger." Not one to let rumors get to her, Clijsters confronted the commentator following her second-round Australian Open win, denying her pregnancy and humiliating him in front of a packed stadium, saying, "You said you thought I was pregnant!"

Moms-to-be often go to great lengths to conceal their pregnancies before they're ready to make them public, often leading to speculation among family, friends, and co-workers. Sixty percent of LilSugar readers told us that people falsely assumed they were pregnant. Have you ever found yourself the subject of a rumor?

Real Mom Tips For Telling If Woman Is Pregnant
Pregnancy

Real Mom Tips For Telling If a Woman's Pregnant

There's no situation more awkward (and perhaps insulting) than a person falsely assuming a woman is pregnant.
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There's no situation more awkward (and perhaps insulting) than a person falsely assuming a woman is pregnant. Fifty-eight percent of LilSugar readers said they'd been the victim of this situation. One anonymous LilSugar reader commented:

I just don't know how people can't differentiate between a baby bump and pudge. They're shaped different. Not to mention, it just seems like common sense to me that unless you're POSITIVE a woman is pregnant, you shouldn't comment on her pregnancy. This means she's either hugely with child, or she told you she was pregnant. Why would you just guess that someone is pregnant?

Most women cited that unflattering clothes, weight gain, and ignorance were to blame, but a BBC News article has some tips from moms on how to tell the difference. They said heavy breathing, belly rubbing, shoe style, and reading materials were all good indicators. How can you tell if a woman's expecting?

Asking If a Woman is Pregnant When She Isn't
Pregnancy

Has Anyone Ever Falsely Assumed You Were Pregnant?

Is she or isn't she?
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Is she or isn't she? Some people have a hard time telling the difference between a woman who is pregnant and someone who is wearing loose clothing or has a packed on a couple of pounds so they go ahead and assume she's expecting. This can be a sticky situation if the lady is not since she may take the inquiry as an insult. Has this ever happened to you?

Rude Comments on Pregnancy
Pregnancy

babysugar Diaries: Insults

If you've ever been pregnant, then you're probably all too familiar with the unsolicited remarks that strangers and friends feel compelled to share with you.
by babysugar

If you've ever been pregnant, then you're probably all too familiar with the unsolicited remarks that strangers and friends feel compelled to share with you. Until recently, random people on the street were the biggest offenders. One Starbucks barista was brazen enough to ask if I was just carrying one child. When I confirmed that I was indeed pregnant with a single baby, he said something along the lines of, "Maybe you've got like nine in there! Like an alien! And you could be on Oprah and have lots of people send you free stuff!" WHAT!? I think someone had a little crazy juice with his lattes that morning.

Now, my friends have joined in on the insult game as well. The other day one of my girlfriends said, "You look different this pregnancy. Last time you were more pointed out and this time I think you're wider." Unaware that her comments were upsetting me, I let it slide. The next time someone pipes up, I'll be tempted to say, "You know what? You look wider, too!" In my last few weeks of pregnancy I may become more cheeky with my responses because pregnant or not, nobody should have to endure, "You look wider" comments.

Source

Complimenting a Pregnant Lady
Pregnancy

Babysugar Diaries: Stolen Compliment

At 26 weeks pregnant, I take compliments where I can get them.
by babysugar

At 26 weeks pregnant, I take compliments where I can get them. I ran out to grab lunch the other day and the cashier told me he liked my dress. Flattered, I said, "Thank you! And the big bump to go with it!" He smiled and replied, "It's beautiful."

Feeling pretty good, I walked out of the cafe and told my coworker, "Did you hear that nice cashier? He just said my bump was beautiful." Out of nowhere, the woman walking behind us said, "Are you talking about the guy behind the counter?" I looked at the stranger and confirmed her inquiry. She said, "Oh... he always says nice things to everyone. He just likes to give out compliments." And just like that, I was robbed of the kind remark. I said, "Well thanks for that. Thanks for taking that away from me." But lo and behold, we stopped into another cafe to grab a drink and a another woman smiled at me and said, "You look so cute pregnant!" All was well with the world again.
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Rude Things People Say to Pregnant Women
Pregnancy

Babysugar Diaries: Twins?

Adults say the darnedest things.
by babysugar

Adults say the darnedest things. The other day I shared an elevator with a woman who looked at me and asked, "So when are you due?" Breaking a smile I said, "Thanksgiving Day!" She looked at me and said, "Whoa! Twins?" I replied, "No. Just one." Used to insults from my last pregnancy, I left the store thinking that I don't care if I gain a whole bunch of weight as long as I have a healthy baby. But, it would be nice if people would keep their thoughts to themselves.

People aim some of the rudest comments at childbearing women. During my first pregnancy, one lady said to me, "I can tell it is going to be a girl by the way you're coming out on the sides." Who says that? What was the worst thing someone said to you while you were pregnant?
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