“Are you pregnant?!” Ye, who’s never asked that question may first cast a stone. I have. Many times. Until one day I realised that it’s like tiptoeing on thin ice which covers a vast ocean of people’s drama.
5 min. reading time • Text: Paulina Pomaska
Illustration: Jarek Danilenko
Once, I came across the “recommended” answer to this insensitive question. It was: “some are blessed with children, others with politeness”. But it’s not about impoliteness but rather the lack of empathy and imagination on the part of the asker, or sometimes a sheer confidence that every young human being should procreate.
Asking someone if they’re pregnant (or not) is complicated because, regardless of the reasons, or the fact whether the person we’re talking to wants to share this information with us, the situation gets difficult, uncomfortable, or, at least, tense.
Please, bear with me for a little longer. I’ll answer that question later. Let’s focus now on some possible scenarios:
We ask if she’s pregnant:
We ask why she’s NOT pregnant:
I once thought that having children is a natural step in everyone’s lives. You grow up which means that you automatically have to “populate” the planet. It’s your chief assignment.
So to answer the question I’ve asked earlier: NEVER ask if someone’s pregnant. I know now that if you’re not the future parent that’s anxious about the well-being of your partner, a doctor, chemist, dentist, or anyone who could somehow influence the potential pregnancy — you better shut up.
Let’s consider the possibility that you are a person who virtually MUST know if someone’s pregnant but you’re civilised enough not to ask the question directly. Are there ways of finding that out? Message boards abound in tips for the inquisitive, so let’s check them up:
Many women start wearing looser clothes as their bellies begin to grow, so if she’s changed her clothing style for no apparent reason, you might suspect that she’s trying to hide a “bump”.
Changes in appetite or refraining from eating certain foods may indicate that someone is pregnant. Unusual cravings or aversion to their favourite snacks might just give you a hint that you’re desperately looking for.
Pregnancy leads to numerous physical changes in your body, some of which may include fatigue or pain. So if they suddenly start complaining about headaches, nausea, or lower back pain, it might be a giveaway.
A 16th-century doctor, Jacques Guillemeau, proclaimed a theory saying that you can tell that a person is pregnant by checking their eyes. He claimed that “a pregnant woman gets deep-set eyes with small pupils, drooping lids and swollen little veins in the corner of the eye”. Unfortunately for some, the only eyes-related changes pertain to variations in vision, which is why it’s not a good idea to invest in a new pair of glasses or contacts while you’re expecting.
Let us finally look at the matter from the most significant perspective — the mother-to-be’s one. As a matter of fact, there are no stupid question about pregnancy, so your ob-gyn should be able to anwer all your enquiries. You have the right, an obligation even, if you’re uncertain, to ask all kinds of questions — from: “what types of food should I avoid” to “should I get genetic testing”.
Many people fear that they can get sacked for not telling their bosses about their pregnancy. Well, labour laws may differ from one country to another, but most of them have implemented various forms of anti-discrimination legislation, including sections devoted to the protection of pregnant persons. However, check for details in order to make sure that you’re protected by the law in your current place of residence.
Let me reiterate this: do not ask IF someone is pregnant or not when you’re unsure. However, when you are sure that someone is expecting a child, here’s what you can do.
An “are you okay” question won’t do any good here. Instead, it’s always better to ask HOW you may help someone. Whether it’s as simple as giving up your seat in public transport or offering to carry something heavy for them, or offering to convert a room into a nursery, these are the ways in which you can prove useful for pregnant people. One last thing to remember: don’t intrude on people if they reject your help, but try to always be there if they ask for assistance.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/48655/8-historical-methods-detecting-pregnancy [Accessed: 27.01.2021]
https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-one-question-you-should-never-ask-a-woman-109923557102.html[Accessed: 27.01.2021]
https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/pregnancy-health/pregnant-9-must-ask-ob-gyn-questions/ [Accessed: 27.01.2021]
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