Aug
5
Written by:
Harlan Cohen
8/5/2009 1:07 PM
"What did you just say?"
These are the five words no expectant father wants to hear coming out of his pregnant partner's mouth (this and "The doctor said it's octuplets!"). It's not that men mean to irritate and upset their pregnant partners. We just don't always know what irritates and upsets pregnant women. For example, we like to make jokes or clever comments to lighten the mood. We think we're being funny and smart. But what we don't realize is that a pregnant woman's sense of humor changes along with her changing body. For example, while we think making beeping sounds when she backs up is funny - she doesn't see the humor. We think buying a mirror for her so that she can see her feet is clever and loving - she doesn't feel the love or find it clever. In an effort to help loving men avoid innocently saying and doing the wrong things, I've put together a list to go along with this episode of the "Dad-to-be Diaries." This is a working list - I encourage you to share your additions at DadsPregnant.com. So, here's my working list of what a man should NEVER say or do to his pregnant partner:
- Never say, "looks like you're in the chubby phase"
- Never point out stretch marks on her body (your body is fine)
- Never her ask if she's really that hungry
- Never ask her to vomit more quietly
- Never assume her joking about her own weight gives you permission to joke about her weight
- Never take her out for a date night and ask to sit in the smoking section so you can watch the game
- Never take her out for a date night and ask to sit in the smoking section so you can watch the game
- Never laugh longer or louder than her when she's laughing at herself
- Never compare her pregnant memory to a small-brained animal
- Never ask a pregnant woman if she's just being dramatic (guaranteed to create drama)
- Never complain about your aches, pains, or exhaustion
- Never tell a pregnant woman in labor that she needs to push harder
- Never ask if everyone gains that/ much weight
- Never compare her pain of pushing out a baby to your pain of getting a cavity filled without Novocain
- Never talk about her pregnant gas or pregnant snoring
- Never fall asleep during the ultrasound exam, labor, or the delivery
- Never try to convince a pregnant woman you're right and she's wrong
- Never tell a pregnant woman you wish you could give birth for her
- Never stop telling her how much you love her
- Never stop being involved and supporting her
- Never stop loving her
And now, it's your turn to share… What should a man should NEVER say or do to his pregnant partner? Please post in the spaces below.
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13 comments so far...
Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
The best thing my husband would say to me was,"It's okay, Honey. you're pregnant." Followed by a snuggle. And life was better.
But NEVER, NEVER say :"You're wearing THAT?!" Especially when the mommy is more than six months along.
By Melissa on
8/5/2009 3:31 PM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
Never tell her you have a headache
By Steve on
8/5/2009 7:59 PM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
fart near her during first trimester
By Devin on
8/10/2009 11:26 AM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
Never ever say this word to her: "moustache"
Another Dad blog: http://www.roomiani-weinstein.blogspot.com/
By Aaron on
8/14/2009 9:11 AM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
never blame it on the hormones
By jason on
8/22/2009 4:40 PM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
Let anyone tell her she's "not a mom YET"
By Niki on
8/31/2009 3:10 PM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
"why don't you wear something other than sweatpants? People are looking."
By Jenna on
9/1/2009 12:58 PM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
when the people at work say its twins or triplets ..... never say not to worry its not, its an 11 lb'er
By Robert on
9/16/2009 10:27 PM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
Women have been having babies for centuries! You'll be fine!
By Sandy on
10/13/2009 1:15 PM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
try to make her quit her job if she doesn't want to.
By Tasha on
10/28/2009 10:51 PM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
We may be pregnant, but we don't share the same blood, so just because you can't drink doesn't mean I can't.
By Anna on
11/1/2009 10:29 AM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
Never get lulled into the notion that an argument whether based in fact or not makes any difference. I made the huge mistake this week of forgetting the basic rule that it doesn't really matter that I may have been right and instead of backing off smiling nodding and keeping my trap shut I argued thinking she was having a normal argument. AAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhh. Wrong, its taken me three days just to get her to talk to me again and it was really all about nothing, oh dear. And I read the book first, well i guess we all make mistakes.....
By Ian on
12/4/2009 8:27 AM
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Re: What An Expectant Father Should NEVER Say or Do...
Never assure her she's got "good birthing hips."
By Bryan on
1/27/2010 5:42 PM
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