Pregnancy rant...SM

Posted: Jan 24, 2010

Ok...here we go... :-) I am currently just over 21 weeks pregnant and I couldn't be happier! However, I am having a very hard time taking people's "advice" gracefully. This is my first child and by no means do I know everything, but I am pretty well versed in the basics of pregnancy (I transcribe for an OB-GYN). It just seems like everybody I know has something to tell me about how I should be doing this, or I should be careful of this or I shouldn't be doing that. And on and on and on and on!!! I have a friend who, the minute I found out I was pregnant and told her, she had a talk with her husband and they decided to start trying. I am very happy that they are going to be starting a family and she is now pregnant and due in August, but it just seems like everything has become a competition with her. Even before she got pregnant, she decided that it was her job to be telling me what I should be eating and how I should be exercising and what I should be expecting in the months to come (this is her first pregnancy also). It is just driving me nuts!!! Then, my mother-in-law (who would have guessed I'd have a MIL story LOL) proceeds to tell me all about her pregnancies and how she was back to her pre-baby weight within six weeks of the birth and how I need to be eating these certain types of foods to obtain this certain traits in my child (OMG). She is one of those people who just talk to fill the air with sound, but it is driving me CRAZY!!! Then, she pulled out this whopper...I was standing in the hallway at an elementary school waiting for my husband's little sister's basketball game to start and she came walking up to me and told me to "suck it in." I looked at her with disbelief in my eyes as I couldn't believe she would say that!!! She told me I need to be "engaging my abdominal muscles" and that I shouldn't just let it "hang." WHHHHHHAAAATTT???!!!!! I have been generally keeping my core engaged just out of habit, but for crying out loud...I'M PREGNANTY LADY!!! THERE IS NO SUCKING IT IN!!! Also, people have been coming up to me saying "Are you sure you have your dates right? You sure are big for only being in your second trimester." So...I'm taking a poll...I'm going to post a picture that I took two days ago (forgive my dirty mirror LOL) and I want to see if you all think I'm way too big for my dates or not. Also, how did you all deal with the unwanted and unsolicited onslaught of advice that people seem entitled to give the minute you announce your pregnancy? Thanks for listening...hope you all have a fantastic week!!! :-) ;