WomenCo.

It's amazing the things people will say to you. I was eight months pregnant with my first son when some of my co-workers and I went to dinner. Our waitress ended up being a girl I went to school with. Once she saw my stomach she blurted out "is that Jimmy's baby?" (yes it was and he did become my husband). Why was it necessary for this girl to be so loud and to say something like that in front of my co-workers?

Like Whimsy, I had a lot of people come up and think it's okay to touch my stomach. People just don't seem to be able to control themselves. My second son is 10 years younger than this brother. When people hear that, their first comment is "do they have the same dad?" (yes they do). Why people feel it is their business to know personal things is beyond me.

it seemed as if everyone would ask me #3 (how much weight i had gained) constantly while i was pregnant; especially when i had my dr's appointments. it's strange though, because when my friends from college would ask me, i wasn't bothered; but when everyone at work-even family-asked it bothered me a lot. am not sure if the question came from the fact that i didn't show till i was about 7 months or if they really wanted to know how i was doing....

I think the only one of these questions that would bother me is #1 but I have never been asked, even when I was pregnant. All of the people I have encountered were either kind enough not ask or it was pretty obvious. As for the other three, I love answering questions like this and explaining my answer. I am very proud of being a mother and how I live my life. I am very confident in myself and have no problem satisfying others' curiosity.

I think you can handle almost all of these questions in a better manner and still be able to ask them.

1. Never ask a woman whether or not she is pregnant. Almost all of the time they are willinging to share...even with a complete stranger that they are. 2. The breastfeeding question is just one that will typically come from a mom that may have done it herself and as moms.... we are always willing to give tips on breastfeeding let alone anything to do with raising babies.... remember we [including you] will be the old wise women your daughters listen to in a few decades. But if you really think the question is personal maybe the person could have asked instead, "How are the babies eating habits?" That probably would have walked you right into telling the person that you were breastfeeding. 3. The weight question should never be asked but if the new mom mentions it share what you did to get the weight off. 4. I personally never ask about the new mom going back to work. And the reason why has nothing to do with the question being offensive as much as it has to do with the question being one that the new bright eyed mom is already weighing in her head how she will go back and leave her newborn. I wouldn't ask the question as stated in this article I would ask however, "How are you enjoying your time off?". Many times the new mom will share her concerns about going back to work or not. Share yours and let her know it will be okay and if you never worked outside the home talk about things that would comfort you if you had to be away from the baby such as pictures of the baby on your desk or on your screeensaver at work and thinking of the things you will do with the baby once you get home from work.

Funny, my husband knew that as soon as I walked in the door he needed to hand the baby over to me without question. I took long walks with the baby to get back in shape and shared with everyone that would listen, even strangers that I breastfed. I was damn proud of it and no one really asked me about my weight because I walked and breastfed. Two quick ways to lose the weight. I did get a lot of compliments on my baby's chubby cheeks and my slim waistline.

It is strange that something as fundamental and natural as motherhood should be treated like a freak show. The one thing we humans have forgotten is that all of our female ancestors were working mothers. Before work and home were seperated women worked right up to and after giving birth. If they didn't their families would have starved or froze to death. Humans invented work, work did not invent us. There is dignity in work. A person contributes directly to the wellbeing of their family and society. Earning a paycheck is a Human Right. By seperating young mothers from the workforce we a missing out on their talents, intellegence and wisdom.

Jill, wow I am 13 weeks pregnant and I am constantly getting asked these personal questions. Now I know how ot respond the next time. Thanks KIM

!LOL! THIS ARTICLE IS ON POINT! HILARIOUS WHAT COMES OUT OF PEOPLES MOUTH'S WHEN IN THE PRESENCE OF A PREGNANT WOMAN (ESPECIALLY IN THE WORKPLACE) IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS INAPPROPRIATE. EVERYONE WALKING CAME FROM A MOTHER'S WOMB, HOW EASILY WE FORGET!