Pregnancy attention

[Brie]

I'm traveling this week and people are bending over backwards to be nice. Which is nice, but can be kind of awkward.

Specifically, I keep getting waved to the front of bathroom lines (usually by one person, meaning I'm cutting several other people without permission). I try to wave it off with a "oh, no, I'm fine" but people are very insistent. I am at a professional conference so I don't want to tick anyone off. It also usually prompts questions about when I'm due, if it's a girl or boy, etc, which feels weird to me coming from strangers or business contacts.

I also got offered a seat on a crowded Metro car this morning, which I declined. (I was getting off in two stops anyway.)

What do you do? I really feel fine to wait in a bathroom line or stand on the train. Do I just shut up and say thanks and take it?

[karinothing]

Shut up and take it. I don't know why people on this board are so averse to people being nice to them!

[Brie]

Jun 14, 2012 9:14:17 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Shut up and take it. I don't know why people on this board are so averse to people being nice to them!

I'm fine with people being nice and would accept them if I needed it...I just don't feel like I do, yet. It feels like I'd be faking.

[Ashley&Scott]

Just graciously accept.

I found customers were also very interested in my pg. Most of our interaction is by phone & I only told a few of them I was pregnant. (most of the time it didn't come up & I didn't want to AW) I got an earful from a few of them when they found out. (I didn't know you were pg, you should have said something! Congrats! I want details: name, weight, etc!)

[kaiene]

I loved how nice random people were to me when I was pregnant! People held doors for me on campus when I was walking to grad class, etc.

[ijack]

Just say thanks and roll with it. Once you pop that baby out no one cares about you any more

[BAMFMrsB]

I am completely comfortable with graciously accepting kindness from strangers now.

I was at the Braves/Yankees game on Tues night with work and it was HAWT in the sun, where our seats were located. So I was huddled at the top of the rows, behind the handicapped seating with co-workers in the shade. An usher came up to me and said "you can use any of the empty handicapped seats if you'd like" and I said "no I'm fine... well.... actually... ok!" I was hot and tired and dammit I wanted to sit. So I did. (})

[karinothing]

Jun 14, 2012 9:23:03 GMT -5 ijack said:

Just say thanks and roll with it. Once you pop that baby out no one cares about you any more

See I feel like I get more attention and kindess with the baby! When we go to the airport we are always rushed to the beginning of the line and peopel always offer to help me with stuff! They also always open doors and give me their seat on the metro.

Perhaps my kid's cutness charms them into being nice.

[momof2boys]

Take it while you can, once that baby pops out the special attention is over! Even when you go out with said baby you will be back to being ignored (except for little old ladies who want to coo at the baby). I was once struggling to get my two boys and stroller into a store and a guy literally walked around me (I thought great, he'll hold the door open for me), nope just let the door shut on the stroller I was trying to get in!

[hbear]

Jun 14, 2012 9:48:29 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Jun 14, 2012 9:23:03 GMT -5 ijack said:

Just say thanks and roll with it. Once you pop that baby out no one cares about you any more

See I feel like I get more attention and kindess with the baby! When we go to the airport we are always rushed to the beginning of the line and peopel always offer to help me with stuff! They also always open doors and give me their seat on the metro.

I was going to say the same thing. I'm shocked how nice people are now that I have a baby. They are always holding doors open when I'm out with the stroller. Before I had a kid I think I was oblivious to the needs of moms out with their babies, so it always surprises me when I get help.

Also, when DD was a newborn and we were in CVS, she started crying, and the customers let me go to the front of the checkout line.

[egishere]

Take it and enjoy!

[whitepicketfence]

Jun 14, 2012 9:23:03 GMT -5 ijack said:

Just say thanks and roll with it. Once you pop that baby out no one cares about you any more

Ha! I was just about to post the same response.

[sarahlindsay]

I never experienced an offer to cut in line at a bathroom, and that might have felt a bit weird unless I looked really desperate or something

As far as the conversation topics, totally roll with it - people have trouble coming up with common conversational topics so when they see someone who is pregnant, it's usually a go-to discussion for them.

[mrshandy]

Enjoy the attention! People can be so sweet.

I went to a networking event 8 months pregnant once at my grad school that had a few speakers. We were all standing around listening. When one of the first speakers was done, he went right over to me and asked if I wanted a chair.

When people asked me questions when I was very pregnant, I always wanted to feign ignorance and see the look on their face when they realize they had stepped in sh!t. But I never did.

[ufcasey]

Graciously accept it. It makes other people feel good to help out the pregnant lady - let them feel they have done their good deed of the day, and take advantage of it!

[mishap]

Accept it graciously. Even people who hate kids are generally kind toward pregnant women.

[cjeanette]

You get to be queen for 9 months. Enjoy it.

[tardyfortheparty]

Jun 14, 2012 9:23:03 GMT -5 ijack said:

Just say thanks and roll with it. Once you pop that baby out no one cares about you any more

So true!

[MadamePresident]

Let people be nice to you! I know that you are strong and can probably handle most things on your own, but don't rob others of the good feeling that comes from helping someone else.

[jenny1223]

I went to a work conference when I was 6 months pregnant. I felt really awkward about all the attention from clients who I only communicate with over the phone or email. Everyone was really nice, but I got a lot of comments about coming back to work after the baby. It made me feel unprofessional.

I had no problem with letting people be nice to me during pregnancy though. I especially took advantage of everyone letting me eat first at dinners, etc.

[hannamarin]

Jun 14, 2012 9:14:17 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Shut up and take it. I don't know why people on this board are so averse to people being nice to them!

Thankyou!
I loved the attention.

[Brie]

Jun 14, 2012 14:27:20 GMT -5 jenny1223 said:

I went to a work conference when I was 6 months pregnant. I felt really awkward about all the attention from clients who I only communicate with over the phone or email. Everyone was really nice, but I got a lot of comments about coming back to work after the baby. It made me feel unprofessional.

I think this is my main issue. I feel like nobody wants to talk business with me because they're all, "OMG baby!"

I was at a dinner tonight and the woman next to me insisted on talking about breastfeeding the whole time, even though I kept trying to switch the topic back to professional stuff. In any other context, fine, but it just feels weird in a business setting. IDK.

[moonstone523]

Jun 14, 2012 19:38:00 GMT -5 Brie said:

Jun 14, 2012 14:27:20 GMT -5 jenny1223 said:

I went to a work conference when I was 6 months pregnant. I felt really awkward about all the attention from clients who I only communicate with over the phone or email. Everyone was really nice, but I got a lot of comments about coming back to work after the baby. It made me feel unprofessional.

I think this is my main issue. I feel like nobody wants to talk business with me because they're all, "OMG baby!"

I was at a dinner tonight and the woman next to me insisted on talking about breastfeeding the whole time, even though I kept trying to switch the topic back to professional stuff. In any other context, fine, but it just feels weird in a business setting. IDK.

Here is the deal with networking though... Normally when you hit it off with someone personally and you develop that side of your relationship (same hobbies, alma mater, home town, etc), you don't have to keep a conversation so professional to do business. You talk all the fun stuff, then spend 5minutes on the business stuff. Wins every time.

ETA: breast feeding convos at a group dinner if men are around is a little weird. Agreed.