To find the expression 'we are pregnant' ridiculous and irritating

[dallaspalace]

Under most circumstances there is only one person who is pregnant in a couple. Wishing this expression would disappear but instead I notice it's use becoming more and more common.

I understand that this may come from a good place as both parents want to share in the experience but growing a baby is quite an undertaking for the mum and I think this expression trivialises it a bit.

What's the general consensus?

YANBU, but I had shit pregnancies. Possibly if you have the lovely glowy variety it can feel more like an experience you’re both sharing equally. Still seems a bit daft to me, though.

If only men could give birth. Or at least get the pain.

Bet 'we' would only ever have 1 dc..

I'm polite and obviously smile along, but it pisses me right off.

Totally agree. If I ever heard someone say this in real life, I would curl up in embarrassment for them.

Its fine if its a simultaneously pregnant lesbian couple but otherwise it annoys me.

@SnuggyBuggy absolutely agree, which is why I said in most circumstances

Totally agree! Makes me cringe!

I don’t like it, but if a woman chooses to say that then that’s her prerogative. It’s her pregnancy so she can chose the wording around it/ how she views it.

Hate it when a man announces ‘we’ are pregnant on behalf of a couple though.

It sounds very twee and slightly cringe..
“We are expecting a new addition to the family is much better.

It used to irritate me too, but I’ve found myself slipping into it very occasionally now that I am pregnant because sometimes if I just refer to ‘my pregnancy’ or ‘when I got pregnant’ it feels exclusionary. It’s generally only an issue when I’m discussing an aspect of the experience which has affected my husband too.

I agree it’s not great to suggest that pregnancy is something men bear an equal share of, but I think sometimes it’s just an accidental slip up when trying to talk about the collective experience of becoming parents.

An American friend used to say that all the time and it got really annoying. Then when she had the baby he referred to it as the day we delivered.

Even in a same sex couple, only one can be pregnant, though?

It’s just another (technically inaccurate) way of saying ‘we are having a baby’

It’s just a phrase.

Yanbu "we" are not suffering from morning sickness, I am. Neither are "we" having shooting sciatica up our arse cheek, that's also just me. Or up every hour in the night to pee.

I don't mind "we're expecting".

YANBU. Family friends do even worse. They say "Adam is pregnant" No, Adam's wife Molly, your SiL/DiL is pregnant, but you won't even acknowledge her by name

It’s horrible. I asked my partner how on earth he got pregnant whenever he said this.

I dont mind we are expecting a baby but we are pregnant irritates me!

Terrible. I pull people up on it

I find it irritating too. Tends to be accompanied by five million FB posts, updates in real life and much belly rubbing from what I’ve seen. Some pregnancies feel like 9 years not 9 months.

Agreed.

I am pregnant.
DP and I are expecting a baby.

Can't stand it - it really does my head in!

Yep. Infuriates me

“We are pregnant”
“We are suffering from morning sickness”
“We are in labour!”

No “we” are not

Agreed. Very few things bother me as much as this expression. I think it completely negates what the pregnant partner is experiencing. A couple can be expecting, but a couple can't be pregnant.

Irritates the life out of me. YANBU

I would never correct anyone on it but I hate hearing that expression. It actually feels highly disrespectful to women to me as it loses focus on what her body is going through - which is partners clearly is not.