Do people think I am stupid?

[coastgirl]

How come you can't say anything about being pregnant without some smartarse (often male) chiming in with their opinion? I was saying today how I've had heartburn, but not many other symptoms, and if that's the worst thing I have to put up with, I count myself lucky.

To which half the room starts smirking like I'm ludicrously naive and things are going to get so much worse, and someone has to pipe up with "I'm pretty sure labour's worse than heartburn!"

Yes, I'm 27 weeks pregnant, I think I've realised I'm going to give birth and I think I know that's worse, but that's clearly not what I meant and I don't think what I said was stupid! I know I could feel worse over the next couple of months but it's not crazy to hope that it might go relatively smoothly from now on. Of course I was glossing over all the myriad minor indignities to which we pregnant women are prey...I'm sure if I started listing all of them they'd think I was being overdramatic!

I hear you sista...people are annoying, especially people at work when you are a hot mess of hormones.

i think they were just trying to be funny! i'd have laughed at it anyway

If you weren't 27 weeks pregnant I'd say 'Get over yourself, it's a bit of banter that's all' but as you are 27 week pregnant I'll just ask you what you would like to eat or drink while I soothe your furrowed brow.

I know what you are trying to say. I'm 26 weeks and also suffering with heartburn but, other than the usual tiredness and being down and emotional at times, I think (touch wood) I've got off lucky so far. Certainly when I read threads on MN when people have big worries, I think at 36 with my 1st pregnancy, I'm doing ok.

I think people just like sound of their own voices sometimes and like to be bluddy know-it-alls! Deep breath and ignore. ;)

One of my neighbours the other day stopped for a chat. I loved her summing up of the impending birth. She said "it stings a bit, but you'll be fine" :) So you can use that one if you get similar comments re birth in future. Just reply " Yes, I've heard it stings a bit! ;)"

Oh didn't you know? Once pregnant you become public property and everyone else around you turns into pregnancy and parenting experts who think you lose all sense.........

I had some awful encounters with people like this...ended up answering back to them...not normally in my nature to be like that but fed upon it every day. Most people mean well and can let it pass but some people are just annoying!! Am ready with responses for those people.

31 weeks in and people have mostly taken the hint!

*fed up of it not fed upon it?!?

Ah try not to worry about it. I'm 34 weeks and have had an incredibly easy pregnancy, but everyone seems to think my 'good luck' will eventually run out.

Whatever, I say. Maybe I'm just superwoman ;)

It's a bit like everyone's disappointed that you've not got any nightmare tales to share, isn't it? I mean, it's no walk in the park but I'm so thankful I don't have anything terrible to deal with, so any sort of "you just wait" stuff pisses me off! Especially as it is mostly men who do it - women are on the whole non-annoying.

Am 39+2 with DC1 and one bloke decided to tell me last night all about his DP's nightmare labour that culminated in forceps, four pints of blood loss and a transfusion. I mean, I'm glad all ended well for them, of course, but do I really need to hear at this stage? To cap it all off, DP just sat there grinning, while I struggled to change the subject. Men. Beer. Pffft.

It's tons of fun to prove people wrong though.

In November at 13 weeks when we started telling people: "you won't be riding your bike much longer then!" [ did 60km comfortably today at 36+6. On the race bike.]

Nowadays I just smile and nod and ignore when people tell me all the things I will/won't can/can't do. Thanks for the envious spiteful well-meaning advice but no thanks. Tossers.

HAHA! Good for you Utterly! I am sure that has them eating their words!

I agree in some sense to get over it as it will only happen more and more.

However, it is annoying and can be really upsetting (esp in your eg OP where it seems everyone was laughing). I've had lots of 'funny' comments this time (#4 and last) as everyone thinks it's ok to comment v freely on our choices. Inc one woman who said she'd bet my DH had wanted an abortion. Oh how I laughed . Yeah right.

It's just the norm to assume the first time mums are ignorant (lots of comments like yours, eye rolling, smug smiles etc), second timers are not much better as they've 'only' had to deal with 1 before, they won't know waht's hit them etc. 2+ and you get the 'are you mad', 'do you have a telly?', 'oh whoops!' comments. WHich are all original and hilarious!

Practice your madonna-esque (as in virgin mary, not pointy gold bra) smiles and swear as much as you like inside

Just wait until you've had your baby and everyone feels they have a right to ask about all manner of things that don't concern them. I was in a shop with DS in the pram when he was a couple of weeks old and an old lady came over and asked him name and was generally cooing over him. Then she asked if I was breastfeeding him, when I said no she gave me a filthy look and walked off muttering under her breath.

Is it a boy or a girl comments are always pretty amusing too!

I love the comments from my male bosses "when you hold that baby in your arms you'll never want to come back to work"...be that as it may, unfortunately I do have a mortgage to pay and I will be back after 3 months! They weren't too keen when I suggested, if it was so important to them that I have longer off, maybe they would like to club together and pay my mortgage for a year! That soon shut them up, as did the fact that I'm due in 11 days and I'm still working full time...just like I said I would be! They have no idea how stubborn I can be when someone tells me I can't do something!,

The 'no shit sherlock comments' are an unfortunate consequence of pg. I ws told the other day 'you wont know whats hit you when it arrives and at your age you might have trouble coping...but feel free to call me any time for advice'. Well, thankyou so much for your 'kind supportive' words! I actually replied that if it was too hard for me I'd just get it adopted but I fear this might not have won me a friend!

I am quickly learning, at 21 weeks with my first, to stop telling people about our plans for baby's name, nursery ideas, which pram etc as all I've been getting are bloody know-it-alls who try to persuade you to do things EXACTLY how they did them with their own babies. Many of whom were born over 20 years ago. Grr!! I know I've never been a mum but I think I can successfully pick out some neutral bedding without your help, thank you!

they don't think you're stupid. They just STUPIDLY think they know better.

(14weeks with dc#3....and yes I understand contraception,general public)

thegingerone :o I'm always surprised by the reaction from the general public people on here that have more than 2 children have had. I guess being one of three children it seems like a fairly normal amount to me!