People messaging when you’re due

[Puddinggulper]

Hi,

Has anyone else had any experiences with almost everyone they know messaging to ‘see how you are/check in’ right around your due date?

I thought it was a widely acknowledged cardinal rule that you don’t bother a pregnant woman around her due date? But I’ve had almost everyone I know texting to see how I am, quite obviously wondering if the baby has arrived. I’ve no idea why they can’t just wait for the announcement on Facebook.

My usually level headed mother has also gone insane and has been acting really strangely and is telling me to go for walks/have sex etc. I know she’s desperate for her first grandchild but I was 2 weeks overdue so she should know they’ll just come when they come.

I’m getting really fed up of being messaged. And all from people who I thought knew better and would absolutely be thinking they’d better give me space and wait patiently to be told!

Haha agreed!
i have a planed C section booked and haven’t told anyone, as I can’t deal with people doing a count down!
it’s lovely people are interested and want to be involved but god it gets boring.
iv told a few people my due date but they have no clue it’ll be coming early!
x

Yep, I wanted to throw my phone out the window!

I don't see the problem. If they are just checking in on your to see how you are what's the issue? It's bloody boring waiting to give birth I was grateful of the distraction and company.

I’m really surprised! I’m no social etiquette expert but I thought it was obvious! And most people that are doing it, I really thought they’d know better!

I think pregnant women get annoyed by this (I no I did!) but I don’t think it’s social etiquette. Plenty of people don’t mind chatting and having people check in unless they are extremely overdue.

On the one hand it is quite flattering that people are thinking of me. The first few I was like ‘aaawwwwww that’s nice’ but after a while it does get relentless and grating when seemingly everyone you know has the same idea. I already feel under enough pressure and I know people are waiting and wondering anyway without messaging me.

I'd be mortified if my mum told me to have sex 😂😳

Can you reply, "I had the baby. Forgot to mention it. Must have slipped my mind"?

@Liveafr I was! She did it on a shared WhatsApp chat with my Dad 🤦‍♀️

I couldn’t be this precious about it, it’s nice people care to check in.

And I’d not consider it a cardinal rule not to, unless they’re messaging every day with ‘have you had the baby yet’ it’s a bit odd to get annoyed about it.

I vowed to give the next person who asked a graphic description of my cervical mucous, if they were that interested to know what was happening.

@LottoLaura totally agree with you. People would moan if no one checked in and they got radio silence.

@Deut28 I had someone message me on my due date so I said ‘in the middle of Labour now…joke’

Just to be clear, most of these people usually don’t message me more often than once every few months so it is very obvious.

I have never heard of this being a thing before and certainly never discussed by any of my friends (between which there are many young children), that it's an issue - definitely not in the same way as social etiquette such as asking when someone is getting married, going to have a baby, etc.. is..
Can imagine if you are fed up and overdue, you don't want to be hassled though.

🤣🤣🤣 I’ve had four kids and I’ve never heard of that social etiquette. Don’t be silly x

Yeah I get this. I deliberately told people I was due in June when I was really due in May to avoid this.

It can be quite isolating as a new Mum if you don't have support so it's good that you have people around who care about you and your baby. I know the last stages of pregnancy are tedious, but try not to push people away for caring. Itonly takes a minute to read and reply to a text.

Why would it be social etiquette not to check on someone who is about to go through a life changing event?

I've definitely messaged people around their due date on the basis that it's probably good chance to meet up for a spontaneous coffee as they're unlikely to have planned anything 🤣

@DangerNoodles yes you’re right, I have been replying to them all! I know it comes from a good place. It’s just unfortunate when you get bombarded all at once.

Love this! ❤️

Carrie Symonds/Johnson surely did this too. We were pregnant at the same time and she was meant to be due in ‘the summer’ but then delivered in April. I found it a bit alarming at the time as she was meant to be after me not before. Yet her baby didn’t seem to be significantly premature.

Hardly anyone has known my actual due date both times. I just said the month and that only 4% of babies are born on their due dates anyway so it’s pointless thinking too much about them.

"So... any twinges yet?"

I am with you. I wanted to stab anyone who said this to me. Especially at 12 days overdue with my first.

@TankFlyBoss thank you!