Katie Katie Parsons is the creator of Mumbling Mommy and is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist. She works from her home office on the east coast of Florida. Most often she writes about life in a combined family of five children and what it's like being a full time work-from-home parent. Feel free to pitch guest post ideas or just drop her a line at [email protected].

Being pregnant is special. Really, it is. Of course it is thrilling for me to know that there is a little life growing inside my belly that will come out of there as a full-fledged human being. Wow. It is not as thrilling, however, to go through what women actually have to go through physically and emotionally to make it happen.

Photo via Pregnant Chicken

I’m not complaining. It is all worth it. My ankles are complaining though. And my lower abdomen every time I try to bend down and pick up a toy (so, idk, 3 million times per day?). A friend of mine posted a link on Facebook earlier this week that features super model men saying dreamy phrases to pregnant women. Picture Mark Wahlberg saying “Hell yeah. Let’s cut the tags off the baby clothes and sort them into stages tonight.” The whole piece made me giggle and nod my head affirmatively.

It made met think. Beyond the normal compliments that people give out of obligation (“You’re glowing!” or “You’re all belly!”), what things could people say to me as a pregnant woman that would make me happy? I came up with a lot. As you read, you will likely pick up the fact that I am the one with the insecurities here — not anyone else. Still, here are my top three:

1. Have some chocolate. You deserve it. Now, I will say that my husband has not made a face or comment anytime I have had the urge to eat something “bad.” He has hopped in the car at 10pm a few times already to go grab something for me. But the general consensus with pregnancy is that women must stick to a healthy diet — all the time. If you have gained more weight than you like so far (like me), the pressure can be even greater to put down the candy and pick up the carrot sticks. I’m not saying that anyone would see me eating a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup and judge me. But telling me it’s “ok” would be nice too.

2. It’s okay to cry. I’ve been crying a lot more during this second pregnancy than I recall in my first. I’m not unhappy — all of the time. I just can’t help myself. My kids have stopped asking me what’s wrong and my husband has written it off to hormones. Both groups are in the right here. It would be nice to have some reassurance, though, of course.

3. Any name, name spelling, choice for feeding, diapering method or birth method you pick will be amazing. There is a lot of outside input when there is a baby on the way. For the most part, I welcome it. It is fun to talk about the future with family and friends and also to get advice. But when you add that advice from loved ones to all of the informative articles and emails that you receive, sometimes it can feel like I’m going to make the wrong choice no matter what I do.  How refreshing would it be to open an email from BabyCenter (who I love) and have it simply say: “Do whatever you want. Your kid will be awesome.” Pretty.Dang.Fantastic.

How about other people? What words are like music to a pregnant lady’s ears?

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Category: Pregnancy

Tags: chocolate