33 Weeks and Not Slowing Down

I saw my acupuncturist last week (she's amazing!*) and I had an "aha" moment while telling her how bizarrely people (men mostly) tend to respond and interact with me being pregnant especially with rude comments such as:

• Ooooh you're ready to pop!
• Are you going to have any more kids after this one?
• You're gonna go any day now, aren't you?
• You look SO tired! (Especially in a moment when I think I look great and feel energized O_o)

Basically, it comes down to this:

Do NOT say anything to pregnant women except: "You look great!"

Even if you're lying. 

Even if you're not sure she's pregnant - cause it's all-encompassing and less embarrassing than assuming she is pregnant!

Just simply offer that compliment and leave it at that. 

Everything else is ANNOYING!

Consider that your PSA of the day.

Anyway, back to my "aha!" moment . . .

In sharing this with my acupuncturist, I've decided to start shushing these people, especially strangers and especially men when they make these ignorant comments. Just a simple:

{Image Credit}

Oh! And one other frequent, annoying comment is inquiring when I'm going to slow down. I'm going non-stop most days and while I'm generally tired, I'm extremely ambitious, but the notion that a 3rd trimester pregnant woman = automatic bed rest is unfounded. 

Many women work right up to their due date or even have their water break at work - work being in an office or at home, out and about or wherever your "work" takes you. While not ideal, I'm smart enough to wear the appropriate equipment when I get to the very end. 

I even asked my midwife last week was there any reason to be concerned. She agreed the "slow down" comments are unfounded. I'm healthy, feel great and look great and can keep going as I see fit. I told her I walk about 1 - 2 hours a day (which has helped me maintain a healthy weight gain this time around!) and her only suggestion was to do a good stretch when I'm back at home so I'll start doing that. 

The one thing I WON'T do is slow down. 

On that note, a few pics to recap one of the most fun, non-stop weekends I've had this spring:

Tribeca Teaches was so inspiring - tons of student talent and so many Harlem schools represented!

A double date night in watching the Brooklyn Nets with my new-mommy friend, our hubbies and and our girls, 9 weeks and 3 1/2 years old, just couldn't last!

Hanging with my sister and reppin' GoGo squeeZ at the Bronx Zoo's Run for the Wild

A rainy night enjoying Italian tapas with Wellesley friends at cozy Aria

More GoGo squeeZ fun with the March of Dimes March for Babies

Celebrating my sister Ariane's birthday

How was your weekend? Pregnant or not, how do you respond (or not bother to respond!) to ignorant comments that come your way? And speaking of not responding to foolishness, this pin relating to the issue is my most-pinned pin.



*P.S. If you're in the NYC metro area you can stop by Masha's booth at the BUST Craftacular in Brooklyn this Sunday, May 4. More details here!