Dear Co-Irker,

I don't know what it is about a pregnant woman that causes you to lose all your tact, or maybe you just didn't have any to begin with. I know a lot of the things you say are joking or in good fun, but some of the stuff I just really don't understand. Unless you are my friend or family member, here are some things you should keep in mind when dealing with a pregnant woman.

1. Don't ever refer to my belly as fat, chub, pudge, or any other word that essentially means fat. I am growing a human being inside me. I am supposed to gain weight! If a woman wasn't pregnant and really was just getting fat, would you just so bluntly bring it up to her? I think not. Besides, I realize that I am in this awkward in between stage and as a naturally thin woman who does not and will not allow herself to gain weight, it is sometimes hard to appreciate my changing body. You are giving me a complex so shut up.

2. This goes along with number one. Why do you feel it is necessary to tell me that I am never going to lose the last 10 pounds of baby weight, or that my hips will become so wide I will never fit into my regular jeans again? FYI...I am 5 months pregnant and I can still wear, zip AND button my regular jeans and fully intend to lose every last pound that I gain from this pregnancy. If my body is never the same, then so be it but I refuse to just sit on my ass post pregnancy and eat donuts and complain that I am fat.

3. Why do you think it is ok to ask me how much weight I've gained??? This is just none of your business and its rude. Next time you do, I will ask you how much weight you gained in the past 6 months and see how you like it.

4. If I don't know you, you shouldn't be touching my belly out of nowhere. Besides, the baby is just now reaching my belly button this week, so anytime before that you were just rubbing my pudge as you like to call it. Also, NEVER try to lift up my shirt to see my belly again. Seriously, that is ridiculous.

5. I don't want to hear about how your brother's wife's cousin was in labor for 300 hours. Or how many women used to DIE during labor! Or how much pain I'm going to be in if I have a C-section. Or whatever other horror story you can think of that has to do with labor or pregnancy. You do realize that eventually I will have to go into labor right? Why are you trying to freak me out more than necessary?

6. Yes, I'm sure there is only one baby in there. Didn't you just finish telling me how small I am for being pregnant? What makes you think there would be more than one baby?

7. Yes, I really do have to pee this often. There is nothing I can do about it.

8. I have no idea when I am going to start showing. It's not like I can push a button and my belly pops out.

Seriously, what is wrong with my co-workers????? Or people in general who say things like this to pregnant women? I know once I start showing I'm going to start getting these types of comments from random strangers. I mean seriously, anyone who reads my blog knows how much weight I've gained, and if I know you I don't mind if you rub my belly all night long! I'm not exactly shy about putting the personal things out in the open with people I love but why random people think that just because you are pregnant you don't deserve the same respect as any other person I just don't understand.

OK, vent over. I feel a little better now :)