"Ultrasound Tech Said 'Oh No, It Died'": 30 Wild And Horrifying Things Said To Pregnant Women

Pregnancy can take an emotional toll on a woman. Pregnancy mood swings are not a myth. Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels can cause a pregnant woman to feel a whirlwind of emotions. As each pregnancy is different, some might feel elated and joyous, while others have periods of anxiety and sadness.

Experts say that no matter what kind of emotions a mom-to-be is feeling, they are valid. And it's not just the hormones that are impacting the mood swings. Some future moms might be experiencing body image issues, stress, and fatigue. When you consider that a pregnant woman might be dealing with all of these, you might want to think twice before making a witty comment.

One of the biggest no-nos when it comes to things you should never tell a pregnant woman is comments about her body. In 2020, The Bump polled its members and asked what insensitive comments pregnant women received most often, and comments about their bodies either being too big or too small made it to the second place.

The first place went to questions about whether the baby was planned. Soon-to-be-moms were also annoyed with people asking them whether they were planning to have more kids in the future, as "Are you guys done now?" was the third most aggravating thing new parents were sick of hearing.

Some expectant mothers also have no desire to listen to other moms tell them their stories. Just like with unwarranted advice, hearing a stranger tell you how she puked all through her third trimester brings a pregnant woman no joy. Psychotherapist Anna Mathur told the BBC that the other person should always think about how the comments and stories will make the pregnant woman feel.

"Secondary trauma can come to those who are vulnerable to the retelling – for example, hearing about a traumatic birth when pregnant," Mathur pointed out. "It can provoke anxiety and fear. When speaking to an expectant mother, rewind back to how you felt at that time. Think of what might bring her hope and comfort her instead."