plus 1, Health Organizations to Study Safety of Medications Taken During Pregnancy - Kansas City infoZine

Health Organizations to Study Safety of Medications Taken During Pregnancy - Kansas City infoZine

Posted: 01 Jan 2010 01:58 AM PST

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New collaborative research program to study effects on mothers and their babies Washington, D.C. - infoZine - A new research program called the Medication Exposure in Pregnancy Risk Evaluation Program (MEPREP) will fund research to study the effects of prescription medications used during pregnancy

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Pregnancy annoyances - Spencer Daily Reporter

Posted: 01 Jan 2010 06:19 PM PST

I have two beautiful little girls that are smart, adorable and for the most part well-behaved. Then again, I know I'm biased. My husband and I are expecting a little boy in just a few short months as well.

While I have been through the whole pregnancy to-do twice before, I have to admit that I enjoy many aspects of it. Heartburn and sleep deprivation however, are not on that list.

As a mom, I feel like a pro already and have to chuckle at my naivety when I was a first-timer. I no longer need to call the doctor to ask if it's ok to take a Tylenol, to get on an airplane or to eat peanut butter. I know the answers. I think I'm a lot more laid back with this pregnancy and let things slide for the most part.

But I do have to admit that no matter how laid back I am or how many times I've been pregnant, I've learned that four things will never change -- and they all annoy the heck out of me!

1.	People -- even complete strangers -- will offer unsolicited advice. This annoys me terribly. I truly don't care that you spanked your kids and it worked for you because I won't be spanking my kids. I don't care how you put your kids down for naps or what you let them watch on tv. We're going to raise our kids the way that we want to. And this especially applies if you are a complete stranger.
2.	People -- again, even complete strangers -- will touch your pregnant belly without asking. Our pregnant bellies may look like a joyful bowl full of jelly, but as a mom, we are protective of our young not to mention our own hygiene. Rule of thumb to live by -- if you normally wouldn't rub someone's tummy when they aren't pregnant, don't touch when they are.
3.	Rule #2 also applies to a pregnant woman's weight. Never before have I had anyone comment on my pregnant weight until this pregnancy. Ironically enough, while my doctor is on my case to gain more weight, I have had two co-workers comment (one even as recent as last week) that they "thought I was just gaining winter weight." Gee thanks!
4.	Business -- as in, it's none of yours! No matter who you are, it's not any of your business how many children a husband and wife decide to have together. Whether it's 1, 3 or 20. If you aren't footing the diaper, food and hospital bills, what do you care? My husband is a college instructor and one of his students rudely asked if we were done having kids after our son was born. This students reasoning was that anymore children would make us like the Duggar family from television who have 19 kids. An older gentleman manning the drive-up at the grocery store had a similar comment a few weeks ago only he said if we had anymore we'd be like the Waltons. If you plan to pay for my children's education, doctor bills, etc. and also take care of them, then maybe you'd have a say in it. But really -- it's just rude and insulting.

So in other words -- keep your hands and your advice to yourself. If you normally wouldn't do or say these things to a non-pregnant woman, why is it considered appropriate to do so to someone who is with child?

I'm not bitter or angry. I love being pregnant. What I am is annoyed by people who are just plain old rude and don't seem to see a problem with it!

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