Okay, let’s chat for just a minute. I went for my annual appointment with my obgyn this week and I saw someone there I knew, that to my knowledge was not pregnant, with her husband and a nice little rolled up batch of sonogram pictures. This is unchartered territory for many but let’s chat about unspoken etiquette. I have been on both sides of this little scenario. Over the last 3 years, I’ve had a lot of appointments at Jackson Healthcare for Women – some with my husband signifying a pregnancy… and some without him where I saw other people there with their husband, most likely signifying a pregnancy. (And if you go to this clinic, you know it’s massive and you’re never going to go and not run into someone you know.)
First things first, if you see someone there with their husband and you don’t know if they’re pregnant, you do not… I repeat… you do not have to avoid them like the plague. It makes things even more awkward. Say hello! Obviously there’s an elephant in the room (or maybe a stork) but don’t treat it as such! We’re all in this together, girlfriend. Likewise, if you’re the pregnant one holding the batch of sonogram pictures, don’t be scared to speak.
Secondly, what you see within the walls of that office is not to be shared. If someone is there with their husband and no pregnancy announcement yet – I really don’t think it’s anyone’s place to tell about it. Not to your best friend. Not to your group chat of close friends. Nowhere. Is that hard? YES! But that’s their news to tell. Not to mention, the first trimester is a very volatile time and if you haven’t been on the other side of that before, I hope you are someday! It’s an exciting but nerve-racking time. And let’s just flip the scenario, can you imagine going to your first appointment for a pregnancy at say, 6 weeks, and you see someone who happens to know a lot of the same people you do. It’s likely you’ve only told your family at this point, and would you want them telling anyone you’re friends with before you got the opportunity?? Nope, and even if you’re telling someone one they distantly know, news spreads like wildfire, people! I’ve had people know I was pregnant before I even shared with my closest friends simply because someone we knew saw us at the doctor’s office.
It’s that simple! Speak to people you know, and let’s all make that office a safe place where we’re all on each other’s team — not sharing anyone else’s news and just simply praying for a healthy pregnancy and that you get to see some exciting news in the upcoming weeks as they make it out of the first trimester. That’s some of the most exciting news to get to share, and I really think the mom and dad of that little peanut should be the first to share the news.
So there’s my two cents that you didn’t even really ask for, ha.
Also, while we’re on the topic of women’s health – you all are my people. And I love my people. So let’s all make sure we’re going for our annual appointments, k? Getting the annual testing done. The works. You are your biggest advocate, and this is IMPORTANT. If you’re apprehensive, don’t know what to expect, don’t currently have a doctor, not sure where to go, whatever it may be, feel free to reach out to me! I’m happy to answer anything I can.
And what we have just done here is solified if I had any male readers, they’re now gone — ha! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I warned you by titling this “girl talk” buddy.