Only mothers really know the toll that pregnancy takes on the female form. People assume that once the baby has been delivered, your body will suddenly revert to its former size and shape. Their comments, though intended to be supportive, can be very discomforting to you. You may find yourself at a loss for words, especially if this happens daily. Try using some of these suggested response types, next time you are confronted by someone with an incorrect assumption:
A straight response states the facts simply. Tell them “I am not pregnant,” or “My baby's been born already.” If you feel like being a bit humorous, say: “no way am I pregnant, I'm just fat!” While the straight forward response is sure to make the recipient feel uncomfortable, it is not up to you to worry about their feelings, since they didn't think too hard, before making their assumptions.
If you are feeling sympathetic, a kinder response is better – especially if the person asking you the question is a child. With an adult, try something like, “I've given birth already, my body just didn't get the memo.” You can say to a child, “it only looks like there is still a baby in my tummy.”
You could try a dose of reality for the person asking, by saying, “my body cannot get back in shape overnight, after nine months of carrying a child.” You can even go into more detail and explain about how a uterus expands, how your belly swells and then suddenly contracts, leaving a whole bunch of loose skin.
You can even give a deflecting response, avoiding giving a real answer altogether. If someone asks you when your baby is due, give the day of the week your child was born on, and find a handy exit from their company. You can give a very vague response, such as “some time this week.” You can even act superstitious and tell them that you consider it very bad luck to speak of such things so near to the time.
