Thursday 11 November 2010

Pregnant v Fat

We had friends staying for the weekend, and we took them to the pub on Sunday for lunch.  Tom and I had an utterly relaxing and indulgent couple of hours, eating lovely food, drinking wine, and actually managing a proper conversation, without being interrupted every two seconds by children who seem to take exception to us doing just that.  Meanwhile our friends chased Betty and Dolly round and round the pub.  It was wonderful.

As we all walked through the bar to leave, feeling happy and full, I bumped into an old school friend.   We had a chat about her children and then I pointed out my children, who were both now perched up on bar stools.  She said 'And you're expecting again I see, how exciting!'  'No I am not pregnant, I am just fat' I retorted.  However, she obviously thought I was having a laugh, and then said 'Oh come on, when's the little baby gonna pop out?'  I then found myself desperately and rather pathetically trying to convince her that I was not up the duff.  

Having finally convinced her, she tried to remedy the situation and asked how old Dolly was.  I told her 18 months.  'Oh well, there you go, Dolly is still very young, which is why you haven't lost the baby weight yet' she said.  I felt there was nowhere left to go with this conversation, so I grabbed my children and walked out, rejoining Tom and our friends in the carpark. 

I have written before about being mistaken for a labouring lady by a midwife (A MIDWIFE!!) on the maternity ward, whilst I was being a birthing partner to my friend a few months ago.  It is actually really rather crushing, that you are so fat you could feasibly be about to give birth.

Yesterday I bought some of those shaping knickers that come all the way up to your bra.  I wore them today and my mum remarked: 'it is a definite improvement, you no longer look pregnant, just fat'.

8 comments:

Victoria said...

I wrote a couple of weeks ago how I went to a cake decorating evening and the first person I was introduced to apologised for nearly knocking me over in the carpark "Especially in my condition." mmmm.

Potty Mummy said...

Ah - mums. Gotta love them, hey?

nappy valley girl said...

And that is why I never congratulate a friend on their pregnancy until they have either told me, or it is so obvious that there is a baby about to pop out that there can be no other explanation.....

I remember a friend being mortified at University when a good looking bloke offered to help her with her shopping bags. She thought he was flirting until he asked 'when's it due, then?'

Little Red Hen said...

Thanks Mum! I'm so afraid of offending someone who isn't pregnant that I say nothing and then get berated for not offering congrats. You can't win.

Alijane said...

Poor you, I know that feeling so well. I never had a tummy until I had by youngest. Oh to have a flat tum again, shame I am too lazy to go to a gym or work off that fat!

I'm sure you look lovely just the way you are!

Alison
x

Tokyo to Blackpool in one swoop. said...

Robust and healthy is how I like to describe myself after my third wee diamond. I`ve never been happier! I bet your friend had a night of wincing everytime she recalled the day`s conversation!

Snoggies!

Sammy

szcairney.blogspot.com

Metropolitan Mum said...

I congratulated a not-so-pregnant bloggie friend at Cybermummy. I even patted her belly. Very embarrassing for all of us.
PS: I guess your mum gets no Christmas present this year?

Anonymous said...

Yikes. And I sometimes worry at my lack of tact...

Thought I'd never lose that baby weight - turns out all you need is a healthy dose of food poisoning! Took me right back to 'morning sickness' - I'd rather have kept the flab *shudder*