Handling advice from family, friends and strangers

It’s inevitable. From the moment you announce your pregnancy, you’ll be amazed by the amount of unsolicited advice that comes your way.

Some people take one look at a pregnant woman and start giving advice on everything from coping with morning sickness to prenatal vitamins, not to mention superstitions and words of wisdom that may or may not be true, but certainly aren’t medically accurate.

Chances are, everyone means well. Still, it can be pretty annoying when people you’ve never met start commenting on your coffee (“I hope that’s decaf!”) or worse, touching your belly uninvited.

So how do you cope with nosy questions and unwanted advice?

For starters, it pays to have a sense of humor and not take things too seriously. You may even want to come up with a few quick comebacks. Then try to take a deep breath and relax.

We deliver thousands and thousands of babies each year. Take advice from your care team to heart, and take other people’s advice with a grain of salt. (Yes, that includes your mom!)

If you ever get advice that worries you or have a question, just ask us. You don’t have to wait for your next prenatal visit. You can email or call your doctor or midwife, or call our advice line anytime.