Bridging the Gap

Is it just me, or does it feel like pregnant women seem to be this completely different species of women?

It seems like, specifically if a woman is showing, people don't really know what to do or say to them.

Or if they're not visibly pregnant, people assume they don't struggle at all.
I am barely pregnant and already I struggle to put on my jeans (I've been living in leggings). I struggle to sleep, but yet I'm tired all the time. I struggle to keep my cool sometimes.

I wish some pregnant women didn't put themselves on pedestals. I'm pregnant, I'm not disabled. I'm not a super hero. I'm a human who is simply growing another human, and sometimes I may need help.

To bridge the gap a little bit, here are some common questions and my answers to them:

When are you due? December 8, 2015
Do you want another boy? People commonly mistake that I want one sex over the other. I truly couldn't care less. I just want a baby.
What are the chances of another spina bifida baby? 2 to 5%. Which seems small, but when put in comparison to a woman who has never had a baby with SB, it's monumental. Her chances are 0.001%
Are you scared? No. I was, but I can't be. I fear that maybe in the future, my son may be jealous of my younger child, but that will be dealt with when the time comes.

And please, if a woman looks like she needs help, at least make an offer.
I was 9 months pregnant with my son in a grocery store. I forgot a cart, so I piled a pack of Gatorade on top of a pack of waters to take to the register. The Gatorade slid off the water, so I had to put the water down, and restack it. All the while, people were passing me, glancing like I was some kind of zoo animal. Only when I was already almost to the register did someone offer to help, when I sarcastically declined considering the conveyer belt was right in front of me. Thanks a lot.

My point is, don't be afraid to offer help. And most of the time she will accept. If she declines, do it anyway. We don't want to be patronized, but we don't want to be left alone either! (I'll cover loneliness in a future post!)