Blue Ribbon Pig at the County Fair

A woman's weight is a very delicate matter that need not be mentioned, questioned or brought up in mixed company. A woman discusses this with her closest friends and possibly her spouse, but not mere associates, co-workers and certainly not strangers.

With that understanding, annoyed, I write this: Why do people evaluate a pregnant woman's size as would a judge evaluate a hog on display at the county fair?

• A co-worker who was on vacation for 2 weeks just told me "WOW! You're A LOT bigger than you were when I left!" Yeah, well, excuse the language but no shit. That's what happens during a pregnancy-- especially at the end. The baby grows and makes the Mama's stomach poke out more. Congratulations, rocket scientist.
  
• An obviously extraordinarily intelligent store clerk felt the need to inform me that even though I'm currently a full 9 months pregnant (36 weeks) that I am "gonna get a whole lot bigger." Dear rocket scientist 2, please see comment 1.
  
• Yesterday, a co-worker who is so unrelated to me at the office that I can't even remember her name said to me "well, your nose sure hasn't spread!" Right. The baby is in my uterus. Not in my nose. Just because a person is pregnant doesn't mean every extremity has to swell or "spread".
  
• A woman at the office (who are all these crazy people who work here?!?) actually commented on the size of my butt. Honestly. Is that necessary? I mean... it's common knowledge for anyone who has ever seen me in person that I am fairly "shapely" in that area. Right now, my hips are widening preparing to allow another human to pass through, so yeah... I'm sure my hips/hiney area seems a bit bigger. This person is also at least 100 pounds overweight, and has never born a child. I held my tongue instead of giving the comment I really wanted to snap back with: "I'm just trying to catch up with ONE of your cheeks!"
  

To ANY pregnant woman with whom I have EVER had contact, please accept my sincere apology at any reference made to your size, proportion, weight, bodily changes, etc. Goodness...

To EVERYONE: I only have 4 weeks to go before my due date, but the things learned from this lesson can be practiced for a lifetime... be kind, be supportive, and above all, be quiet when it comes to interjecting comments regarding a pregnant woman's body. (or any woman's body!)