When did "WE" start getting pregnant?
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
September 10, 2007 9:51pm CST
When did the phrase "We're pregnant" start to become so common? I really can't remember for sure when I first started hearing it but it's said all the time now. I know it's been more recent than 30-something years ago because in my memory I was pregnant "we" were not...LOL..."WE" were expecting a baby but I was the one with the big belly and sore bo*bs and backache. And back then around here "I" was the only one in the delivery room!
Anyway, what does everyone think of this new way of describing a new baby being on the way? Is it cute, is it only fair or is it a bit unfair to the mother? By asking this I am not diminishing the importance of fathers, I'm just curious on everyone's take on this phrase.
Annie
1 person likes this
3 responses
@mrsbrian (1949)
• United States
11 Sep 07
I think the phrase were pregnant is correct, you may be the one carring the baby but I think you and your partner are one and the baby belongs to you both so it is a family affair.I think having fathers as involved as possible is important so they dont feel left out and neglected.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
11 Sep 07
Hmmm? I guess the man made the baby as well so
both could be considered pregnant in that aspect.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
11 Sep 07
I agree that the two people who created this new life are as one and absolutely the baby belongs to you both. I also agree having fathers as involved as possible is important, but "so they don't feel left out and neglected."...?
Here's where my feelings about this get a bit complicated and I fear easy to be taken the wrong way. My husband was and is a wonderful father and he's now a wonderful grandfather; he was always involved in our daughter's upbringing and he's still always there for her whenever she needs him for anything, same goes for the grandkids. My dad was the best father I could ever have wished for and I loved him dearly and miss him still. I would never want to offend any of the wonderful fathers all over the world, they are very important to their children's lives for all of their lives! But, the fact is once the conception has happened the "sperm donor"...any fertile man can be a sperm donor but every man can't be a father any more than any woman can be a MOTHER...he can, for all intents and purposes disappear and abandon and neglect the mother and his unborn baby. The now pregnant woman, on the other hand can't run away from it, she has to deal with it one way or another. Legally, so does the father but that doesn't mean there aren't men who get off scott-free.
I'm sure my age has something to do with it, but I guess I'm still stuck with the idea that it's the woman who gets pregnant. PLEASE, all you good dads on myLot, don't get mad at me, I don't wish to offend you. You are priceless, and I mean that! But as much as some of us females have struggled for equality there are some ways in which we'll never be "the same" and one thing we girls can still do and you still CAN'T do is get pregnant! A special note to Mrsbrian - your husband is a very lucky man!
Annie
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
12 Sep 07
I agree. I'm 38 and I have 5 kids. None of my ex's nor my present husband were ever pregnant. I had the bloating, the morning sickness, the swollen ankles and the labor pains. With my last little surprise, I had gestational diabetes and preclampsia. I love my husband to bits, but he never had to go through any of this. No, we were not pregnant. Not with any of my husbands or any of my children. We had a baby and then he came into play. Until then, I was the one who had to suffer. I must say that 3 of my four husbands were great at trying to make me feel better, but they were not involved in my pregnancy.
Until a man feels the pain of pregnancy and delivery, "We" are not pregnant. She is pregnant. But together, they are having a child.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
12 Sep 07
Exactly and I don't think it's a dig against men at all, at least I certainly don't mean it that way. Hey, it's not their fault they can't actually get pregnant...lol I really wish just one man would have to go through it once. Would that be a riot or what?
Annie
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
11 Sep 07
My wife was pregnant as well but we were expecting a baby. That was almost 30 years ago. But I was in the delivery room when my daughter was born. As the cord was cut the Dr handed her to me saying, Isn't she beautiful?" I refused to hold her saying, "She's full of blood and gunk. She's ugly right now." HAHAHA!! I was out of towen about 300 miles away when my son was born. I have no idea when "WE" became the norm for pregnancies. To me it's still the woman is pregnant not we are.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
11 Sep 07
When my daughter was born in 1970 some area hospitals were just starting to allow the fathers to be right there for the delivery but not the one where I was. He was there in the waiting room, you know the old stereotypical expectant father pacing back and forth. You're right, WE were expecting a baby and it was totally a "team effort" but back then it was ME who was pregnant, pure and simple. That's changed now and it does seem odd to us "oldies but goodies"...LOL Thanks for a great response, Grandpa Bob!
Annie
