When someone tells you they're pregnant.

When a woman tells you she's pregnant. It's a big deal. And what you say in response to that is a big deal too. The purpose of this essay is to encourage you, whenever that moment happens, to choose your words wisely.

You may be in shock, you may be surprised, and you just may say something that sounds confusing or hurtful, even if you didn't mean to say it that way. It's amazing what some people say when they're met with a shocker like "I'm pregnant." And I really can't blame them. Because of most of the not-so-happy comments are the very same thoughts I mulled over myself when I first saw those 2 lines in the bathroom. But still, people, please try your best to regain your composer for the hormonal pregnant woman's sake and say something really nice!

Things you should say: I'm so excited for you! Congratulations! That's wonderful!

Things you should not say: Whoa! That was fast. Were you guys even trying? You might look a little fat at graduation but at least you'll have the baby after your out of school. You may have trouble getting hired though.

Not all of that was said to me, but some of it was. When a woman realizes she is pregnant she has often has a flood of emotions. Excitement and joy, yes. But also sometimes feelings of fear and inadequacy. It's normal to feel those things, no matter who you are and where you are in life. So when you share the news with friends and family the last thing you want to hear is a comment that reiterates you inadequateness or validates your own concerns, however real they may be.

Point B, pregnant women are usually a hormonal mess. One negative sounding comment can send us to tears in an instant. We're extra sensitive, so coat those first words with pillows of love and comfort. I chose not to share the news until I felt emotionally stable enough to answer people's questions and be prepared for these types of comments. It took time for things to sink in for me. It took about a week for me to wrestle and overcome my doubt, hold on to my husbands hand and start believing God for the good things has for us in the future. And now I'm really excited! But those first few days I felt like a time bomb just waiting to go off.

Anyway, dear friends, we all have a right to be less than excited when a friend announces a pregnancy, but I'm asking you, as a woman who is 6 weeks pregnant, please, for her sake, tell her how much you believe in her. :o)

Edit: Thank GOD I have a husband who did a great job in this area and no matter how surprised he was, displayed his excited to be having another baby. He has been my strength these last few days. And He has encouraged me to wait before the Lord and listen to the plan HE has.... The very plan God is about to lay before us in a whole new way.