There are many advantages to being pregnant, and I’m not talking about the adorable bundle of joy you get out of the deal. For the six months or so that you are visibly pregnant, that belly is like a free spin, the wild card, a “get out of jail free” card.
You can get through crowds. Pregnant woman can part the red sea (or a crowd) simply by saying “excuse me.” As soon as one person sees you are expecting, it’s a domino effect and everyone gets out of your way. This is particularly useful when you are trying to get to the bathroom. Speaking of bathrooms….
You get first dibs on the empty stall. If you are waiting in line in the public restroom, don’t be surprised if someone lets you cut when a stall opens up. Everyone knows there’s an unwritten rule when it comes to pregnant women and the restroom – let her go first.
You get prime parking. There are a growing number of stores, including Babies R Us and Best Buy, that have special parking spaces for women that are pregnant or have infants. Those bellies and infant carriers are heavy!
You get help at the grocery store. Reach into your cart or to a top shelf, and people ready to assist you will pop out of the woodwork. Near the end of pregnancy, I discovered how awkward it was to get groceries out of my cart and onto the conveyor when my belly got in the way. Luckily, the person in front of me would usually help me unload my cart. Now I always make it a point to help other pregnant woman in a similar situation.
Free food. For some reason, people are really concerned about pregnant women getting enough to eat, so it’s not that uncommon that friends might start handing you snacks or servers might start throwing in extras with your food order. I also experienced family members loading extra food on my plate at family functions.
You always get a seat. When I was first in labor, we went to IHOP while we waited for things to progress. (I know I’m crazy, but I really wanted pancakes!) It was a Sunday morning and it was extremely packed, especially in the lobby where all the benches were. My family was really grateful to have me there, since those benches cleared pretty quickly when I got within three feet.
Reflecting on these advantages almost makes me want to get pregnant again! When the baby is stuck in your ribs and your waddle is making you wince, remember these perks. Even if they aren’t worth the pain, you still get a baby out of the deal, right?