Meghan: How To Cope When Everyone Has An Opinion About Your Pregnancy

From the size and shape of your bump, to how you must be feeling, most pregnant women have had someone – stranger or friend – comment on their pregnancy.

For the Duchess of Sussex, the questions came thick and fast on a visit to Birkenhead, when she was asked if she was having a boy or girl and when she was due.

Hinting at an April birth, and suggesting she wanted it to be a surprise if she was having a boy or a girl, any pregnant woman can attest that inside Meghan was probably thinking: ‘Stop asking!’ We’re assuming, of course. But questions like these are just the tip of the pregnancy opinion iceberg.

Gemma McCrae is a life and business coach as well as a mum. She says: “The only time someone should comment is if they’re a qualified professional – doctor or midwife – if you’re about to eat something dangerous such as shell fish, or if you’ve expressly asked them.”

Here’s what else mums-to-be often face, and how to deal with it…

Remember that time someone rubbed your tummy before you were pregnant? No? Course you don’t. Because it doesn’t happen. But once you’re with child, suddenly your abdomen is a patting and stroking free-for-all. McCrae says: “I had this happen to me loads. You can’t do much if someone is going touch you without your permission because they tend to just do it . I used to pull away and say I was ticklish.”

Julia Bueno is a member of counselling directory which helps people connect with therapists around the UK. She says: “I’ve spoken to so many women this has happened to. You could put your hand in front of your bump, conveying ‘back off.’”

The opposite is when you dare – dare! – to cradle your own bump. Don’t stop, do what suits you and feels right, that’s all there is to say on this one.

There is no other circumstance in the world when it would be deemed socially acceptable to say someone was growing in size. Ah, well, except when the baby is born and then it’s, ‘Ooh, they’re getting big/chunky, aren’t they?!’ But when you’re pregnant, people seem unable not to discuss your belly – size and shape. From, ‘Only six months? Wow, your bump is big!’ to, ‘You’re carrying low, aren’t you?’, everyone wants to chat about it.

You could retaliate with some mildly passive-aggressive humour. Think, ‘Well, my boobs have gone up three cup sizes too!’ or ‘Yes, it’s really pressing on my bladder, is there a loo round here?’ But on a more serious note, this is time to call out anyone who is essentially body shaming you and your unborn child.

“They might think it’s flattering to say, ‘Aren’t you neat and small,’ but that might land badly if they’re worried about the health of their baby,” says Bueno. “That’s something I hear a lot – women worried who might have an extra scan on the back of a comment like that.”