A pregnant woman walks into a bar and is soon approached by a guy who says, "Can I sit here with you?"
She says, "No, I'm expecting someone."
Ba dum bum, CHING. Get it? She's "expecting" someone!? Credit for this knee slapper goes to a George Voiland.
I seem to be writing about pregnancy and alcohol a lot lately (recent posts include here, here and here). I'm not sure if it's an important issue or just important to me and the seemingly boozy company that I keep. Like many issues relating to pregnancy, alcohol use can stir up heated and differing opinions - when to drink, how much to drink, to drink at all. Pregnant and childless, men and women, old and young, all have something to say. The mere presence of a pregnant woman in a bar turns heads.
How do you feel about pregnant ladies in bars? While you're thinking about this highly philosophical question, watch this somewhat related movie clip. By now you realize that I love movies, especially critically unacclaimed ones.
I've had multiple experiences with pregnant women in bars. Before delving into such experiences, let's nail down the nomenclature. By "pregnant women" I'm talking about the gonna-pop-any-moment kind and not the I-never-would-have-guessed kind. Both kinds are pregnant, but only one kind is pregnant to the unacquainted stranger. Another point of clarification, by "bar" I mean a place that makes its primary business by serving alcoholic beverages.
I was a cocktail waitress in college at a sketchy, local pub. Once in a while a pregnant woman would come in to shoot pool and drink Bud Heavy (read: Budweiser, not the light kind). I remember feeling incredibly uncomfortable when this would happen and I would avoid serving her. In more recent times, I've observed pregnant women in bars that I patron and I've actually been to bars with pregnant friends. It's a rare occasion, but when it does happen I'm not nearly as stressed by it. My understanding of pregnancy health has increased and my judgmental nature has decreased.
My personal comfort/discomfort aside, I think people in general are disturbed by pregnant women in bars. Maybe "disturbed" is too strong a characterization. Weirded out? Concerned? When pregnant Gwyneth Paltrow was spotted drinking a pint of Guinness during her 3rd trimester with Moses (her son, not the biblical prodigy) it made
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| The stylist for this photo shoot has successfully confused the hell out of me. Between the 1989 Barbie-esque hair and makeup, the faux fur jacket, the hippie brown skirt... image HERE |
Being aware of the negative effects that alcohol can have on an unborn baby is just smart. Pointing out such knowledge to the unknown pregnant lady sitting next to you at the bar borders on self-righteous. As judgy as we may all feel about the topic, and I'm not judging you for being judgy...yeah...you read that correctly, consider leaving the pregnant ladies alone. Let's judge in our heads, not with our eyes or our words. Whether you see a pregnant bar goer sipping Guinness or sipping cranberry juice, let her be. If anyone is going to have a serious discussion with her about pregnancy health it's gonna be her doctor. And, probably, she's already had that conversation. Who knows? What we do know is that I'm no expert. And neither are you. Unless, of course, you're her doctor.
