Her-mones

People like to joke about pregnancy hormones. Not to play the gender card, but I tend to hear more men than women hint to Tim that he better "be nice to me, or else." As if I, who now gets winded just climbing the stairs to our apartment, have the energy to pummel Tim even if I wanted to.

The truth is, every woman is different. I have met pregnant women who are weepy, irritable, and angry. I've met some that, besides a few tears here and there, haven't changed much from their pre-pregnancy selves. But all MTBs have a lot on their minds that can affect their moods, regardless of the hormone factor.

"Do we have enough medical insurance?"
"Is our home big enough?"
"Should I go back to work, if so, when?"
"What if I'm a terrible mom?"

Lists of questions can be going through their heads at any time, and frequent changes in their physical appearances doesn't help, either. So, it's no wonder that they may not be in the mood to chat, go to parties, or whatever else they may normally like to do.

WARNING: None of the previous commentary is valid on Delivery Day. From the moment a woman goes into labor, no rules apply. Some women are so polite that even in labor they are too timid to ask annoying relatives to leave the room. I have known other women, however, who seemed perfectly fine throughout their pregnancies, but in labor, all niceties were gone. I know a gentle, petite lady, who upon attempting to deliver a 10-lb. boy, spoke to her husband in a deep, merciless voice I couldn't recognize as her own. Let's face it, some women in delivery may drastically change to feel (as an actor said once), "All I give out are butt-kickings and lollipops, and I'm fresh out of lollipops." Be warned.