A Gripe about The Annoying Pregnant Girl Syndrome

I've noticed that for most of my adult life there are complaints that go around about "the girl who got pregnant and became so different and/or annoying." I hear this girl is no longer interesting, or fun to be around, all she can talk about is her belly or her new baby, and once she has the baby all she can ever talk about are her kids. She used to have a job/have a hobby/wear cuter clothes/stay at the party later/etc. I hear this in casual conversation or overhear it out and about. There are even entire websites dedicated to hating on Annoying Parents. Just check out the site STFU Parents, who's tagline is "You used to be fun. Now you have a baby."

Now, I'm not saying there aren't some people who are incredibly annoying and are weirdo hover-mothers, but I'd have to say they are in the minority and I really do not think I will be qualifying for that role.

However, since I've become pregnant, all I can think about is not being the Annoying Pregnant Girl. The other day I was wear my maternity jeans and white sneakers and began to cry because I figure it's all downhill from here - straight into mom jeans and poufy Barbara or Hillary hair cuts. I try to downplay my pregnancy and make it seem like I'm still super cool and will not let my child rule my life. Which it won't. Just ask me! I'm doing tons of other stuff, but none of them do I carry around in my abdomen 24 hours a day, so that kind of trumps everything else.

I'm just wondering where this hating on parents and pregnant women came from. Since when was having a baby "not cool?" Isn't that quite literally the coolest thing, physiologically, a woman could possible do? HELLO - there is a HUMAN growing in my BELLY! Yeah, forgive me for mentioning that minor change. Furthermore, if having a baby and talking about it makes me so uncool, then years ago, did you really think when I talked about my old job or how hard getting through my master's degree was or what dating my future husband was like - I was oh-so-much-more interesting? Probably not. You could probably just relate more. So why don't people just admit that instead?

Or does it feel like pregnant women are joining some special new club? Is there just an unavoidable a gulf between women who have babies and women who can't or don't want to? If so, why?

I don't know what causes this weirdness - but it's weird for sure. It's as if women are measuring themselves against each other - which I something I've always considered useless and maybe that's why this is so annoying to me. I hate to be all preachy and say, "Embrace each other's differences" but seriously - that's all it is. Maybe that's why I'm always just happy for my friends and whatever changes they make in their life - no matter what they are. When my friends inform me they'd like to quit their job and go live on a compound out west to become communal organic farmers, I'm like "Go for it! I'll come and visit!" Similarly, if a friend has a child I just assume we will be hanging out with their kid and I'm more than happy to find activities that accommodate that. It never occurs to me to be annoyed I can't do such-and-such.

Maybe it's also because I've gone through SO many changes in my life. I understand how something can take over one's life and I've always been fortunate to have extremely understanding friends and family - that I can't understand the STFU attitude. Oh well.