You’re Not Helping: Five Things NOT to Say to a Childless Couple

two happy woman friends

By Kelsey Bell

Infertility is more common than most people realize, and it can be difficult for happy, fertile people to understand how trying it is to struggle with conception. Not everyone knows what to say or how to respond when you say you have been trying to conceive for months on end with no luck. If one of your friends or family members is struggling to get pregnant, your words can have a big impact on the way they feel. Avoid using these common phrases when you are trying to comfort a friend who is going through a rough time. Instead, be sensitive and empathetic. Getting pregnant isn’t as easy as everyone makes it out to be.

“Just relax.”

Imagine how relaxed you would feel if you had been trying for more than a year to get pregnant, and your period continued to arrive like clock work. Simply telling someone to relax can actually make them feel more stressed and frustrated. Stress can contribute to fertility issues, as noted by Womenshealth.gov. Instead of telling your friend to lighten up, ask her if she wants to go out for a few drinks or offer to participate in a yoga class to help her keep her mind occupied on other things besides making a baby.

“It will happen when it’s meant to.”

Chances are you might make this statement in hopes of providing comfort for your friend, but more than likely you will make her feel like she doesn’t yet deserve to be pregnant. Fifteen percent of American couples struggle with infertility, according to the Mayo Clinic. Try not to trivialize the fact that getting pregnant can be difficult by saying fate will deliver a baby when it’s time. If your friend is venting her frustrations about trying to conceive, offer simple words of comfort such as, “Don’t give up hope.”

“Oh, it only took us one month to get pregnant.”

If you did not struggle to conceive, avoid describing your fertility journey as if it were a walk in the park. Your friend is well aware of the fact that many people are able to easily and quickly become pregnant, and she doesn’t need yet another reminder. Rather than talk about your own situation, help her find resources to assist her in identifying her fertile window with an ovulation calendar, measuring basal body temperature or monitoring cervical fluids. By charting her fertility, she may be able to become pregnant in a shorter amount of time, according to Web MD.

“Just take one of mine.”

Being a mother is exhausting, and you might be tempted to use this as a witty response to her struggles. This can be an especially painful thing to say to a woman who is hoping for a child, as she would probably love to be changing diapers and wiping up a messy face. Women who are struggling to conceive need support and counseling from their friends, according to Womenshealth.gov. Listen, and choose a more empathetic response, such as, “I’m always thinking of you.”

“Have you considered adoption?”

While adoption is a viable option for many infertile couples, it can be a process that is equally trying. Adoption agencies spend significant time screening potential families, and adoption laws vary by state, according to Womenshealth.gov. Instead of offering up adoption as a quick-fix to her difficult situation, simply tell her that you wish there was more you could do to help.

Kelsey Bell is a new mom and new blogger. She enjoys giving advice about frugal living.

2 thoughts on “You’re Not Helping: Five Things NOT to Say to a Childless Couple

  1. Kayla Martinez says:

    I want to tell all the women in the world with no child that there is hope for you all, because i was also a barren woman, i had no child for the past 12 years i consulted my doctor and he told me that there is no way on earth that i can ever getting pregnant, because of previous abortion i did for my ex husband, so i was confused and my husband was giving up and told me we should adopt a child, i was so sad in such way that i had to talk to a friend about adopting a child, my friend Said forget about adopting a child. She then introduced me to a spiritual Doctor. Marvelspelltemple @ gmail. com i contacted and explained everything to him and immediately Doctor Muna told me not to worry my problems will be solved, i believed and did as he instructed me, including applying her fertility medicine. After 4 weeks i went to hospital for a total test and i found out i was 2 weeks pregnant and today i’m a mother of an amazing twins.

  2. Rohan Daas says:

    Just because you can’t have children doesn’t mean you’re not a family. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this, as some couples may still consider themselves a family even if they are unable to conceive, while others may feel like their inability to have children has made them ineligible for the title. Whatever the couple decides, it is important to respect their choice. It worth my time to read this blog and I also check https://www.medicalopedia.org/8733/attitude-to-abortion-in-modern-society/ article which is a hot potato now a days. There are different opinion about abortion among different people so I recommend to take a look of this one as well.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.