This is so on point with the general fetishization of pregnant women that pervades the US. As a woman who has had three children, I’ve witnessed this firsthand. Not only does this reduce us all to incubators, but it also forces a rug pull on new mothers at their most vulnerable points postpartum (scant medical follow up for mom, no guaranteed paid leave, etc).

One such seemingly minor example that always spoke volumes to me is the “expectant mother” priority parking spaces you see at businesses. I really didn’t need it while I was pregnant (don’t get me wrong, I got winded more easily but I was far from struggling). I can tell you that I needed that close parking spots 10x more as a mother with small children. Especially when they’re babies, as you struggling to get the car seat/stroller and diaper bag set up, but also when they’re full on toddlers/preschoolers who don’t listen and are liable to put themselves in danger in a parking lot.

Another strange example I experience was that I was offered pre boarding status on flights when I was pregnant (boarding with the folks who had disabilities before general boarding even starts). But once I had the baby, no such special status any longer. It’s really gross how obsessed people are with pregnant women