Pregnant women: No poking or prying, please

Unless you’ve been pregnant or are due in the next nine months, you may not be aware of common pregnancy etiquette flops. Here are five pregnancy faux pas to avoid:

¢ Unlicensed Belly Touch: More than 80 percent of pregnant women have had their belly touched without being asked, according to TheNestBaby.com. Try to hold back unless you’ve asked the mom first. Not only can it be scary and weird when someone (whether it’s a stranger or even a relative) touches her, but a woman’s belly is private, and she may not want you reaching for it.

¢ Too Much Information: Imagine hearing your own mother-in-law describing how she gave birth to your husband. Are you squirming yet? It’s only natural to want to share your own experiences and think that it may offer some helpful advice. But just because you were in labor for 36 hours doesn’t mean she wants to hear all the gory details. You’ll only scare her (and the baby) with your stories.

¢ Having Twins?: First of all, pregnant or not, no one ever likes to be reminded of her weight gain. Whether you are genuinely wondering if she’s having twins or it’s your way of saying she’s going to have a big, healthy baby, keep comments related to weight gain to yourself. And, if she is having twins, never ask if fertility drugs were involved – period.

¢ Name Choice No-No: “Ohhh, I know a (insert name). He was the biggest geek in high school!” Ouch. Whether it’s a nerd you know or a horrid ex-boyfriend, you can’t help but connect a name to someone in your past. But it’s best to keep your opinions to yourself, or better yet, not even ask what they’re planning on naming the baby. “Naming a child is one of the most personal things for parents, and it’s hard enough to decide on a name without a committee chiming in,” says Carley Roney, TheNestBaby.com’s editor in chief.

¢ Peer Pressure: No one likes a pusher. If your friend who normally drinks more than her share of sauvignon switches to sparkling water, take it as a sign and don’t order a round of martinis. Your “in-the-baby-zone” friend will become tired of saying that she’s “not feeling well” and be less apt to come out next time.