Do I mention I am pregnant when making a presentation?
Recently, I received an email from one of my online public speaking workshop participants.
She wrote, “I am interviewing for a position and I am deeply pregnant. Should I somehow mention this just before my job talk? From one point of view, it sounds unprofessional. On the other hand, some people might focus more on the fact that I am pregnant than on my talk. Any advice?“
Here was my reply…
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Hmm… that’s a tough one. I think that if you are obviously pregnant there really is no need to draw additional attention. However, like anything that is a little out of the ordinary, some audience members will be distracted by it.
The “safe” suggestion is to not say anything at all. However, on the other hand, depending on your personality, you may be able to get away with a short quip to lighten the situation. Honestly, I think it depends a lot on your personality. It takes skill to deliver a quip and still appear very professional.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any ready-made quips about pregnancy. I am NOT a humorist, but here are three quips that came to my mind. You are free to use one of them or make up your own. The important thing is that you are comfortable delivering the line.
1) “Thanks for inviting “both” of us here today (and pat your belly and smile when you say the word “both”)
Or (if you are really BIG and close to delivery)
2) Don’t worry, I don’t plan to delivery here in this room–but you better go easy on me– just in case. (This one might backfire if it is perceived as you being weak, instead of funny.)
Or
3) Haven’t you ever heard…two heads (pat your belly and smile) are better than one?
For me personally, I would be willing to say the third one. I think you would get a small chuckle or at least a smile from your audience and then you could move one.
Let me know what you decide to do.
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What do you think? Should a pregnant woman say something? If so, what? I am very curious to hear what my readers think about this. Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget you can easily video record your comments just by clicking the “add video comment” below.
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