People making me uncomfortable at work
Hey guys. This last week I’ve been feeling really uncomfortable around some of my coworkers regarding my pregnancy. I work in a male dominated industry (I’m a mechanic) and this last week a couple of my coworkers have started to make me feel really uncomfortable making comments toward me.
There’s 2 coworkers in specific that are older guys in there 50s about and they’re constantly making comments toward me. If I’m eating lunch they’ll say something about me “eating for 2” or “what’s the baby craving today” and it just makes me feel vulnerable. I feel like I’ve been so normal this pregnancy and my pregnancy isn’t influencing anything I do.
The other day I was helping my coworker work and I was holding something up for him while he bolted it down and I bumped into him with my ARM and he made a comment about how I “knocked him in the back with my bump” and then today in the parking lot after we got off work, I was putting my things away in my trunk and once I took off my vest my coworker was like “wow! You’re really starting to show now” and I just was kind of like yeah. And when we leave work we have to walk through metal detectors and my coworker said something to the security guard like “you shouldn’t be making her walk through these while she’s pregnant” and putting my whole pregnancy on display. Like why wouldn’t I be able to walk through a metal detector 🤦🏻♀️ I know my restrictions and I know what my doctor has told me I need in order keep me and my baby safe. I don’t need anyone else to tell me anything.
But it’s all starting to make me so uncomfortable. I feel so protective of my baby it’s like I don’t want anybody talking about her or even acknowledging her. Like she’s MINE. Especially at work, I don’t want anybody looking at me differently because I’m fully capable of doing everything that I was doing before. I don’t need any extra help or people to look out for me.
Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to vent and maybe get some guidance. Am I being crazy for feeling like this? Because I know most people mean well, but I’m still feeling uncomfortable. Maybe because it’s older men idk because like my mom doesn’t make me uncomfortable when she makes comments about my bump or the baby. I just wanted to vent
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No not at all. I’m sort of in the same situation. I want to believe that these men really don’t mean any harm and are maybe just trying to make conversation but their intention doesn’t change the way we feel about it.
To make matters worse, I got the job 2 weeks before I was pregnant and so these men don’t know me any differently. My department is called “Gate 2” and my manager has started calling my baby “Gate 2’s Baby” like absolutely fucking not.
I’m sorry I don’t have any sound advice but I’m just letting you know you’re not alone and you’re certainly not crazy for feeling uncomfortable. Hugs to you💗💗
I think it just depends on their heart, if they’re just acknowledging you’re pregnant and making small talk I feel like that’s common for any workplace and any coworkers, if they’re being mean spirited about it you can tell them to stop and report them for harassment, but simply acknowledging that you’re pregnant, eating for 2, popping etc is just comments every pregnant woman hears from everyone
I understand the feeling of not wanting special treatment because you are capable, however, nothing that they have said sounds bad. If anything, it sounds like they are just friendly and joking around, making small talk in a caring way.
However, if it makes you feel uncomfortable then of course, this to something that must be respected so I would just talk to them. But if someone says things like this to me I would probably smile and find it funny. 🤷🏻♀️
Also, you should low key thank the guy talking about the metal detector. This is something that for years has been discussed and even though they say it is safe, some other articles says it isn’t. He didn’t tell YOU that you shouldn’t do it, he spoke to the security guard, so he was just watching out for you and your baby, not doubting your knowledge and skills as a future mom.
That being said, no, you are not crazy and like I said, if you are uncomfortable just let them know. All your feelings are valid and important.
They don’t seem to be harmful or mean towards u they actually seem concerned and pretty cool I think it’s just the pregnancy hormones they get the best of us at times . I feel it all the time and I work around a bunch of woman and I feel annoyed very irritated and agitated around them when they ask me questions and come off overly concerned don’t worry ur good as long as they don’t Harass or disrespect u nothing to worry about.
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