Be Happy

• The first thing you should do when your friend or relative announces that she is pregnant is to express your congratulations. The parents-to-be are likely excited and have taken the time to fill you in, so they expect their joy to be reciprocated. In the case of a couple who has waited past the first trimester (when the greatest danger of miscarriage has passed) to tell friends, it has probably been hard to keep the secret for so long. Now that they can finally reveal their good news, they deserve a positive reaction.
  
  

Show Interest

• Showing interest in the pregnancy goes beyond a simple congratulations. Expectant mothers often feel sick, especially during the first trimester, and your friend might be experiencing morning sickness, fatigue, cramping and other common pregnancy aches and pains. Show your concern for her well-being by asking how she is feeling and offering her a chair if she is standing. You can also ask when the baby is due and if she is planning to find out the gender.
  
  

Keep Your Interest Appropriate

• Just because a couple has shared their pregnancy news does not mean that you are privy to all of the pregnancy information. Stay away from asking questions that are too personal, such as whether the pregnancy was planned, if the couple really wants a baby and inappropriate medical questions about the mother's health. Additionally, hold yourself back from commenting on the expectant mother's expanding shape, unless you are her mother, sister or best friend and know that she won't mind. Pregnant women can be very sensitive about their growing and changing bodies and don't necessarily want to hear everyone's opinions on the subject.
  
  

Keep Your Hands to Yourself

• A pregnant woman has no control over her expanding stomach, but that does not mean that it has become public property. One common complaint from pregnant women is the fact that absolute strangers feel comfortable touching their prominent bellies, and it is not a welcome action. Unless you are absolutely certain that she won't mind, keep your hands away from your expectant friend's stomach. Just as you wouldn't stroke her stomach if she wasn't pregnant, you should not touch it now. The exception to this is if she invites you to touch her belly when the baby is kicking or moving. With her permission, it is perfectly acceptable.