A pregnant woman stood frozen as her sister unveiled a measuring game that turned the spotlight on her changing belly in front of family and friends. Already fighting lifelong battles with an eating disorder, she choked back tears while guests guessed her size, feeling exposed and mortified during what should have been a joyful day. She stayed silent afterward to protect her energy for her newborn son.
Years later, when her sister announced plans for another shower and mentioned repeating the same activity, the woman kindly suggested skipping it to spare the expectant mother similar discomfort. Her sister exploded in anger, accusing her of holding onto old resentment and forcing personal insecurities onto others.
A woman advised her sister to skip a common but potentially triggering baby shower game due to past personal hurt.
The sister organized games for the Redditor’s baby shower years ago, including one where guests guessed and measured the pregnant belly’s size using slips of paper and a tape measure.
While many commenters noted that variations of this “How Big Is Mommy’s Belly” game appear at showers across regions, it landed poorly for the Redditor due to her long-term struggle with an eating disorder. She felt mortified and fought back tears in front of family and friends, yet chose not to address it immediately to focus on her new baby.
When she later advised skipping the game for a family friend’s shower, her sister reacted strongly, calling it harbored rage and ungratefulness.
From one angle, the game seems like harmless fun rooted in tradition. Several Reddit voices described playing it at multiple showers without issue, viewing it as a classic icebreaker. The sister likely saw it the same way: a celebratory activity centered on the exciting pregnancy, not body scrutiny. She may have felt blindsided by the delayed feedback, interpreting the suggestion as unsolicited criticism of her past efforts rather than thoughtful concern for another mom.
Yet the opposing perspective highlights real emotional stakes. For anyone with a history of body image challenges, spotlighting physical measurements during a vulnerable time can reopen old wounds. The Redditor clarified the game had no medical basis and came as a surprise while she was “on stage.”
Even without an eating disorder, many women experience heightened sensitivity to body comments amid pregnancy changes. Her intent was protective, not to attack her sister’s planning.
This situation broadens easily into larger family dynamics around communication and sensitivity. Research shows that body image concerns are common during pregnancy. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, about 40% of women report concerns about their weight during pregnancy, and roughly 5% experience an eating disorder while pregnant.
Past eating disorders can heighten risks, with pregnancy sometimes triggering relapse or intensified dissatisfaction.
Claire Mysko, a body image expert, has noted in public conversations that family and friends play a key role in setting boundaries around sensitive topics like body changes, emphasizing supportive environments to avoid unintentional triggers.
Neutral advice here leans toward open, timely conversations. Addressing discomfort soon after an event (rather than years later) can prevent buildup, while planners might check preferences with the honoree ahead of time for games involving measurements or guesses.
Families benefit from recognizing that what feels fun for one person can feel exposing for another. Solutions start with opting for alternative games focused on baby predictions, gifts, or non-body elements, and fostering empathy by listening without defensiveness when feedback arises.
Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:
Some users view the game as normal and common but acknowledge the sister’s lack of sensitivity given the OP’s body image issues.
Some people consider the game insensitive or rude regardless of its commonality, and place primary blame on the sister.
Others emphasize that the game is very common at baby showers while expressing sympathy for the OP’s trigger and suggesting better communication.
A few users note the commonality of the game but criticize how the sister reacted to the OP bringing up the issue later.
In the end, the Redditor’s gentle discouragement stemmed from a desire to protect another mom from the discomfort she once felt. Do you think her suggestion was fair given her personal history, or did the delayed timing make it land poorly? How would you handle balancing sibling support with party planning in a similar spot? Share your thoughts below!
