At first, it may seem like being pregnant is a thrilling time in your life. And, for the most part, it absolutely is. But there's one thing we'd like to do without during pregnancy: rude behavior. We run into a period when our hormones are raging, we are feeling self conscious because we have gained weight and, to top it all off, we receive criticism from others. You'd think that the only thing people would be offering to pregnant women is well wishes.

Yet it couldn't be further from the truth. People can say some very hurtful things, be downright rude and offer unwanted advice about everything related to birth and raising a child. Whatever you do, don't internalize the negativity. There are ways of dealing with it, once you are prepared and realize why people do it and what the best ways are to address it.

Whether it's your first pregnancy or your sixth, like Sharlene Crull of Clarkston, Mich., it's not uncommon to hear unwanted opinions. People may comment on the cost of raising a child, your weight gain, the circumcision decision, pain medication during delivery and even breastfeeding once the baby arrives.

"Being pregnant with my sixth child, I am certainly no stranger to rude remarks and nosy people," Crull says. "I've heard it all. I've been told outright to stop having children, that I'm crazy, and even questions about where I'll fit another kid in the house."

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