Why it's not OK to speculate if someone's pregnant

Yahoo

01-05-2025

TV and radio presenter Vick Hope, 35, has sparked pregnancy speculation after posting on social media yesterday.
Hope, 35, who is married to DJ Calvin Harris, 41, shared a video from a press junket on her Instagram Stories, and fans were quick to point out that it appeared to show her cradling a bump.
The Radio 1 star also shared a series of photos showing work she'd done recently, including hosting a Poetry Slam. In some of the pictures, she appeared to have a rounded stomach, leading fans and celebrity friends to send congratulatory messages.
Lisa Snowdon wrote, "​​Congratulations darling. So happy for you both" and Elizabeth Day said: "Congratulations. You look RADIANT AF."
Hope, who previously shot down pregnancy speculation in 2024, has yet to publicly comment on the rumours.
However, whether she's pregnant or not, until she decides to officially confirm it, it's really none of our business.
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A post shared by Vick Hope (@vicknhope)
Many women will have experienced questions such as "oh are you pregnant?" if we refuse an alcoholic drink or feel ill at work. We may even have asked the question ourselves. But talking about someone's health and body is intensely private and you never know what's happening behind closed doors.
In 2022, model Chrissy Teigen posted on social media saying, "I humbly beg you to stop asking if I'm pregnant". Explaining she was undergoing IVF, which was causing bloating, Teigen continued, "I know it's said with excited, good intentions, it just kind of sucks to hear because I am the opposite of pregnant!".
Other celebrities who have been the victim of pregnancy rumours include Michelle Keegan and Jennifer Aniston. In a 2022 interview with Allure magazine, actress Aniston explained that she spent her 30s and 40s trying to get pregnant while under media scrutiny. "All the years and years of speculation... It was really hard," she said. "I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it."
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A post shared by chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen)
Keegan, who recently gave birth to her first child, daughter Palma, has also spoken about constant questions on starting a family.
"I'm used to people asking me but it's no one else's business," she told You Magazine in 2021. "Nobody else knows what goes on behind closed doors. I think that's the reason that question affects me so much – it's very private!"
The early stages of pregnancy can be a nervous and worrying time for many. Around one in eight pregnancies in the UK end in miscarriage, according to the NHS. And pregnancy and baby charity Tommy's says most miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
For this reason, many people wait until after their 12-week scan, which also checks the baby's development, to announce their pregnancy news. If someone has a history of baby loss, they could also be struggling with complicated feelings and not want to announce their pregnancy until a later stage.
Trying for a baby can be a long and gruelling process for some people, both mentally and physically. And it can be hard for those struggling to get pregnant to hear others' announcements or be asked if they're having a child.
Around 52,000 people had in vitro fertilisation (IVF) at licensed fertility centres in the UK in 2022. IVF, which involves injecting hormones into your body, can also have side effects such as mood changes, tiredness, nausea and fuller breasts – all of which can appear similar to some symptoms of pregnancy. So, while you may be wondering if someone's pregnant, actually they could be the opposite.
There are many reasons someone could be showing signs many of us associate with pregnancy, such as weight gain, nausea, bloating or turning down alcohol. They could be side effects of medication, symptoms of other health issues, signs they're struggling with alcohol issues or their mental health, for example.
With some 61% of adults in the UK saying they feel "negative" or "very negative" about their body image most of the time, comments or questions that make people feel their body has changed, they've put on weight or that people are paying close attention to their appearance can be upsetting.
For some people, sharing their pregnancy news is an exciting pregnancy milestone. They may have a special way they want to announce it or be waiting until they've told their closest family first. By asking if they're pregnant, or speculating with others, you're taking that precious moment from them.
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