(See here for the first post in this series. Hopefully this will be the last).

If your friend (or relative) is fast approaching their due-date, and could go into labor at any second (b’shaa tovah, of course) do not call them with the sole purpose of asking them if they have gone into labor yet or if they have had their baby yet. Do not even call and talk with them about something else, and then ask them if they have gone into labor yet or had their baby yet. Just don’t ask. And if you can’t talk to said friend (or said friend’s husband) without having the topic linger in the background during the conversation, then don’t call.

Here is why: when the baby does come, b’shaa tovah, you will find out. Either by phone, email, word of mouth, OnlySimchas…don’t worry, you will find out. However, before the baby comes, your friend is going to be inundated with lots of people calling and emailing for the sole purpose of finding out if she has gone into labor yet. It is annoying. And when your friend has not yet gone into labor, if all she hears is “have you gone into labor yet?” then it will constantly keep her thinking about things like “when will I go into labor” or “I hope I go into labor soon” or “why can’t I think about anything other than when will I go to labor?”. There are better things to be thingking about. Trust me.

Thank you for listening to this public service announcement. We know bring you back to your regularly scheduled programming.