Suck? Or not? You decide.

[spookysonata]

Hubby and I were at the furniture store today, looking for a glider. As we passed a row of massage chairs, he beelined right to the biggest one (he's a sucker for those things).

Now, the glider is for the nursery. I'm almost 8 months pregnant. So while DH was being...ahem...massaged, I sat down in the chair next to him to rest my feet while I waited. Salesman comes trotting up:

SM: Now, um, I'm going to guess...that, um, you're pregnant?
Me: Uh, yeah?
SM: Well, the manufacturer doesn't recommend use of those chairs by pregnant women.
Me: Thanks. I'm waiting for my husband.

SM walks away, and I say to DH, "He just lost a sale." And we left, politely saying goodbye to SM.

Was he sucky, or was I oversensitive? I wasn't sure about the wisdom of using a massage chair myself, I was just sitting on the thing. It wasn't even on. And I'm sure he meant well... but I felt like he was out of line to come up and say that. Thoughts?

[Lachrymose]

At first I thought yes.

But I wonder if it's a health concern? I know you said it wasn't on, but maybe he figured you would eventually turn it on.

[Saydrah]

Sucky attitude, but I think he was probably just flustered and didn't know how to handle the situation. The vibration could possibly stimulate contractions in a woman so close to her due date, IIRC (a few years ago a pregnant friend had to stop using a massage chair at home, I think that's why). So, suck, but well-intentioned suck.

[spookysonata]

Yeah, I can see well-intentioned suck. I xposted this on a pg ladies forum and mostly they thought he was totally right. I wouldn't go that far, I just wished he had actually waited to see what I was going to do before coming over. As it was, I was doing nothing but sitting on a chair.

[Camry178]

Nah, I don't think he was sucky. I think he was just making sure you wouldn't use the massage option.

I wish someone would've told me not to use the massage chair when I was four and a half months pregnant. After I got out of the chair, I started cramping up and it scared the living daylights outta me. So I wish he would've been there when I did it.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Awkwardness, yes. Suck, no. It's not sucky when someone is just trying to look out for you. Even if it comes across as clumsy.

Maybe he'd actually witnessed a scary situation where it caused a problem for a lady at some point. You never know. Heck, he might have been kind of scared.

[Aethian]

Probably didn't want to suddenly have a lady in labor.

[spookysonata]

Yup, all good points. I guess I just bridle when someone assumes I don't have my own (and baby's, in this case) interests at heart. I'll just chalk it up to "overly helpful"

[Ljt09863]

i understand you being irritated at him. but...as we all know...there are plenty of pregnant women out there who really don't care if what they do harms their baby.

if i were him, id be afraid to say anything to. i mean, he doesn't know you. he doesn't know if you would be cranky cause your pregnant and snap at him( not saying youw ere, just some are cranky during pregnancy. i got lucky and really wasn't), he also doesn't know if you are the type of person to snap at him if he said something. also, hes a guy trying to warn a pregnant woman who he doesn't know....aaaaaakwaaaaard.

so i think he wasn't being sucky. but....i dont' think you were wrong about being irritated.

[nomorecarts]

I agree with recoveringkinkoid, could have been nicer, but think of the lawsuits, if the manufacturer has to cover their ass so does the store

[MrSunshineState]

Not sucky in my opinion. I am with the other posters on the side of awkwardness.

[draftermatt]

I'm surprised his company allows him to say something.

In the US, bars aren't even allowed to refuse alcohol sales to obvious pregnant women.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Yup, all good points. I guess I just bridle when someone assumes I don't have my own (and baby's, in this case) interests at heart. I'll just chalk it up to "overly helpful"

Well, I wouldn't even go so far as to say he thought that you weren't thinking about your baby. He was just letting you know, most likely. I mean, how would it be if he knew the thing could cause a problem, saw you obviously pregnant, and said nothing? He wasn't assuming you didn't care. He was assuming you might not be aware that it was dangerous to you and that you might unknowingly put yourself at risk.

Just keep in mind that most people do not mean offense. Clearly some do, but most don't.

[tollbaby]

Well, most people probably aren't aware that massage chairs can be harmful or potentially dangerous to pregnant women. I certainly wasn't aware of it, and I've got kids. Personally, I don't think it was sucky at all for him to mention it to you - it could be a massive liability to the store, and there was no way for him to know whether or not you were aware of the risks. I think you were a bit oversensitive.

[tollbaby]

I'm surprised his company allows him to say something.

In the US, bars aren't even allowed to refuse alcohol sales to obvious pregnant women.

Really??? They certainly are in Canada. I'm pretty sure you can be fined if you're seen drinking when obviously pregnant.