My Best Friend Is Pregnant. Now What?

Somewhere between the weekly Long Island Iced Teas and Gossip Girl binges, we grew up. Facebook newsfeeds went from photos of happy hour shenanigans to baby announcements and kiddies birthday parties. It’s easy to turn a blind eye and continue sipping your daily cocktail, until it happens to someone really close to you, like your best friend. So, what do you do when your bestie tells you she’s expecting? First off, don’t freak out!

- Shihaam Hassanali

I wasn’t necessarily shell-shocked when I found out. I had a few things going for me: It wasn’t my first rodeo, so to speak (a bestie from school had given birth a few years prior), I’m typically a calm person (or so I like to think!), and I also knew she eventually wanted to start a family. But, she was slightly ill at the time, so I didn’t think too much of her moans about nausea. Plus, the scans she took at the hospital gave no indication whatsoever that she could be pregnant. So, I wasn’t shell-shocked, but I was beyond amazed (somewhat speechless, even) when she spilled the beans.

 

“So…I have something to tell you,” began Ran, 32. “It’s about your wedding.” I looked curiously at her. “I might need to ask you for an extra seat,” she elaborated.

“Ooh!” I squealed. “Who’s coming down?” I mentally began listing in which countries her siblings presently resided, assuming she was referring to one of them.

“No one’s coming down,” she replied.

Puzzled, I told her that her parents were obviously already invited. “Well, that’s not it,” she went on.

I looked at her expectantly, as I continued to tick off the possibilities in my head. Pregnancy was one of them, but I ruled it out immediately…given that she’d taken a scan that yielded nothing significant.

“Well, the thing is, we might have an addition to the family!” Ran continued.

My confusion must’ve shown, because she blurted out, “I’m pregnant!”

“You’re joking!” I stated, matter-of-factly, because, hello, the scan?

Seconds ticked by, and I realized she was serious. “Wait! You’re not joking?!” I asked, confounded.

“Nope! I’m pregnant!” she grinned.