Internet Loves Woman Who Says Baby Plans 'None of Your Business'

“Now that I’ve got your attention with this random ultrasound photo,” a Michigan woman began a Facebook post that has since gone viral. (Photo via Facebook)

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A Michigan woman’s public Facebook post about maintaining privacy about reproductive plans struck a chord around the world.

A Sept. 21 post by Emily Bingham, 33, of Ann Arbor, had been shared nearly 40,000 times by late morning Monday. In it, Bingham posted a “random ultrasound photo” she had grabbed in a Google search and then shared it as a friendly public service announcement and reminder that “people’s reproductive and procreative plans and decisions are none of your business.”

Bingham wrote:

“Before you ask the young married couple that has been together for seemingly forever when they are finally gonna start a family ... before you ask the parents of an only-child toddler when a Little Brother or Little Sister will be in the works ... before you ask a single 30-something if/when s/he plans on having children because, you know, clock’s ticking ... just stop.

“Please stop. You don’t know who is struggling with infertility or grieving a miscarriage or dealing with health issues. You don’t know who is having relationship problems or is under a lot of stress or the timing just isn’t right. You don’t know who is on the fence about having kids or having more kids. You don’t know who has decided it’s not for them right now, or not for them ever. You don’t know how your seemingly innocent question might cause someone grief, pain, stress or frustration.

“Sure, for some people those questions may not cause any fraught feelings — but I can tell you, from my own experiences and hearing about many friends’ experiences — it more than likely does.

“Bottom line: Whether you are a wanna-be grandparent or a well-intentioned friend or family member or a nosy neighbor, it’s absolutely none of your business. Ask someone what they’re excited about right now. Ask them what the best part of their day was. If a person wants to let you in on something as personal as their plans to have or not have children, they will tell you. If you’re curious, just sit back and wait and let them do so by their own choosing, if and when they are ready.”

“I think I finally felt mad enough about it to say something,” she said.

Bingham said that although people don’t intend to be hurtful, decisions about reproductive plans are “incredibly private” and “questions can be insensitive and cause people grief.”

Among the comments in the thread: “I see you went to another wedding.”

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