having a baby

New2grammarWe are having a baby

My wife is having a baby.

I'm confused which of these means the mother is delivering the baby, and not simply pregnant.

Thanks in advance!

Both sentences can refer to the pregnancy of the wife. The second, especially, can mean that the delivery process is going on right

Interesting. Thanks, Philip for the suggestion

No matter how connected the husband is to the pregnancy, there is no way that "we" are having a baby means that the delivery process is underway.

My wife is in labor right now. My wife is in the process of delivering our baby. Both of these mean parenthood is imminent.

If we say "we are" or "my wife is" having a baby, I'm going to assume you mean that your wife is pregnant

Grammar GeekIt would be a little more accurate to say "We are expecting" rather than "having" because when it comes down to it, you ain't the one with the parasite growing inside you.

Hi Grammar Geek,

What an interesting use of the word parasite! My mother would not use it to talk about us; but thinking about how ungrateful we are to her s

Actualy, Hoa Thai, I had two extremely easy pregnancies and even easier deliveries, so I can't complain. But I had friends who were so sick they had to be hospitlalized for dehydration and one who nearly died of a stroke because her blood pressure shot up so high. But be assured, they all love their children madly, once they were on the outside!

Hi guys,

If you want to play with words, I always thought the relationship between mother and unborn child was more symbiotic than parasitic. I'm just naive, I guess.

CliveHi guys,

If you want to play with words, I always thought the relationship between mother and unborn child was more symbiotic than parasitic. I'm just naive, I guess.

I have to say that the part where they make my life better definitely was more noticable after birth, and I had it relatively easy. That's when it became symbiotic.

Grammar GeekI have to say that the part where they make my life better definitely was more noticable after birth, and I had it relatively easy. That's when it became symbiotic.

Hi Grammar Geek,

I understand the feeling of my cousin when she told her son, "I wish you were an egg; it would be beneficial to me." I know she didn't mean it though.

Despite the fact that they are more expensive, require more attention, and generally exhaust you more after birth, it doesn't seem parasitic then -- no doubt because at that point they DO contribute to your happiness to such a huge degree. Don't worry - I'm not offended and my children know I love them.