Doctors advised against saying ‘expectant mother’ when describing somebody who is pregnant

In the UK, it's thought doctors will be advised to address pregnant women differently in the near future.

While 'expectant mother' is a phrase that we read and hear on many the occasion when a woman becomes pregnant, many people online have voiced concerns with the phrase. Spotted on Metro, a leaflet was reportedly handed out to staff from the British Medical Association was said to have guidelines on addressing pregnant people in future for fear of offending anyone. The document handed out to staff in hospitals specified which phrases should be avoided in future to prevent the offence of pregnant people who could be transgender or intersex, both of which may not feel comfortable at being deemed an 'expectant mother'. To avoid the possible offence, doctors and staff were advised to anyone pregnant a 'pregnant person', as opposed to the traditional 'expectant mother'. The new guide read:

"Gender inequality is reflected in traditional ideas about the roles of women and men. "Though they have shifted over time, the assumptions and stereotypes that underpin those ideas are often deeply-rooted.’ "A large majority of people that have been pregnant or have given birth identify as women. ‘We can include intersex men and transmen who may get pregnant by saying ‘pregnant people’ instead of ‘expectant mothers’."

The new guide split opinion in Twitter users online, with some insisting it was political correctness gone too far (a classic line in itself) while others agreed with the new precautionary measures being instilled to be more inclusive.

If you can’t call a pregnant woman an expectant mother, then what is the world coming to??

— David Adeola (@DavidAdeola) January 29, 2017

My wife does #yoga and the lady down the street is an #expectantmother. I am going to continue to say that. #rebel https://t.co/1HkZXAi6zr

— Eric Philipp (@eaphilipp) January 30, 2017

If you're going to be offended by the word 'mother', maybe don't conceive, carry & birth a baby then?? @TheBMA https://t.co/jBRuurADvq

— DaisyDaisyXX (@NaturalAllWoman) January 30, 2017

While the men seemed to be very angry altogether, women seemed to welcome the change of language...

The word "mother" is loaded and it's an identity that some people--cis women included--may not want thrust on them.

— Another Angry Woman (@stavvers) January 30, 2017

#

Using "pregnant person" instead subtly forces focus on humanity of the pregnant person, rather than centring their identity round the foetus

— Another Angry Woman (@stavvers) January 30, 2017