Proper way to refer to unborn baby?

CatMuse33 · Mar 17, 2008

This has come up a few times lately in my writing...

How should I refer to a child that is not yet born, but is conceived (gender unknown/undetermined).

In other words, if I wanted to say, "I can't wait to bring my future child to the paintball field!" How would I best write it?

Unborn child/baby sounds like I want to take them NOW, before they are born. (which I will, but that's not my point! LOL)

Future child sounds like they aren't even conceived yet and I'm just talking about something in the way distant future that may never happen.

"child-to-be" / baby-to-be -- I've never heard this used before, but it almost kinda fits.

Using any variation with 'son or daughter' is just unwieldy.

Dawn

P.S. This is just one example, it's come up several times in various pieces, from health and fitness to religion. LOL

Maryn · Mar 17, 2008

I'd just say "the baby." I assume your character's pregnancy is not a secret or might even be visible, right? When I was expecting, I never referred to my future baby but to the baby.

I've also seen writers use prospective baby names, changing throughout the work, effectively. I can't wait to bring Jason-or-Jessica to the paintball field, and several chapters later, I'm so eager for Jeremy-or-Jasmine to arrive... Like that.

Maryn, hoping this helps

DeleyanLee · Mar 17, 2008

Most people (self included) just say "the baby" or default to the gender they hope it will be.

CatSlave · Mar 17, 2008

It's a fetus.
But in conversation, I would say "the baby."

Jersey Chick · Mar 17, 2008

I used to refer to my daughter as Peanut before she was born. We didn't know if she was a boy or a girl. With my son, we knew, so we just called him by his name. I think he knew it by the time he was born.

Sandi LeFaucheur · Mar 17, 2008

The Sprog?

jst5150 · Mar 17, 2008

Incoming Tax write-off and absence excuse?

Appalachian Writer · Mar 17, 2008

My little cookie in the oven?

Jenifer · Mar 17, 2008

CatSlave said:
It's a fetus.
But in conversation, I would say "the baby."

I don't know... I sort of like fetus for all purposes.

Shweta · Mar 18, 2008

Jenifer said:
I don't know... I sort of like fetus for all purposes.

Soooo

"I can't wait to bring the fetus to the paintball field!"

:Wha:

I think that'd mean something else...

I'd go with "the baby", name-or-names, or a pet name, depending on who's talking to whom

Jo · Mar 18, 2008

Sandi LeFaucheur said:
The Sprog?

Or Sproglette.

Or bubs. Bubba. Kiddo. Bun (in the oven). Belly Stretcher. Carpet Commando. Child of mine/his/ours (depending on how the pregnancy's going).

Basically any nickname. Or, as mentioned, the baby.

Jenifer · Mar 18, 2008

Shweta said:
Soooo

"I can't wait to bring the fetus to the paintball field!"

Exactly.

HeronW · Mar 18, 2008

Depends on the context and the speaker:
fetus or unborn child for a medical situation without either parent being there
if the parents are there: your baby or the baby
by the parent: name or Lumpy, Wart, Bubba, Nub, Pookie, 'One more kick to my bladder and I'm sending you away to college after the delivery, butthead!'

Don Allen · Mar 18, 2008

My first thought...defense mode..... NOT MINE!!!!!!!

PattiTheWicked · Mar 18, 2008

"my little ankle-biter".

WildScribe · Mar 18, 2008

I always just said "The Baby" and then Michael, after we found out that she was actually a he. Ok, so I wanted a girl!

Prawn · Mar 19, 2008

The bump

Cat Scratch · Mar 20, 2008

I call my unborn "robot" because I'm hoping for a Robot Maid. But, in that case, it will not be going to the paintball field because it has work to do.

bluejester12 · Apr 7, 2008

My wife is having her fetus shower next week.

Context, context, context.

Jenifer · Apr 7, 2008

bluejester12 said:
My wife is having her fetus shower next week.

Context, context, context.

Congrats!

Ken · Apr 7, 2008

thought babies were brought by storks?

dear_swan · Jun 4, 2008

interesting question. i think i would personally write some major qualifiers for that one. something like: "my soon-to-be-born baby"

Oberon · Jun 5, 2008

This baby?

Proper way to refer to unborn baby?

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