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Don't ask to touch the baby bump.
- Pregnancy can be a stressful time for expectant mothers - and sometimes nosy coworkers can add to the misery.
- Career experts advised employees never to ask a woman the baby's gender or other invasive questions. Instead, just say "congratulations" and treat them like you usually would.
- Here are seven things you should never say if you think a coworker might be pregnant.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Pregnancy, while exciting, can be a stressful time for many women.
Aside from the physical changes, expectant mothers have a host of hurdles to overcome at work, like figuring out a plan for parental leave and keeping the news under wraps.
The US outlaws pregnancy discrimination at work outright, but many pregnant women say there are subtle ways even the most well-intentioned coworkers can make them feel ostracized.
Read more: 7 things you should avoid saying to a fasting coworker during Ramadan
Career experts who work with pregnant women told Business Insider the comments that frustrate expectant mothers the most.
Some comments, like asking the baby's gender, might seem well intentioned but come across as invasive. Other questions can make pregnant women feel alienated and might even discourage them from returning to the same job.
Here are seven things you should never say to a pregnant coworker - plus tips on what you should say.