Pregnancy is when a woman is going to have a baby. People talk about this time in many ways. They often use special phrases called idioms. Idioms are groups of words that have a different meaning from the exact words. For example, if someone says, “She has a bun in the oven,” they don’t mean there’s bread baking. They mean someone is pregnant.
In this article, we will learn about idioms used to talk about pregnancy. These idioms are fun and interesting. They can help us understand what people mean, even if the words sound a little strange. Let’s take a look at these expressions and see how they are used in real life. This will help you become better at reading and speaking English.
Idioms For Pregnancy
1. Bun in the oven
Meaning: Someone is pregnant
Give an Instance: My aunt has a bun in the oven. / Mrs. Clark told us she has a bun in the oven.
Substitute Meaning: Going to have a baby / Expecting a baby
2. Eating for two
Meaning: A woman is pregnant and needs more food
Give an Instance: She’s eating for two now. / I brought her extra snacks she’s eating for two.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant and hungry / Needs more food
3. Knocked up
Meaning: Slang for being pregnant
Give an Instance: She got knocked up over the summer. / That girl is knocked up and due soon.
Substitute Meaning: Got pregnant / Expecting a baby
4. With child
Meaning: Another way to say someone is pregnant
Give an Instance: She is with child. / That woman is with child and due in May.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant / Expecting a baby
5. In the family way
Meaning: Pregnant
Give an Instance: Grandma said Aunt Sue is in the family way. / She’s in the family way again.
Substitute Meaning: Going to have a baby / Expecting
6. Expecting
Meaning: Waiting for a baby
Give an Instance: My teacher is expecting in December. / They’re expecting their second child.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant / Having a baby
7. On the nest
Meaning: Old-fashioned way to say pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s on the nest again. / That lady is on the nest and glowing.
Substitute Meaning: Expecting / Going to be a mom
8. Baby on board
Meaning: There is a baby coming soon
Give an Instance: Her shirt said “baby on board.” / She has a “baby on board” sign on her car.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant / Baby is coming
9. Expecting a little one
Meaning: Waiting for a baby
Give an Instance: They’re expecting a little one soon. / She’s expecting a little one this winter.
Substitute Meaning: Having a baby / Pregnant
10. Big with child
Meaning: Very pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s big with child and ready to deliver. / That woman is big with child.
Substitute Meaning: Very pregnant / Close to having the baby
11. Got a belly full
Meaning: Pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s got a belly full these days. / That mom has a belly full of baby!
Substitute Meaning: Expecting a baby / Pregnant belly
12. In a delicate condition
Meaning: Pregnant, used politely
Give an Instance: She’s in a delicate condition right now. / Please help her she’s in a delicate condition.
Substitute Meaning: With child / Pregnant
13. Great with child
Meaning: Very pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s great with child and glowing. / That lady is great with child.
Substitute Meaning: About to give birth / Very pregnant
14. Got a bun cooking
Meaning: Pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s got a bun cooking in the oven. / There’s a bun cooking she’s pregnant!
Substitute Meaning: Bun in the oven / Baby is coming
15. About to pop
Meaning: Very close to giving birth
Give an Instance: She looks like she’s about to pop. / That mom is about to pop any day now.
Substitute Meaning: Ready to give birth / Very pregnant
16. Expecting a stork visit
Meaning: Waiting for a baby (based on the stork story)
Give an Instance: She’s expecting a stork visit next month. / The stork will visit them soon!
Substitute Meaning: Having a baby / Newborn is coming
17. Round as a ball
Meaning: Big belly from pregnancy
Give an Instance: She’s round as a ball now! / That woman is round as a ball and smiling.
Substitute Meaning: Very pregnant / Big belly
18. Swallowed a watermelon
Meaning: Joking way to say someone is very pregnant
Give an Instance: She looks like she swallowed a watermelon! / Her belly is huge like she ate a watermelon.
Substitute Meaning: Big baby bump / Very pregnant
19. Baking a baby
Meaning: Pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s baking a baby this year. / Another baby is baking in her belly.
Substitute Meaning: Bun in the oven / Pregnant
20. Ready to hatch
Meaning: Close to having the baby
Give an Instance: She’s ready to hatch soon. / That lady looks ready to hatch.
Substitute Meaning: Almost due / Very pregnant
21. Growing a tiny human
Meaning: Pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s growing a tiny human! / That mom is growing a tiny human inside her.
Substitute Meaning: Expecting / Baby on the way
22. Carrying a baby
Meaning: Pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s carrying a baby now. / That woman is carrying a baby and looks happy.
Substitute Meaning: With child / Pregnant
23. Got a little one on the way
Meaning: Baby is coming soon
Give an Instance: She’s got a little one on the way. / They’re getting ready they have a little one on the way.
Substitute Meaning: Expecting / Baby coming soon
24. In baby mode
Meaning: Preparing for a baby
Give an Instance: They’re in baby mode now buying everything! / She’s in baby mode and planning a nursery.
Substitute Meaning: Getting ready for baby / Pregnant life
25. Bun in the baby bakery
Meaning: Funny way to say pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s got a bun in the baby bakery! / There’s a bun baking in her belly.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant / Baby on the way
26. Expecting a bundle of joy
Meaning: Waiting for a happy new baby
Give an Instance: They’re expecting a bundle of joy this fall. / That family is ready for their bundle of joy.
Substitute Meaning: Baby coming / Happy news
27. Preggers
Meaning: Slang for pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s preggers and glowing. / Did you hear? She’s preggers!
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant / Expecting
28. Baby bump showing
Meaning: Belly is showing due to pregnancy
Give an Instance: Her baby bump is showing now. / You can see her baby bump under the shirt.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant belly / Baby on the way
29. Carrying life
Meaning: Pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s carrying life in her belly. / That mom is carrying life and looks peaceful.
Substitute Meaning: With child / Growing a baby
30. Mother-to-be
Meaning: A woman who is going to have a baby
Give an Instance: She’s a mother-to-be and very excited. / That mother-to-be is glowing!
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant woman / Future mom
31. On the baby train
Meaning: Going through pregnancy
Give an Instance: She’s on the baby train again. / Another ride on the baby train for her!
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant again / Expecting
32. Nesting
Meaning: Getting ready for a baby’s arrival
Give an Instance: She’s nesting and cleaning the house every day. / That mom is nesting already.
Substitute Meaning: Preparing for baby / Getting ready
33. Having a glow
Meaning: Looking bright and happy from pregnancy
Give an Instance: She has a glow these days. / That glow means she’s pregnant.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant look / Happy expecting mom
34. Rocking the bump
Meaning: Proudly showing pregnancy belly
Give an Instance: She’s rocking the bump in that dress! / Look at her rocking the bump!
Substitute Meaning: Baby bump style / Proud of being pregnant
35. Full of baby joy
Meaning: Very happy about being pregnant
Give an Instance: She’s full of baby joy these days. / That mom is glowing and full of baby joy.
Substitute Meaning: Happy expecting / Excited about baby
36. Baby belly
Meaning: The stomach of a pregnant woman
Give an Instance: Her baby belly is getting big. / That’s a cute baby belly!
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant belly / Baby bump
37. Got the baby bug
Meaning: Excited about having a baby
Give an Instance: She caught the baby bug! / Everyone in the family got the baby bug!
Substitute Meaning: Ready for a baby / Wanting to be a mom
38. Waddling like a duck
Meaning: Walking like a pregnant woman
Give an Instance: She’s waddling like a duck now. / That mom waddles everywhere!
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant walk / Very pregnant
39. Growing a miracle
Meaning: Carrying a baby inside
Give an Instance: She’s growing a miracle every day. / That tiny baby is her miracle.
Substitute Meaning: Expecting a child / Carrying a baby
40. On baby duty
Meaning: Focused on the baby
Give an Instance: She’s on baby duty 24/7. / Everything is baby duty for her right now.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant and busy / Baby-centered life
41. Tiny kicks
Meaning: Feeling the baby move
Give an Instance: She felt tiny kicks last night! / Her baby gives tiny kicks in the morning.
Substitute Meaning: Baby movement / Signs of life
42. Expecting joy
Meaning: Looking forward to having a baby
Give an Instance: They’re expecting joy this spring. / A family expecting joy is always smiling.
Substitute Meaning: Baby coming / Happy news
43. Life inside
Meaning: A baby growing inside
Give an Instance: She has life inside her. / That belly holds life inside.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant / Baby growing
44. Mommy-to-be glow
Meaning: The bright look a pregnant woman has
Give an Instance: That mommy-to-be glow is strong! / Her mommy-to-be glow is so pretty.
Substitute Meaning: Pregnant glow / Happy mom look
45. Countdown to baby
Meaning: Waiting for baby to arrive soon
Give an Instance: It’s the countdown to baby time. / She’s counting the days countdown to baby!
Substitute Meaning: Baby almost here / Due date close
Find the “Idioms for Pregnancy”
Reading Passage
It was a Friday morning in Ms. Lopez’s class. Everyone was talking about the school play when they saw Mrs. Hill, the school nurse, walk in. She was glowing and looked like she had a bun in the oven. Some students whispered, “She’s eating for two!” and smiled.
During story time, Mrs. Hill sat carefully in the big chair. Emma noticed her baby bump showing. “I think she’s about to pop,” she whispered to her friend. Mrs. Hill laughed and said, “Yes, I’m expecting a little one very soon!”
Later, at recess, the students made a card. “To our favorite mother-to-be,” it said in big letters. Mrs. Hill was touched. “Thank you all,” she said, “I’m growing a tiny human and feeling the love!”
As she left, Jackson said, “You’re rocking the bump, Mrs. Hill!” She waved and smiled again. “Only a few weeks left,” she said. “It’s the countdown to baby!”
Directions for Students
Read the passage again. Find and underline or list all the idioms for pregnancy used in the story.
Answer Key
- Bun in the oven
- Eating for two
- Baby bump showing
- About to pop
- Expecting a little one
- Mother-to-be
- Growing a tiny human
- Rocking the bump
- Countdown to baby
- Glowing
Conclusion
Pregnancy idioms are fun and creative ways people talk about having a baby. They use these phrases in everyday speech, books, and even songs. Some sound silly, like “swallowed a watermelon,” while others sound kind, like “expecting joy.”
By learning these idioms, you can understand what others mean and use them in your writing or speaking. They help make the language more fun and full of feeling. Keep practicing, and you’ll notice these idioms all around you.
