Okay, so while pregnancy and being a breastfeeding mother may not be an excuse for bad behaviour, it really needs to be said that messing with a woman in either state takes a brave person. Because we are always right.

There are just some days when the slightest little thing will tip the balance and you’re quite likely to yell, “Because I said so!”. And you know what? You’re justified.

The cat’s been throwing up fur balls, your toddler has given up day sleeps – you tried for three hours to keep him in there and you’ve finally had to admit defeat. You got the time wrong for your midwifes visit and had been doing the over night fasting for your blood test – you’re ravenous and you really get what it feels like to be a Mama Bear! The washing machine is on the blink and the repair man can’t come until at least Tuesday.

“But I rang you last week!” you shriek. The quivering lady on the other end wisely declines to answer. She identifies with that hysterical tremor in your voice.

You are completely sick and tired of people nodding sagely, clucking sympathetically, cooing about hormones and the wonders of a good nights sleep. How will that ever happen? You’re too hot, you’re too cold, you have to prop up your belly with a pillow and your back aches, your husband wakes you to tell you the toddler is coughing (is he mad?) and then suggests you need to take things easy, you’re a little over-wrought these days.

What happened to the glowing skin, the silken hair, the heightened sexual appetite, the perfect house and always clean toddler?

If people would just agree with you, things would really be back in perspective.

We are sometimes our own worst enemy. While it shouldn’t really be said in public (so keep it to yourself, girlfriend!)  we women can sometimes – just very occasionally – take on the martyr’s mantle. Or, it’s actually just a whole lot easier to do it yourself than explain what you’d like done and then have to smile (grimace) through gritted teeth in thanks. Perhaps acting a little frail and wan, a little needy might just up the ante in getting a bit of help? Take a breath, organise a bit of time out for yourself and reconnect with your place in the world – it does wonders. And leaves you in a better frame of mind to tell the next person who dares to question you, “Because I said so!”.