April Fool’s Day rolls around and you hear the oldest “prank” in the book: “I’m pregnant.” Maybe you’ve even been the perpetrator of this “prank” before. Well I’m here to tell you, find another prank, that one isn’t funny.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10% of women from ages 15-44 in the U.S. have difficulty getting and/or staying pregnant. Additionally, about one in every five pregnancies will end in a miscarriage, usually in the first trimester, according to KidsHealth.org.
April 23-29 is Infertility Awareness Week, so use the month of April to be especially sensitive to issues of infertility, instead of starting your month off by pulling a “prank” that could potentially hurt those who are suffering in silence.
With 10% of women affected by infertility and 20% of pregnancies affected by a miscarriage, someone you know is likely wrestling with these issues. So even pulling the, “I’m pregnant,” April Fool’s Day joke in your close-knit friend group is risky. Be safe, and come up with a different prank that has no potential to harm those around you
Bestlifeonline.com has a list of 30 harmless April Fool’s Day pranks that you can pull anywhere, without threatening anyone’s physical or emotional safety, which include bringing a Krispy Kreme doughnut box to work filled with vegetables, or replacing a friend’s deodorant with cream cheese. These pranks are much more creative than simply trying to convince someone you’re pregnant and minimize risk of harm.
Happy pranking!
Editor’s Note: this is an opinion piece and does not reflect the views of The VanCougar.
Anna Nelson is the Editor in Chief for the VanCougar. She is a senior and is studying strategic communications.