Waiting for something to happen soon, usually with hope or excitement; having a look that shows you're waiting for something.
From Latin 'expectans' (waiting for), from 'ex-' (out) and 'spectare' (to look). It entered English in the 1500s.
There's a reason 'expectant mothers' is the go-to phrase—expectancy combines waiting, hope, and the bodily tension of anticipation, perfectly capturing pregnancy's emotional reality.
Often applied disproportionately to pregnant women; historically erased the role of expectant fathers or co-parents. Cultural narratives centered women's 'expectancy' while treating male parenting as secondary.
Use 'pregnant person' or 'parent-to-be' to include diverse family structures and reduce gendered assumption.
["pregnant person","parent-to-be","soon-to-be parent"]
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