When you need this

When a baby arrives, the news spreads quickly and the same few phrases carry it: the baby's name, the time, the weight, and "everyone's doing well." Then come the visits, the gifts, and a lot of friendly questions for tired new parents. This lesson gives you both sides, sharing the news and responding to it.

Americans give a newborn's weight in pounds and ounces, "seven pounds, four ounces", and people really do ask about it. It's a friendly ritual more than a question, so a warm "Aw, that's a good size" is all the reply you need.

Phrases

give birth; the everyday phrase

start the process of giving birth

the time or place the baby arrived

the baby's weight at birth

the standard update that everyone's okay

a baby in its first weeks

give a baby the name of someone else

go to see the family at home

a night with little or no sleep

take the baby in your arms

bring food and leave quickly

no pressure to hurry, including replying

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Say one natural line for each situation.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.