What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

John Baker5, honestly, it’s wild when you actually think about it... Good for you for laughing, though—if it were me, I’d probably want to nail them to the nearest wall. Seriously, hearing people ask "how could someone like that even exist" is just... whatever. Maybe because they still view pregnancy like some primitive ritual? Or maybe they think they all gave birth via the Holy Spirit, right?
Olivia Miller2, I don't even know where to start with this one... I mean, I know exactly what I'd say, but I'll keep my mouth shut so I don't go offending anyone's religious sensibilities...
Bottom line: I can't stand old ladies.

Olivia Miller2 said:Ugh, I seriously don't know why I even bother visiting my boyfriend's family....
I went over to his grandma's yesterday and everything was fine until she drops this: "I'd ask you something right now, but I know I shouldn't." So I told her, "Go ahead, what could you possibly not be allowed to ask?"

After ten minutes of awkward tension, she finally blurted it out: "So, are we going to baptize the little one?"
(And just like that, my inner rebel woke up) I told her, "Actually, I don't think so. We'll wait until he's old enough to decide for himself. I don't feel right forcing any religion on an unconscious baby..." She actually started tearing up... saying things like, "How can you say that? If we don't baptize him, the child won't be happy..." eeeee, when I heard that, I totally lost it...
John Baker5: Why wouldn't my kid be happy? He'll have the love of his mom and dad, and honestly, that's all that matters for his happiness...
Olivia Miller2: No, no, no—you guys need to baptize him, at least so you don't have to repeat the sacraments later (😕)
John Baker5: But we aren't Christian.
Olivia Miller2: Well, M is Christian!
John Baker5: Nope! On the census, he identified as an ATHEIST!
Olivia Miller2: HE ISN'T! M, tell her! You are, right??!!? You were baptized...
John Baker5: So what? That doesn't make him Catholic.
Olivia Miller2: Yes, he is! Look, M (my man) had the baby baptized and got married in a church!
John Baker5: And what, are you trying to say they're happier than us because they had a church wedding, or that the baby is only happy because he's been baptized??
Olivia Miller2: YES.
John Baker5: What else am I supposed to say to that?!?

Ugh, if I didn't absolutely flatten her with my response, I don't know when I will... That old lady, implying my child won't be happy....
After it all blew over, M told me I handled it great and that I was lucky I didn't kill her, considering how much I usually want to... I mean, what kind of twisted mind thinks it's okay to tell someone their child won't be happy? Such a bitter old soul...😠😠

And of course, it all started because she claimed Isaac is a Christian name, and I had to tell her it's actually Jewish!
She needs to just back off and leave me alone already...

Don't let it get to you...
People are unbelievable... I completely get where you're coming from.
I had some busybody old ladies hounding me about why I hadn't baptized my little one yet—she was only a month old at the time. We ended up doing it when she was two months old...😂 But what can you do? You can't argue with people who are determined to mess with your head just because you won't follow their rules.

The older generation... to them, it's a tragedy because they probably think everyone who doesn't comply is headed straight to hell.
😂
Just ignore them...

In this country, most of them live by the motto God, flag, and Ante Pavelić.
😂

John Baker5

Don't sweat it... those old women have probably earned themselves a cataract or two from staring so hard at us.

It drives me crazy how the second people find out you’re pregnant, every unsolicited comment about your weight, your body, or your look becomes fair game. 😠 I mean, you don't just walk up to random people on the street and say, "Hey, you've put on some weight," or "Look at that gut," or "What are you even eating?" But if you're pregnant, everyone feels entitled to chime in—asking if you've lost the baby weight from your last pregnancy, telling you your bump is already showing, or claiming it's definitely not just the baby. It's exhausting. 🙂

David Fox88 said:It drives me crazy how the second people find out you’re pregnant, every unsolicited comment about your weight, your body, or your look becomes fair game. 😠 I mean, you don't just walk up to random people on the street and say, "Hey, you've put on some weight," or "Look at that gut," or "What are you even eating?" But if you're pregnant, everyone feels entitled to chime in—asking if you've lost the baby weight from your last pregnancy, telling you your bump is already showing, or claiming it's definitely not just the baby. It's exhausting. 🙂

Tell me about it. Only problem is, in my case, comments aren't even allowed. Plus, thanks to all that, my mother-in-law's acting offended. 😁

It honestly weighs so heavy on my heart, being forced into retirement and spending my entire day cooped up in this room. I find myself just staring out the window, watching everyone else out there living their lives, walking around and enjoying the sunshine, while I’m stuck just observing from the sidelines 😢 😢
I'm really holding onto the hope that at my next checkup, the doctor will tell me things have finally turned a corner and I'll actually be able to get back on my feet and move around again.. 🙄

People honestly seem to have lost their minds. I’ll go through all the effort of toning up and showing a bit of cleavage and my curves because I feel like I'm finally getting a handle on my body again—and frankly, I look like a stunning pregnant woman. Yet, there are certain individuals out there who are so twisted and judgmental that I am genuinely left speechless.

Some days I’m doing just fine, but other times—like today—it’s just one of those heavy, depressing mornings where everything feels off. Honestly, sleep just won't come. I’ve scrolled through every book on my shelf and there's nothing worth picking up, the TV is playing absolute garbage, and I just feel completely stuck in this void... but then, the little one starts tapping away, and suddenly, everything makes sense again. 😍

Please tell me I'm not the only one dealing with this...

I feel like a balloon about to pop. My stomach looks more like I’m 20 weeks along instead of just 11.🙄 And don't even get me started on the smell—I definitely don't smell like roses right now.😛 Honestly, I'm pretty sure I could inflate a massive bouncy castle at a kid's birthday party just using my own gas.😲 (Sorry to everyone reading this, but seriously, imagine how I feel 🤦).

And the worst part? I can't seem to stop eating.😠

I'm genuinely worried that something won't look right at my next checkup.😢

Oh, and for the record, my partner and I are atheists. We aren't doing a baptism or anything like that.😛 So, what? What's the big deal?

Unfortunately, this is just part of the pregnancy experience—the bloating, the constipation... and that constant hunger😉.... plus a whole host of other things you’ll eventually discover for yourself😂

For instance, my complexion turned completely gray about two weeks ago, and without makeup, I look like a raccoon🤷

It is quite literally a different state of being😉

steelowl10 said:Please tell me I'm not the only one dealing with this...

I feel like a balloon about to pop. My stomach looks more like I’m 20 weeks along instead of just 11.🙄 And don't even get me started on the smell—I definitely don't smell like roses right now.😛 Honestly, I'm pretty sure I could inflate a massive bouncy castle at a kid's birthday party just using my own gas.😲 (Sorry to everyone reading this, but seriously, imagine how I feel 🤦).

And the worst part? I can't seem to stop eating.😠

I'm genuinely worried that something won't look right at my next checkup.😢

Oh, and for the record, my partner and I are atheists. We aren't doing a baptism or anything like that.😛 So, what? What's the big deal?

As for me, 😍😍 things finally started shifting at week 13. My upper belly is deflating, but the bottom part is starting to round out... I assume that's normal? 🤷 Up until now, I just looked like a Zeppelin. 😂
And yeah, I have the exact same phobia about the next appointment...

Guys, it looks like my partner and I are actually going to buy an apartment... a great place at a decent price... but I think I still need to talk him into it. The catch is that my parents live in the same building. 😂😂😂

Dammit, I really can't afford any complications right now. If they tell me I need bed rest, I have no idea how we're going to handle the mortgage...😢

(Of course, the whole situation is driving me crazy 😠)

Rebecca Vaughn7 said:As for me, 😍😍 things finally started shifting at week 13. My upper belly is deflating, but the bottom part is starting to round out... I assume that's normal? 🤷 Up until now, I just looked like a Zeppelin. 😂
And yeah, I have the exact same phobia about the next appointment...

Guys, it looks like my partner and I are actually going to buy an apartment... a great place at a decent price... but I think I still need to talk him into it. The catch is that my parents live in the same building. 😂😂😂

Dammit, I really can't afford any complications right now. If they tell me I need bed rest, I have no idea how we're going to handle the mortgage...😢

(Of course, the whole situation is driving me crazy 😠)

You and I really are two sides of the same coin.😂😂😂

Keeping my fingers crossed for Stancic.😁

Today started out so well.... I actually managed to knock out a massive mountain of chores..... laundry, ironing, cooking, meal prepping...... and I left everything spotless, feeling pretty great about myself too.......... then, out of nowhere, a cheap plastic lighter fell from about five feet up and just... exploded.......... I was honestly sitting there wondering if this happens to anyone else.... ?? I mean, whatever, no big deal... but then, maybe two or three hours later, I managed to break a small mirror in the bathroom..... I was just thinking, shit..... it’s only been seven years since the last time I broke a mirror.......... and the best part? Just as I finally get into the shower........ I hear this weird shhhhhshshshshsh sound, and turns out a pipe leading to the toilet tank burst right out of the wall, basically giving me an extra shower at the same time ............ great... thank God I didn't drive anywhere today......... what can you even say about a day like this....

I’m honestly just frustrated with myself for being so paranoid and on edge.
I have this slight discharge, and every time I feel even a hint of moisture, I get this obsessive, compulsive urge to sprint to the bathroom just to make sure it isn't blood. And even when nothing is happening, I still worry—what if I just didn't notice?
It’s only been four days since my period ended, and I’m already at my breaking point. I don't know how I’m supposed to survive the next two or three weeks like this... right now, I can barely look past week seven...
Dammit, I wasn't supposed to have to see a therapist after a miscarriage, but now I have to go back after getting pregnant. What a mess of a patient I am.

My OBGYN over at the local clinic 😠 (though I usually go to the specialist in Mayo Clinic), keeps prescribing me just one box of Normabel at a time. I’m taking three tablets a day, and there are only 30 in a box, so that stuff lasts me exactly ten days.
Since I’m on bed rest right now, I sent my husband over to pick up the prescription. I even left a note saying I take them three times a day and need at least two boxes—honestly, I don't know how much clearer I can make it. Plus, he's got my lab results from the Mayo Clinic specialist that he sends over every single time... yet it’s been the exact same headache for the last 20 weeks since I started this treatment. 😠 It’s like the pills just vanish into thin air or something. Even my doctor at the Mayo Clinic thinks it's ridiculous how they handle this.
And seriously, am I supposed to be worrying about my blood pressure while dealing with an idiot like this?! Good grief, you'd think he actually finished grade school, but apparently, he can't even figure out how to divide 30 by 3! 😠

It’s driving me insane. I have exactly three pairs of pants left that I can even button up, and even then, I have to leave the top button undone. 😠Dammit, I never liked low-rise jeans anyway; everything sits way too low on my hips...it’s ridiculous. And when I actually sit down in them? It’s uncomfortable, almost painful... 😢.

If I had gained massive amounts of weight all over, I’d blame it on that, but it’s strictly just my stomach. My hips and butt—where I usually put on weight—fit perfectly fine in everything...and honestly, looking at the scale, it shouldn't even be this big of an issue...

I get that a growing belly is inevitable, but the whole point is that tomorrow marks exactly 14 weeks 🙂🙂🙂🤔🤦 of pregnancy, and now I’m freaking out that this extra size is just excess amniotic fluid or some sign that something is wrong...my appointment isn't until the 26th...who can wait that long? 😢

Retail workers at baby supply stores... Honestly, my experiences have been so bad lately that I’m considering boycotting every single shop in town. It’s infuriating how they immediately assume you're just looking for the cheapest option on the shelf and treat that as your starting point. If they don't have a specific item in stock, they act like it’s no big deal and just dismiss you entirely. They try to act like experts, yet when you ask a single technical question, they’re completely clueless. One clerk even tried to demonstrate how to fold a stroller, but she struggled so much with it that she could barely get it back together—not that it was actually difficult, just her execution. And don't even get me started on how they push those 3-in-1 strollers on everyone; it’s exhausting.

Then there are certain moms with toddlers who look at me like I'm crazy because I don't want to lug an infant car seat attached to a stroller everywhere, or because I plan on using a bassinet attachment in the middle of summer instead of a car seat that would be easier for vehicle transfers. Look, I’m not driving everywhere every single day, and I’m certainly not walking my baby through a Target parking lot outside of the car, period!

And then there’s that moment when they ask which stroller I like, and once I pick one, I get the inevitable comment: "Oh wow, look at you going straight for the most expensive one!" Why do they even care? I didn't even know the price tag until I saw it, so why should I feel embarrassed just because it costs more than whatever they're eyeing?

The men in my life aren't helping either. Every time I express an opinion, they lose it and blame everything on my hormones. Then, if I end up crying, they use it as "proof" that they were right all along. But they aren't; they're just being stubborn. When I call them out on it, suddenly I'm the "crazy" one acting "hormonal." Fine, maybe I am hormonal right now, but that will pass—they'll still be the same old bores.

Ugh...

Between trying to pick out gear, resisting the urge to buy cute little things I don't actually need so I don't end up with a mountain of unused stuff, waiting for the baby, the slight anxiety about labor, the struggle of getting the baby to sleep in the crib, and worrying about literally everything—it’s all just overwhelming and frustrating at the same time.

It drives me absolutely nuts that I can't just manifest a baby through sheer willpower. ☕

—and besides, it’s essentially just teleporting oneself out of existence 😍

1)
It drives me absolutely insane that MM and everyone else keeps harping on about how we need to get rid of our dog. Honestly? Not happening. I tried explaining it calmly once, then I tried again, and now my blood pressure is hitting the ceiling. It’s the same broken record every single time. I’m losing my mind. Yeah, okay, she’s big—she’s pushing nearly 110 pounds—but what’s the issue? They act like they want us to just erase her existence? It's ridiculous. She’s sweet, she’s affectionate, and she’s zero trouble. Of course, we’re going to spend the time making sure she adjusts to the baby and the baby adjusts to her. We're all going to figure it out together. It’s not like we’re the first people in history to own a dog while expecting a child. And it’s always the same group of people, too. Every time we see them, it’s the same question, even though I’ve given them the exact same answer a million times already. This isn't their concern to manage; it's ours. Plus, she’s been through every training class under the sun. She adores little kids, other dogs, and she even watched over a tiny kitten the other day.
And don't even get me started on the fact that we’ve explained—for the billionth time—that our baby's safety is our absolute top priority, and yes, we are perfectly capable of distinguishing between loving a child and loving a dog. But does it matter? No. After my whole speech, I just get the same condescending comment: "Yeah, but you just can't have both a dog and a baby." Grrrr.

2)
My due date is in August... and apparently, everywhere I go, people just spontaneously decide to talk about childbirth. Look, I don't want to hear it. I’ve done my research. I have an amazing relationship with my doctor, so I ask her everything I need to know, and I talk to my mom. Anyone else? No thanks. Everyone tries to scare me with horror stories, and I am just not interested. I’m already a bit of a worrier, and I’m trying my best to stay calm, not fill my head with every single dramatic scenario imaginable. Especially when they start bringing up birth complications. I get it, every situation is different, but why would you walk up to someone heading into surgery and list every possible way things could go wrong?

Basically, why is everyone dumping unsolicited information on me that I didn't even ask for?

Rebecca Vaughn7 said:It’s driving me insane. I have exactly three pairs of pants left that I can even button up, and even then, I have to leave the top button undone. 😠Dammit, I never liked low-rise jeans anyway; everything sits way too low on my hips...it’s ridiculous. And when I actually sit down in them? It’s uncomfortable, almost painful... 😢.

If I had gained massive amounts of weight all over, I’d blame it on that, but it’s strictly just my stomach. My hips and butt—where I usually put on weight—fit perfectly fine in everything...and honestly, looking at the scale, it shouldn't even be this big of an issue...

I get that a growing belly is inevitable, but the whole point is that tomorrow marks exactly 14 weeks 🙂🙂🙂🤔🤦 of pregnancy, and now I’m freaking out that this extra size is just excess amniotic fluid or some sign that something is wrong...my appointment isn't until the 26th...who can wait that long? 😢

I hit the 14-week mark too, and I can tell you—I haven't felt comfortable in my jeans for at least 2 or 3 weeks now. Skirts are fine, but I actually had to buy a larger size of tights last week; mine were just so restrictive that after an hour or so, I could really "feel" them digging in.
And you know what the best part is? At one point I was actually under my pre-pregnancy weight, and now I'm right back where I started. 😁
By the way, my pregnancy book says something along the lines of: "You're probably noticing your clothes getting tighter by now—maybe consider picking up some maternity wear!" 😉

OT: It's so annoying when friends who've already been through this act like experts—telling me exactly what the doctor will say at my next appointment, what the baby looks like, or what I should be hearing...
of course, I'm more than happy to 🙄🙄🙄