What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

placidhound7 said:Haha, that’s definitely one for the books. Pure jealousy, probably. Maybe she didn't put on as much weight as you did, while she was packing on pounds like a pig during her pregnancy. 😁

Sadly, I can't 😢 because if my stomach is even slightly empty, I start feeling lightheaded immediately...

placidhound7 said:Haha, that’s definitely one for the books. Pure jealousy, probably. Maybe she didn't put on as much weight as you did, while she was packing on pounds like a pig during her pregnancy. 😁

rustyskipper6 said:Sadly, I can't 😢 because if my stomach is even slightly empty, I start feeling lightheaded immediately...

The whole thing about weight gain was just a joke. 😉😉 Every pregnant woman is different, and the worst part is when people start comparing us—telling us how big our bellies should be at a certain month or what we should weigh. The morning sickness will pass; mine ended before the three-month mark, but honestly, there are no rules for any of this.

I feel compelled to share my own experience regarding 🙂 during my pregnancy; I never once stood in line or waited in any sort of queue... I would simply walk past the entire crowd, head straight to the front, and if I caught anyone whispering or making comments, I would just turn around so they could see my belly, and instantly, everything would go silent... as for those who didn't quiet down, well, I never even noticed them... and now that I have a three-month-old baby, women still call me out of turn everywhere I go 🙂 though, I must admit, I seem to get more attention from older men than from women

wearycrane8 said:I feel compelled to share my own experience regarding 🙂 during my pregnancy; I never once stood in line or waited in any sort of queue... I would simply walk past the entire crowd, head straight to the front, and if I caught anyone whispering or making comments, I would just turn around so they could see my belly, and instantly, everything would go silent... as for those who didn't quiet down, well, I never even noticed them... and now that I have a three-month-old baby, women still call me out of turn everywhere I go 🙂 though, I must admit, I seem to get more attention from older men than from women

My experience has been quite different, at least when it comes to public transit. For instance, today I’m standing on a city bus next to an older gentleman; sitting directly across from him are two ladies, probably well into their late 60s or 70s. The second they noticed my baby bump, they started the whole routine—asking if I wanted to sit, fussing about how uncomfortable they felt for not getting up the moment I stepped on, etc. This man? He just stared out the window, completely indifferent. Generally speaking, I find myself only wanting to offer seats to older women. As for the men and the kids... honestly, just glue your backside to the seat and stay there, even if I were to go into labor right in front of you.🙄

I have honestly never had anyone offer me a seat on the subway, and whenever I pass by those older folks, they just give me this heavy sigh, acting as if they possess some inherent, divine right to every single chair in the car. Then there was this incident at Walmart recently—only about three weeks before my due date—where a family tried to cut in front of me in line, but since I didn't actually feel an urgent need to rush, I just politely declined their little maneuver. The only time I really pulled rank was over at the local police precinct in Petrinja, though I barely managed to escape with my dignity intact because a couple of elderly ladies nearly tore me apart for using my status 😂😂

I suppose I usually come across as quite energetic and assertive, so people probably feel a sense of relief when they see me and think to themselves—thank goodness she’s doing fine on her own, she doesn't need any extra help 😁

I don't go around expecting people to just step aside for me... I find myself stuck in line at the grocery store every single time... and I'm nine months pregnant, for crying out loud.
I was at a Target recently, and they have those registers specifically designated for people with disabilities. Since there wasn't anyone using it, but the other lines were packed, I walked up to the cashier and asked if I could use that lane since it was for accessibility. The cashier looked absolutely thrilled—she said it was actually the first time anyone had bothered to ask permission. She told me, "Of course you can, honey, you're welcome to use it anytime." 😍
It makes you think. You show up to an American hospital for a blood draw or a transfusion while you're pregnant, and suddenly you don't have any special priority? If you can't expect a little grace in a hospital, what can you realistically expect at the supermarket? 🤷

The only thing I've noticed lately is how cars keep pulling up onto the sidewalk to block people. It’s definitely not the norm around here, but it happens.

Then there was this one moment at the beach. A little boy let me use the changing stall before him. And get this—there was a girl already inside, and outside there were three of us: a woman, the boy, and me. This woman starts hovering, acting all impatient, trying to rush the girl inside to see if she was done yet. 🙂 Then, out of nowhere, the boy tells her, "No, the lady goes first." 😍 I was honestly stunned. I just wanted to give that kid a huge hug. What a wonderful little soul—he couldn't have been more than twelve years old. 😍

So now I’m reading all this stuff about people being rude in stores and at the DMV... 😁 Back during my first pregnancy, nobody ever even thought to give up a seat for me on the subway, and the ladies working at Walmart always let me skip ahead in line 🙂 (whether it was checking out or just grabbing some bread at the deli...)
And honestly, once I actually had the baby, they’d practically roll out a red carpet at the register if they saw me pushing a stroller 😍
Now that I’m pregnant again, I haven't really put my fellow Americans to the test yet 😬 because, let's face it, I've been stuck at home since my bump became impossible to hide 😢
But the absolute worst thing involving people "not" letting you go first happened at a lab out in the heat—I went in to get blood drawn (late in my pregnancy), and there was this huge line of teachers standing in front of me. Not one single one of those damn idiots offered to let me go ahead of them
Long story short, I ended up waiting forever while everyone slowly shuffled through, and the nurse finally lost her mind when she realized I’d been sitting there waiting the whole time

And then people like that have the nerve to think they're raising decent kids 🤮 Gross!

placidhound7 said:To all my fellow moms-to-be,
Where do I even start with this🙂
Yesterday at Walmart, the summer crowds were absolutely insane. Being seven months along, I spotted that big sign stating that pregnant women and people with disabilities get priority. Naturally, I headed toward one of the registers and politely asked the cashier if pregnant women were given precedence. She just gave me this cold, blank stare and snapped, "Why specifically at this register?" When I asked her which one I should use then, she just shrugged and said, "I don't know, go ask someone else." I was absolutely livid, and honestly, pretty embarrassed by the crowd watching me like I was some kind of zoo exhibit. So, I just gave up and joined the regular line.
This is exactly why women will never run the world. If this is how women treat one another, imagine what the rest of the world is like.

On another note, I’ve only gained about 9 pounds in seven months—probably due to the stress of moving, wedding planning, and everything else going on. Now, everyone has suddenly decided to act concerned and starts shaking their heads at me. I don't see how helpful that is; I've seen people gain 35, 40, or even 45 pounds. If my OB-GYN isn't worried, why is everyone else acting like there's a crisis?

I can't believe you actually went back into the regular line?! Honestly, I would have lost it on that lady—I probably would've called for her manager immediately. Besides, she should definitely know which register is designated—FOR PREGNANT WOMEN & DISABILITIES!
Please, don't even bother asking next time. Just walk up with a smile, start unloading your stuff onto the belt in front of her, and let her deal with it. She has to let you through, regardless of who's watching.

Henry Cooper4 said:I don't go around expecting people to just step aside for me... I find myself stuck in line at the grocery store every single time... and I'm nine months pregnant, for crying out loud.
I was at a Target recently, and they have those registers specifically designated for people with disabilities. Since there wasn't anyone using it, but the other lines were packed, I walked up to the cashier and asked if I could use that lane since it was for accessibility. The cashier looked absolutely thrilled—she said it was actually the first time anyone had bothered to ask permission. She told me, "Of course you can, honey, you're welcome to use it anytime." 😍
It makes you think. You show up to an American hospital for a blood draw or a transfusion while you're pregnant, and suddenly you don't have any special priority? If you can't expect a little grace in a hospital, what can you realistically expect at the supermarket? 🤷

The only thing I've noticed lately is how cars keep pulling up onto the sidewalk to block people. It’s definitely not the norm around here, but it happens.

Then there was this one moment at the beach. A little boy let me use the changing stall before him. And get this—there was a girl already inside, and outside there were three of us: a woman, the boy, and me. This woman starts hovering, acting all impatient, trying to rush the girl inside to see if she was done yet. 🙂 Then, out of nowhere, the boy tells her, "No, the lady goes first." 😍 I was honestly stunned. I just wanted to give that kid a huge hug. What a wonderful little soul—he couldn't have been more than twelve years old. 😍

Where were you going for blood work that they wouldn't prioritize you? Every time I walk into a hospital or a lab and mention that I'm pregnant, they call me back immediately!🤷

placidhound7 said:To all my fellow moms-to-be,
Where do I even start with this🙂
Yesterday at Walmart, the summer crowds were absolutely insane. Being seven months along, I spotted that big sign stating that pregnant women and people with disabilities get priority. Naturally, I headed toward one of the registers and politely asked the cashier if pregnant women were given precedence. She just gave me this cold, blank stare and snapped, "Why specifically at this register?" When I asked her which one I should use then, she just shrugged and said, "I don't know, go ask someone else." I was absolutely livid, and honestly, pretty embarrassed by the crowd watching me like I was some kind of zoo exhibit. So, I just gave up and joined the regular line.
This is exactly why women will never run the world. If this is how women treat one another, imagine what the rest of the world is like.

On another note, I’ve only gained about 9 pounds in seven months—probably due to the stress of moving, wedding planning, and everything else going on. Now, everyone has suddenly decided to act concerned and starts shaking their heads at me. I don't see how helpful that is; I've seen people gain 35, 40, or even 45 pounds. If my OB-GYN isn't worried, why is everyone else acting like there's a crisis?

I swear, I have such a soft spot for those people who just wait for their five minutes of being "experts" 😍 ... seriously, if the baby is developing normally, there is absolutely no issue—even if you haven't gained a single pound. People tried to freak me out too, constantly shoving pizzas and lasagna in my face because I stayed at zero weight for so long and only recently went up by a couple of pounds. But my doctor didn't even blink! She actually got annoyed when people suggested I should force-feed myself—she told me, "Don't you dare," and said I should just eat what I feel like while trying to stay healthy. That's it. The baby is growing perfectly, and honestly, that's the only thing that matters.

Has anyone else hit that depressing realization during pregnancy where you can suddenly count your friends on just one hand?? It’s like we aren't "fun" anymore because we can't go out for drinks, dance until sunrise, or spend all day—literally all day—grabbing coffee 👎

It probably comes down to how old you were when you actually got pregnant... 😉 When I was expecting my first kid, I was the only one in my circle who was pregnant, and man, I felt so out of sync with my friends during the pregnancy and right after giving birth. We just weren't on the same page because our priorities were totally different.
Fast forward four years, and now they’ve all had kids too, so they finally get where I'm coming from... 😉

Forgive me, but I just can't stand that kind of attitude!
Some of my girlfriends actually had their babies before I did, so all I could really do was celebrate their news and soak up whatever advice they had to offer. Anything else besides that feels honestly immature and just pathetic.

Honestly, what's tripping me out is how mild everything feels so far... I mean, I get some nausea in the morning, but nothing crazy, and since I've always dealt with morning sickness anyway, I'm pretty used to it. I am exhausted, though, and suddenly the thought of strawberry yogurt makes me want to gag, but that's about it.

I'm still pretty young—just 19, 😁 so yeah, I get why people say that. But honestly, it still gets under my skin sometimes when I spend days stuck at home without talking to anyone... I'm just not used to it. 😢
But you're right about what you all said—things will eventually turn around once everyone settles down and finds their footing. 😁
True friendships are hard to find these days—really rare...

I honestly find it so draining when people constantly try to scare me with their horror stories—you know, those endless warnings about how I won’t be able to handle a baby and a dog at the same time. And then there’s the talk about childbirth, where they act like every bone in your body is going to shift out of place from the sheer agony of it all, or the way they describe my upcoming C-section like I’m heading toward some kind of grim execution. They go on and on about how incredibly long and grueling the recovery period is going to be, and I just don't quite get it... I really don't understand why people feel such a strong need to weigh in with these opinions when they haven't actually gone through the experience themselves.

I always went under the impression that once I actually got pregnant, those agonizing period cramps would finally be a thing of the past, but apparently, I was dead wrong.😁

Ever since I found out I was pregnant, my stomach hasn't stopped aching. It fluctuates—some days it’s a dull throb and other days it feels significantly more intense—but the discomfort is just a constant, daily presence. And honestly, I can't even bring myself to swallow a single Tylenol to try and take the edge off right now.

To top it all off, the sudden, massive outbreaks of cellulite on my legs are just... unprecedented. It's truly something else.😲

Carol Ramirez23 said:Where were you going for blood work that they wouldn't prioritize you? Every time I walk into a hospital or a lab and mention that I'm pregnant, they call me back immediately!🤷

Back in Chicago, if you're at a blood bank waiting to test your type... you wait. No shortcuts, no VIP treatment, nothing. Just pure waiting in line.
But then there was this one day during a checkup... I'm sitting there for forty minutes, listening to other women being called in way before me, and they haven't even shown up yet. I have no clue what the protocol is here—do I speak up or just sit there like an idiot until they call my name? Finally, some lady tells me to go talk to the nurse. So I walk up to the door, say "Excuse me," and the nurse just glances down at my stomach. Pregnant. Suddenly, everything is magically sorted out.🤣

Lately, my relatives have been driving me absolutely crazy. It's those people who act like they’re morally obligated to buy a mountain of baby gear. Personally, I don't expect a single thing from anyone.
Now the interrogation has started: "What do you need?" And I tell them, "Nothing. We've had everything we need bought for ages." And then comes the guilt trip: "Oh my goodness, you're so prepared! You didn't leave us anything to buy! What are we supposed to do now?!"🙂
☕Yeah, maybe I should have waited two weeks before checking in so someone would actually ask what I needed. If I had, I probably wouldn't have had any of this stuff ready to go by now.

Henry Cooper4 said:Back in Chicago, if you're at a blood bank waiting to test your type... you wait. No shortcuts, no VIP treatment, nothing. Just pure waiting in line.
But then there was this one day during a checkup... I'm sitting there for forty minutes, listening to other women being called in way before me, and they haven't even shown up yet. I have no clue what the protocol is here—do I speak up or just sit there like an idiot until they call my name? Finally, some lady tells me to go talk to the nurse. So I walk up to the door, say "Excuse me," and the nurse just glances down at my stomach. Pregnant. Suddenly, everything is magically sorted out.🤣

Lately, my relatives have been driving me absolutely crazy. It's those people who act like they’re morally obligated to buy a mountain of baby gear. Personally, I don't expect a single thing from anyone.
Now the interrogation has started: "What do you need?" And I tell them, "Nothing. We've had everything we need bought for ages." And then comes the guilt trip: "Oh my goodness, you're so prepared! You didn't leave us anything to buy! What are we supposed to do now?!"🙂
☕Yeah, maybe I should have waited two weeks before checking in so someone would actually ask what I needed. If I had, I probably wouldn't have had any of this stuff ready to go by now.

Well obviously, why would you care who was scheduled when? You aren't crazy enough to sit there in a waiting room surrounded by people with colds and various illnesses... personally, if I truly can't wait and I'm not certain if I have priority, I'll just go up and mention that I'm pregnant and ask if that gives me any preference. But honestly, the older gentlemen at Walmart are the best; okay, they don't necessarily have to let me cut the line, but they certainly won't push past me when a new register opens up! It's quite a sprint! They probably realize that you're young, while for them, every single day could be their last.😂

Henry Cooper4 said:Back in Chicago, if you're at a blood bank waiting to test your type... you wait. No shortcuts, no VIP treatment, nothing. Just pure waiting in line.
But then there was this one day during a checkup... I'm sitting there for forty minutes, listening to other women being called in way before me, and they haven't even shown up yet. I have no clue what the protocol is here—do I speak up or just sit there like an idiot until they call my name? Finally, some lady tells me to go talk to the nurse. So I walk up to the door, say "Excuse me," and the nurse just glances down at my stomach. Pregnant. Suddenly, everything is magically sorted out.🤣

Lately, my relatives have been driving me absolutely crazy. It's those people who act like they’re morally obligated to buy a mountain of baby gear. Personally, I don't expect a single thing from anyone.
Now the interrogation has started: "What do you need?" And I tell them, "Nothing. We've had everything we need bought for ages." And then comes the guilt trip: "Oh my goodness, you're so prepared! You didn't leave us anything to buy! What are we supposed to do now?!"🙂
☕Yeah, maybe I should have waited two weeks before checking in so someone would actually ask what I needed. If I had, I probably wouldn't have had any of this stuff ready to go by now.

Well, I suppose that makes sense; it seems like everyone is pregnant these days.🤣
I was there maybe two weeks ago. I expected a huge crowd, but it was just me and one other woman. I didn't even have time to find parking at Target before I was already done.