What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

James Martinez3 said:My apologies, I'll make sure to ask your permission next time before I decide which topics are okay to discuss.
😂

As for everything else—no comment. If you ever seriously considered psychoanalysis as a career path, you might want to rethink those plans immediately. I spoke up because nothing irritates me more during pregnancy than women who smoke and then expect everyone to be understanding about it. And just as I called this person out virtually, I’ve done the exact same thing to people I know in real life. I don't feel even a shred of guilt about it. Luckily, there was only one instance, and she stopped after we had our talk. And I'm not getting involved for the sake of those pregnant women—I don't really care about them, I just feel bad for their unborn children.

That’s one thing. Secondly, I don't frequent places that actually have something resembling a "maternity ward," so you don't have to worry about running into me there. But if life somehow led me to one of those units and someone decided to smoke right next to me—yeah, they would have had the worst night of their lives. And frankly, I think I'd be completely justified in feeling that way.

I'm done debating this topic; I've said what I needed to say.

Okay, but since I know you'll be reading this: the postpartum ward is the unit in a hospital where mothers stay after giving birth. So, if you aren't going there, and you'd only end up there by some "unfortunate twist of fate," then what are we even talking about? Who is a mother and who isn't, then?

James Martinez3 said:My apologies, I'll make sure to ask your permission next time before I decide which topics are okay to discuss.
😂

As for everything else—no comment. If you ever seriously considered psychoanalysis as a career path, you might want to rethink those plans immediately. I spoke up because nothing irritates me more during pregnancy than women who smoke and then expect everyone to be understanding about it. And just as I called this person out virtually, I’ve done the exact same thing to people I know in real life. I don't feel even a shred of guilt about it. Luckily, there was only one instance, and she stopped after we had our talk. And I'm not getting involved for the sake of those pregnant women—I don't really care about them, I just feel bad for their unborn children.

That’s one thing. Secondly, I don't frequent places that actually have something resembling a "maternity ward," so you don't have to worry about running into me there. But if life somehow led me to one of those units and someone decided to smoke right next to me—yeah, they would have had the worst night of their lives. And frankly, I think I'd be completely justified in feeling that way.

I'm done debating this topic; I've said what I needed to say.

I didn't intend to comment on such a collection of nonsense, but now I find myself compelled to...

The absolute worst are these pseudo-moralistic busybodies who fret over everyone and everything except themselves. 🙄

First point—when you say you "called her out," did she stop smoking or just stop talking to you? Because if it's the latter—especially if you're lecturing a woman who is supposedly your friend when she hasn't asked for your advice or opinion—then that is a completely different story...

Second point—it is quite obvious you aren't pregnant or a mother if you don't know what a newborn nursery is. Beyond that, if you would only end up in such a place due to a mere stroke of bad luck , then clearly neither that pregnancy nor that child would be particularly wanted...
If you actually are a mother or pregnant, then I truly have no comment, other than to wonder who exactly is in a position to be handing out moral advice to whom...

Besides, this isn't a thread about whether or not one should smoke during pregnancy and debating it for several pages; it's about what irritated or surprised you during your own pregnancy... so, there you have it.

Regarding the whole sleep deprivation thing, I’ve sort of adjusted to it, I guess.
The first two months were actually pretty nerve-wracking because I just couldn't sleep. Staying in the hospital for an extended period definitely messed up my sleep patterns, especially when you factor in high blood pressure and all those hormones running wild. Honestly, I thought I wouldn't even be able to drift off without the Norvasc that the doctors kept handing out to everyone in the maternity ward. It was a disgusting feeling. I felt like I was constantly awake. Not once did I manage to sleep through a baby's cry. I didn't miss a single wake-up call.
After a while, the sleeping situation stabilized. Or, at least, I can fall asleep without much trouble now. But the little one still wakes up during the night, then there's work in the morning, being pregnant on top of it, everything in the afternoon... various things. I have to study too. Class at 11, getting up at 6:30, and whatever—I can't really say I'm exhausted. My body just starts functioning differently, maybe. The fact that I caught up on sleep before and during my pregnancy didn't really help or hurt anything.

So many things surprised me during my last pregnancy, probably because I had this perfect image in my head where nothing would ever go wrong for me (since nothing usually does). Međutoa, it wasn't like that at all. This time, I'll probably be surprised by how different everything is from that first experience.

James Martinez3 said:My apologies, I'll make sure to ask your permission next time before I decide which topics are okay to discuss.
😂

As for everything else—no comment. If you ever seriously considered psychoanalysis as a career path, you might want to rethink those plans immediately. I spoke up because nothing irritates me more during pregnancy than women who smoke and then expect everyone to be understanding about it. And just as I called this person out virtually, I’ve done the exact same thing to people I know in real life. I don't feel even a shred of guilt about it. Luckily, there was only one instance, and she stopped after we had our talk. And I'm not getting involved for the sake of those pregnant women—I don't really care about them, I just feel bad for their unborn children.

That’s one thing. Secondly, I don't frequent places that actually have something resembling a "maternity ward," so you don't have to worry about running into me there. But if life somehow led me to one of those units and someone decided to smoke right next to me—yeah, they would have had the worst night of their lives. And frankly, I think I'd be completely justified in feeling that way.

I'm done debating this topic; I've said what I needed to say.

Oh god, no. I had no idea I was dealing with some self-proclaimed genius wandering around handing out justice and lectures to everyone...

Go ahead, keep preaching. I'm sure everyone around you has already set up filters to block out such blatant ignorance and rudeness.

Ugh, I seriously lose my mind when people start hitting me with that fake, overly concerned tone. You know the one. They start lecturing me on how "we truly don't know how we're going to manage," because I'm still finishing up my degree (I literally only have three finals left, by the way -.-), and silentraven6 is working while the kid is an "added financial burden" and blah blah blah... Like, yeah, we truly don't know how we'll manage, considering we've already navigated through roughly 7948794230830 hurdles, silentraven6 has a permanent job, and I've got a solid career waiting for me the second I graduate. People really need to mind their own business! ARGH!

Timothy Ramirez7 said:Ugh, I seriously lose my mind when people start hitting me with that fake, overly concerned tone. You know the one. They start lecturing me on how "we truly don't know how we're going to manage," because I'm still finishing up my degree (I literally only have three finals left, by the way -.-), and silentraven6 is working while the kid is an "added financial burden" and blah blah blah... Like, yeah, we truly don't know how we'll manage, considering we've already navigated through roughly 7948794230830 hurdles, silentraven6 has a permanent job, and I've got a solid career waiting for me the second I graduate. People really need to mind their own business! ARGH!

Buhuh, if it helps at all, I've got four classes left, my partner is working, and I have a 4.5-year-old too. Plus, I'm doing some remote work on the side after getting laid off. We're living for the next five years... everything works out eventually.😁

Of course you can 😉 but there’s always a handful of fake-concerned people ready to ruin your entire day by lecturing you on morality. 😳

I’m calling out whoever thought labeling the maternity ward an insult—tell me exactly what you meant by calling it 🍿
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Ugh, here I am, just getting worked up over this—honestly, I’m mostly pissed at myself for even wasting my time reading that post in the first place...

What exactly was supposed to be "surprising" about pregnancy???? Either you're actually pregnant or you're a mother who doesn't even know where the postpartum unit is located... and if you aren't pregnant or a mom, then why are you even showing up on this forum acting like an expert to people who might actually care? It's just as stupid if someone smokes while they're pregnant, but quite frankly, I don't give a damn whether she chooses to smoke or not—that is a completely different conversation entirely.

Roger Grant84 said:I’m calling out whoever thought labeling the maternity ward an insult—tell me exactly what you meant by calling it 🍿
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Maybe she thought it was some old-school clinic where grandmas just sit around gossiping...😂
But honestly, she wasn't even that far off. They still have to deal with newborns there, after all. 😂

crimsoncobra96 said:Maybe she thought it was some old-school clinic where grandmas just sit around gossiping...😂
But honestly, she wasn't even that far off. They still have to deal with newborns there, after all. 😂

Since things got a little heated here on the forum, my wife actually sent me a private message. She explained that since she doesn't live in the States, she didn't really know what kind of department we were talking about. Plus, for her own reasons, she gets sensitive about the smoking thing. At the end of the day, we all have bad days and our own stuff going on. So, I suspect she might not be the "freak" the original post made her out to be.

I honestly can't wrap my head around how anyone thinks it’s okay to just reach out and touch someone else's stomach. It feels incredibly invasive, almost like some bizarre violation of personal space. I have this one coworker at my office who seems to have a compulsion to touch everything and everyone. If she ever actually touched my midsection, I think I might actually lose it. Even with my closest friends, I’ve always felt that grabbing someone by the stomach is just way too much.

I honestly have no idea which department handles postpartum care, and considering I'm currently pregnant, it feels a bit overwhelming that no one has actually mentioned this to me yet...

Amy Walker4 said:I honestly have no idea which department handles postpartum care, and considering I'm currently pregnant, it feels a bit overwhelming that no one has actually mentioned this to me yet...

That’s easy enough—you’d find out when the time comes. But what I was actually wondering is why she got so offended. Did she think that term was implying 🙂
?

I am currently dealing with a nasty cold, and this intense headache is becoming quite irritating.
It reached such a point yesterday that I simply couldn't bear it, so I had a cup of Folgers and used some Afrin for my nose.
I feel slightly guilty about it, though I suspect it won't cause any lasting harm.🙄

Dennis Garcia12 said:I am currently dealing with a nasty cold, and this intense headache is becoming quite irritating.
It reached such a point yesterday that I simply couldn't bear it, so I had a cup of Folgers and used some Afrin for my nose.
I feel slightly guilty about it, though I suspect it won't cause any lasting harm.🙄

Just stick to Tylenol... and Afrin wears off way too fast anyway...

Roger Grant84 said:That’s easy enough—you’d find out when the time comes. But what I was actually wondering is why she got so offended. Did she think that term was implying 🙂
?

🙂

Nathan Lee said:Since things got a little heated here on the forum, my wife actually sent me a private message. She explained that since she doesn't live in the States, she didn't really know what kind of department we were talking about. Plus, for her own reasons, she gets sensitive about the smoking thing. At the end of the day, we all have bad days and our own stuff going on. So, I suspect she might not be the "freak" the original post made her out to be.

Oh my god. I absolutely hate feeling like crap just because someone else is having a rough day.

I can't stand dealing with dry skin. It's honestly the worst, especially on my shins and forearms.

Burnt toast! 🙂 It happens almost every single day...