What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

It honestly drives me crazy every single time I have to visit my doctor—she’s a totally different story when I go over to Mayo Clinic...🙂

It honestly drives me insane. I can’t go anywhere without some random person cornering me to ask, "Wow, you look great! So, when are you finally having a baby?!" Like, seriously? My due date isn't even until June 30th. Give me a break.
Man, I seriously cannot wait to just get this baby out already. Being this close to the finish line is absolutely brutal. And honestly? The worst part isn't even the physical toll—it's the constant, relentless interrogation from everyone I meet. It feels like every single person I run into has the exact same scripted question ready to go. Like, do they not have anything better to talk about? Seriously. 🙂
So, yesterday, something actually decent happened for once. I’m at the grocery store, right? And this acquaintance walks up to me, and instead of hitting me with that same annoying, predictable question everyone else is obsessed with lately, she stops me. She goes, "Look, I'm not even going to ask you the thing everyone else is definitely asking you right now. I just want to know—how are you doing?" Honestly? It caught me totally off guard. It was such a refreshing change of pace. 🙂
Man, I really hope I don't have to wait much longer for my little guy. 😍

It honestly infuriates me when people feel the need to comment on my weight or constantly ask about it, especially when I’ve always been thin and have only gained a tiny amount, specifically around my midsection.
To make matters worse, I was forced into three months of total inactivity, and now everyone acts as if my entire existence revolves around whether or not I'm "overweight"—as if they can just toss out their own excuses for being ignorant! It is such a shame I couldn't say that to their faces, much like how
people act as though because it's a girl, we should just expect a boy next time and offer unsolicited advice on how to handle it... Just back off!

So, yesterday I ran into this childhood friend after basically a whole year. We were tight from when we were little kids all the way up to about seventeen... anyway, she spent the entire time tearing me apart. My weight, my body, my hair—everything. And there was this specific tone in her voice, like she was low-key mocking me... I don't even know how to put it into words. It’s not like I’m actually upset or anything, since she doesn't really matter in my life anymore, but man, after that whole "critique" session, it just makes me think about how much people suck and how they just love sticking their noses where they don't belong and acting like they know everything.
She even had the nerve to suggest I should just go ahead and get married, maybe even a quick courthouse wedding or something.
Excuse me?! Like, why is that your business? What kind of comments are those, seriously... 😲
🙂

Being stuck in bed is driving me crazy. It’s the lying around, watching my husband do all the cleaning while I just sit here. And the hip pain? It’s brutal. At this rate, I’m going to end up with pressure sores.

Then there's my mom, suffocating me with these baby pillows. She’s been hoarding them for years, and now suddenly I’m supposed to use them because I’m due soon. Apparently, little babies need these specialized pillows from the hospital. It doesn't matter that we're setting everything up at our place in Austin, and it doesn't matter that a pillow won't fit in an Austin nursery. Or that it's going to be 105 degrees outside for five weeks straight. None of that matters, because she insists I need them for the christening I'm planning in November. How is a three or four-month-old even going to fit in that setup? Doesn't matter. The pillow is mandatory. So now, thanks to her, it’s sitting in a box in the attic.

And don't get me started on my coworker. She had her baby three months ago and now she’s acting like an expert, lecturing me about disposable underwear, breastfeeding, and which hospitals provide better nightgowns or let dads into the delivery room. That’s why she insisted on going to that 31 miles remote hospital out in the middle of nowhere. Seriously? How am I supposed to give birth without my husband when that's how everyone does it now? How am I supposed to wash bloody underwear? Where am I going to get enough nightgowns when she was changing three times a day?
HELLO? No way am I risking 31 miles just to end up giving birth under some rural signpost in a place like a bottomless pit. MM and I already agreed that I’ll be giving birth without him, just like last time, at the hospital five minutes from our house. I don't see what the big deal is—I’ve done this before without him. YES, I HAVE GIVEN BIRTH BEFORE, I HAD MY OWN NORMAL UNDERWEAR AND NIGHTGOWNS, AND I SUCCESSFULLY BREASTFED!!!

Linda Ramos66 said:So, yesterday I ran into this childhood friend after basically a whole year. We were tight from when we were little kids all the way up to about seventeen... anyway, she spent the entire time tearing me apart. My weight, my body, my hair—everything. And there was this specific tone in her voice, like she was low-key mocking me... I don't even know how to put it into words. It’s not like I’m actually upset or anything, since she doesn't really matter in my life anymore, but man, after that whole "critique" session, it just makes me think about how much people suck and how they just love sticking their noses where they don't belong and acting like they know everything.
She even had the nerve to suggest I should just go ahead and get married, maybe even a quick courthouse wedding or something.
Excuse me?! Like, why is that your business? What kind of comments are those, seriously... 😲
🙂

People like that are honestly the worst. They don't see you for years and then suddenly think they have the right to judge your looks or your weight...

But seriously, what's your take on having a kid out of wedlock?! Quincy, Quincy! 🙂 Do you need to call some advocacy group to get directions? 🙂

gentlesailor2 said:Being stuck in bed is driving me crazy. It’s the lying around, watching my husband do all the cleaning while I just sit here. And the hip pain? It’s brutal. At this rate, I’m going to end up with pressure sores.

Then there's my mom, suffocating me with these baby pillows. She’s been hoarding them for years, and now suddenly I’m supposed to use them because I’m due soon. Apparently, little babies need these specialized pillows from the hospital. It doesn't matter that we're setting everything up at our place in Austin, and it doesn't matter that a pillow won't fit in an Austin nursery. Or that it's going to be 105 degrees outside for five weeks straight. None of that matters, because she insists I need them for the christening I'm planning in November. How is a three or four-month-old even going to fit in that setup? Doesn't matter. The pillow is mandatory. So now, thanks to her, it’s sitting in a box in the attic.

And don't get me started on my coworker. She had her baby three months ago and now she’s acting like an expert, lecturing me about disposable underwear, breastfeeding, and which hospitals provide better nightgowns or let dads into the delivery room. That’s why she insisted on going to that 31 miles remote hospital out in the middle of nowhere. Seriously? How am I supposed to give birth without my husband when that's how everyone does it now? How am I supposed to wash bloody underwear? Where am I going to get enough nightgowns when she was changing three times a day?
HELLO? No way am I risking 31 miles just to end up giving birth under some rural signpost in a place like a bottomless pit. MM and I already agreed that I’ll be giving birth without him, just like last time, at the hospital five minutes from our house. I don't see what the big deal is—I’ve done this before without him. YES, I HAVE GIVEN BIRTH BEFORE, I HAD MY OWN NORMAL UNDERWEAR AND NIGHTGOWNS, AND I SUCCESSFULLY BREASTFED!!!

hahaha you actually killed me, I'm dying. My hips are also killing me after sleeping (thank god I don't have to stay on bed rest), and my mom is being just as pushy about the whole pillow situation. Except, I'm just gonna borrow one from my godmother to keep her happy... though it's gonna be pink, so my guy will be rocking a pink pillow for the first few days. 😂 😂 🤣

gentlesailor2 said:Being stuck in bed is driving me crazy. It’s the lying around, watching my husband do all the cleaning while I just sit here. And the hip pain? It’s brutal. At this rate, I’m going to end up with pressure sores.

Then there's my mom, suffocating me with these baby pillows. She’s been hoarding them for years, and now suddenly I’m supposed to use them because I’m due soon. Apparently, little babies need these specialized pillows from the hospital. It doesn't matter that we're setting everything up at our place in Austin, and it doesn't matter that a pillow won't fit in an Austin nursery. Or that it's going to be 105 degrees outside for five weeks straight. None of that matters, because she insists I need them for the christening I'm planning in November. How is a three or four-month-old even going to fit in that setup? Doesn't matter. The pillow is mandatory. So now, thanks to her, it’s sitting in a box in the attic.

And don't get me started on my coworker. She had her baby three months ago and now she’s acting like an expert, lecturing me about disposable underwear, breastfeeding, and which hospitals provide better nightgowns or let dads into the delivery room. That’s why she insisted on going to that 31 miles remote hospital out in the middle of nowhere. Seriously? How am I supposed to give birth without my husband when that's how everyone does it now? How am I supposed to wash bloody underwear? Where am I going to get enough nightgowns when she was changing three times a day?
HELLO? No way am I risking 31 miles just to end up giving birth under some rural signpost in a place like a bottomless pit. MM and I already agreed that I’ll be giving birth without him, just like last time, at the hospital five minutes from our house. I don't see what the big deal is—I’ve done this before without him. YES, I HAVE GIVEN BIRTH BEFORE, I HAD MY OWN NORMAL UNDERWEAR AND NIGHTGOWNS, AND I SUCCESSFULLY BREASTFED!!!

I almost forgot about this one—everyone rolls their eyes when I say I’m heading to the DMV solo since everyone's obsessed with going in groups lately—but honestly? Let them roll their eyes! I'll show them all! 😂

gentlesailor2 said:People like that are honestly the worst. They don't see you for years and then suddenly think they have the right to judge your looks or your weight...

But seriously, what's your take on having a kid out of wedlock?! Quincy, Quincy! 🙂 Do you need to call some advocacy group to get directions? 🙂

😂😂 Just this already?! Oh my gosh! Honestly, the best part is when we say we’ll "probably" get married once the baby is baptized—and that I'm totally keeping my own last name! 🙂 So like—what are you even planning to do with that now??? 🙂 Look, I’m definitely not famous—but by the time all this actually goes down, I'll be 37... and honestly? I just can't imagine anything other than signing off and being done with it! 🙂

It honestly drives me nuts when people ask "how are you?" and I give them a simple "good," only for them to just go dead silent. It’s like they’re waiting for me to launch into some huge dramatic monologue about how my life is falling apart, how everything hurts, or how I can't handle anything... as if I'm just fishing for pity or something.
And then there's my mother-in-law. She's being such a pain because my oldest isn't starting daycare for another two months, and she spends every single damn day lecturing me. She keeps insisting I won't be able to handle looking after her, saying I need to "rest" constantly, and acting like being pregnant while trying to watch a kid who just wants to run around, get dressed, grab a drink of water, or hit the bathroom is some impossible feat. Like, wtf? How would she even know how I feel? If she's so worried, maybe her mom should just drop the kid off every morning and pick her up after work, so I can deal with a sleep-deprived, cranky toddler all afternoon. Honestly, thanks but no thanks ☕
To top it all off, she’s got this "brilliant" idea where she tells the little one, "Oh, once Mommy has the new baby, you'll just stay with me all day long." Yeah, right. As if that's a good thing. It’ll probably just make her feel even more rejected once the new baby actually arrives ☕

Man... during my first pregnancy, the absolute worst part was right at the end. I’d go two weeks past my due date, and my phone would just ring non-stop: "Have you had the baby yet? So, when is it happening?"

God... I seriously wanted to chuck my phone against the wall. 🙂 🤣

gentlesailor2 said:People like that are honestly the worst. They don't see you for years and then suddenly think they have the right to judge your looks or your weight...

But seriously, what's your take on having a kid out of wedlock?! Quincy, Quincy! 🙂 Do you need to call some advocacy group to get directions? 🙂

God, I'm actually embarrassed. 🤣😂

Patrick Chase19 said:I almost forgot about this one—everyone rolls their eyes when I say I’m heading to the DMV solo since everyone's obsessed with going in groups lately—but honestly? Let them roll their eyes! I'll show them all! 😂

😂😂 Just this already?! Oh my gosh! Honestly, the best part is when we say we’ll "probably" get married once the baby is baptized—and that I'm totally keeping my own last name! 🙂 So like—what are you even planning to do with that now??? 🙂 Look, I’m definitely not famous—but by the time all this actually goes down, I'll be 37... and honestly? I just can't imagine anything other than signing off and being done with it! 🙂

In America, there's a chance we might not baptize the little one immediately, or maybe not at all. I'm fine with it, honey, really, but eventually... I have a feeling it'll happen 😲 once the grandparents hear about it 😂

Sandra Allen3 said:It honestly drives me nuts when people ask "how are you?" and I give them a simple "good," only for them to just go dead silent. It’s like they’re waiting for me to launch into some huge dramatic monologue about how my life is falling apart, how everything hurts, or how I can't handle anything... as if I'm just fishing for pity or something.
And then there's my mother-in-law. She's being such a pain because my oldest isn't starting daycare for another two months, and she spends every single damn day lecturing me. She keeps insisting I won't be able to handle looking after her, saying I need to "rest" constantly, and acting like being pregnant while trying to watch a kid who just wants to run around, get dressed, grab a drink of water, or hit the bathroom is some impossible feat. Like, wtf? How would she even know how I feel? If she's so worried, maybe her mom should just drop the kid off every morning and pick her up after work, so I can deal with a sleep-deprived, cranky toddler all afternoon. Honestly, thanks but no thanks ☕
To top it all off, she’s got this "brilliant" idea where she tells the little one, "Oh, once Mommy has the new baby, you'll just stay with me all day long." Yeah, right. As if that's a good thing. It’ll probably just make her feel even more rejected once the new baby actually arrives ☕

Honestly, I don't get why people think they can just drop these kinds of comments like they're helpful. You've been handling things fine with your girlfriend, so why wouldn't you be able to manage both her and a newborn? I get that most of them mean well, but they really need to learn when to just shut up.

My mother-in-law is driving me absolutely insane because she keeps trying to touch my stomach!!!!!!!!! I have told her a hundred times already that it makes me uncomfortable and she needs to stop. Her only response was some nonsense about how it's her grandson's body too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🙂 Like hell it is, he's MY stomach, lady...🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

It honestly drives me up the wall when everyone feels the need to comment on how massive my stomach has gotten. 🙂
From my perspective, it doesn't even look that huge, but what am I supposed to do about it? Every single extra pound I’ve put on seems to have decided to settle exclusively right there. 😛

I honestly don't know if it's just the hormones acting up or what, but I got so incredibly worked up the other day because of this girl I went to high school with. We weren't even exactly friends back then, and we haven't spoken a single word to each other since graduation, yet out of nowhere she sends me this message asking how the pregnancy is going and offering to give me advice if I need it. I mean, she's only four months along herself, so now she thinks she's suddenly qualified to lecture me? I suppose her intentions were probably good, but it just doesn't sit right with me—why on earth would you reach out after years of total silence just to start handing out unsolicited advice??
Am I supposed to suddenly find common ground with everyone just because I'm pregnant now?? It's driving me absolutely insane.

And besides that, I am beyond frustrated because I'm sweating like crazy all the time, and don't even get me started on the heartburn.

Then there's my aching lower back, and the fact that people still insist I'm not "glowing" enough.😁

As for the neighbors and their constant stream of unwanted suggestions, I won't even go there.

Honestly, those hyper-enthusiastic moms drive me crazy. They act like their kid is some kind of perfect little saint and expect everyone else to be on the exact same page. Like, sorry, my kid isn't a carbon copy of yours.

Henry Davis5 said:Honestly, those hyper-enthusiastic moms drive me crazy. They act like their kid is some kind of perfect little saint and expect everyone else to be on the exact same page. Like, sorry, my kid isn't a carbon copy of yours.

I couldn't agree more!

Henry Davis5 said:Honestly, those hyper-enthusiastic moms drive me crazy. They act like their kid is some kind of perfect little saint and expect everyone else to be on the exact same page. Like, sorry, my kid isn't a carbon copy of yours.

I think that’s actually what gets to me the most. 🙂

I suppose I’ll join in on the venting, even though I’m only in my second trimester, because after those first two miscarriages, I’m still feeling a bit shaken up. Honestly, I don't see why it should be considered "difficult" only for women hitting that 36-week mark while everyone else gets a free pass... It feels like it isn't really about your weight or how big your belly is, but more about the mental and emotional toll it takes on you. Early on, I was dealing with such intense sciatica that I felt completely broken—not just from the physical pain, but from the constant anxiety over losing this baby, all while being unable to even get out of bed because I wasn't allowed to take anything stronger than basic over-the-counter meds. So, I guess I shouldn't complain...
It seems like we experienced moms and the rest of the world just love to irritate us with those cliché warnings, telling you that "nothing will ever be the same," or "your whole life is going to flip upside down," or "say goodbye to your freedom." I truly don't understand why someone would choose to have a child if they aren't prepared to dedicate themselves to it, or if they find the responsibility so overwhelming. I have dogs at home that I get up for multiple times throughout the night if needed, so I really don't see why I wouldn't do the same for my own child? My routine already involves waking up at 6:00 AM every single day, so I have no idea who expects parents to sleep until noon or just sit around smoking cigarettes?
I’m not sure if anyone else can relate to this, but I’ve spent my entire life learning how to care for others rather than just focusing on myself, which is why looking after a baby doesn't feel like an impossible burden—especially since we know children thrive most when their parents are healthy, happy, and content. I struggle to understand people who have a child but find the act of caring for them to be a genuine hardship.
Best wishes to everyone.

Henry Davis5 said:Honestly, those hyper-enthusiastic moms drive me crazy. They act like their kid is some kind of perfect little saint and expect everyone else to be on the exact same page. Like, sorry, my kid isn't a carbon copy of yours.

Ugh, I seriously can't stand comments like that... especially when they throw in that fake-nice, passive-aggressive "good luck with that" at the end. It’s so condescending.🙄

Nancy Ruiz7 said:I suppose I’ll join in on the venting, even though I’m only in my second trimester, because after those first two miscarriages, I’m still feeling a bit shaken up. Honestly, I don't see why it should be considered "difficult" only for women hitting that 36-week mark while everyone else gets a free pass... It feels like it isn't really about your weight or how big your belly is, but more about the mental and emotional toll it takes on you. Early on, I was dealing with such intense sciatica that I felt completely broken—not just from the physical pain, but from the constant anxiety over losing this baby, all while being unable to even get out of bed because I wasn't allowed to take anything stronger than basic over-the-counter meds. So, I guess I shouldn't complain...
It seems like we experienced moms and the rest of the world just love to irritate us with those cliché warnings, telling you that "nothing will ever be the same," or "your whole life is going to flip upside down," or "say goodbye to your freedom." I truly don't understand why someone would choose to have a child if they aren't prepared to dedicate themselves to it, or if they find the responsibility so overwhelming. I have dogs at home that I get up for multiple times throughout the night if needed, so I really don't see why I wouldn't do the same for my own child? My routine already involves waking up at 6:00 AM every single day, so I have no idea who expects parents to sleep until noon or just sit around smoking cigarettes?
I’m not sure if anyone else can relate to this, but I’ve spent my entire life learning how to care for others rather than just focusing on myself, which is why looking after a baby doesn't feel like an impossible burden—especially since we know children thrive most when their parents are healthy, happy, and content. I struggle to understand people who have a child but find the act of caring for them to be a genuine hardship.
Best wishes to everyone.

I am 100% with you on this. I know it’s not a direct comparison, but I feel the exact same way regarding my dogs—I’ve even trained several of them following strict professional protocols. On top of that, my actual career involves working with children, and my entire lifestyle is structured in a way where people constantly ask me, "How on earth do you manage to pull all this off?" So, why on earth would we bring a child into this world—someone we wanted so badly and are so excited to meet—only to create MASSIVE problems and let them wreck our entire lives?

Let’s be clear here—I’m not trying to compare kids to pets, because I know how much that can rub people the wrong way, but rather the general mindset surrounding it. Since my career revolves around working with children, I’m constantly surrounded by them, so I’ve always found the whole energy quite uplifting instead of overwhelming. Honestly, things like sleep deprivation don't even phase me... what actually keeps me up at night is the uncertainty of pregnancy itself and the potential outcomes, rather than the actual arrival of the baby. We'll adapt to whatever the little one needs when the time comes, though I am certainly going to try my best to hold onto my usual hobbies and daily routines as much as possible. And despite the endless stream of "well-meaning" advice flying our way from every direction, we are still the ones calling the shots on how we want to do this...