What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Roger Rodriguez said:We used to rely on withdrawal too, but after my boyfriend proved more than once that he has zero self-control, 🙂 we switched to condoms.
I also tried the pill for three years before moving on to patches, and I am never going back to those little tablets. 🙂
And yeah, that constant disbelief really gets under my skin, especially when it comes from my closest girlfriends. It’s like, out of our entire group, nobody expected me to be the first one—how is that even possible? What is wrong with the universe? They acted the exact same way when I told them I got engaged; they actually laughed at me! 😢

They should be ashamed of themselves, honestly. 🙂 🙂People just have nothing better to do than talk trash. Why wouldn't you be the first one? 🙂Regarding those patches—why won't you go back? Did the pills fail you, or are they just too much of a hassle?

I suppose I should start by saying that things aren't exactly moving at the speed they used to. It’s funny, really. You look back at how we used to handle things—everything felt so much more direct, almost blunt. Now? It feels like we're all walking on eggshells, navigating this strange, modern landscape where every word is weighed and measured before it ever hits the air. It's exhausting, if I'm being honest. I was thinking about this earlier while sitting in a coffee shop in Seattle—just watching the rain hit the window and wondering when the conversation became so... cautious. We used to have these long, sprawling debates where you could actually feel the friction of differing ideas. There was a certain warmth in that disagreement. Nowadays, it feels like everyone is just waiting for their turn to speak rather than actually listening. Or maybe I'm just getting old. That's probably it. A little bit of cynicism creeping in with the gray hairs. Anyway, I saw what **boldpuma9** was saying the other day regarding the recent shifts in policy. It’s an interesting take. Very measured. I think there’s a lot of merit to the idea that we’ve lost some of that fundamental grit. We prioritize comfort over substance too often. It’s a quiet shift, but a massive one. Not many people seem to notice because it happens so gradually, like the tide coming in. You don't realize you're underwater until you can't breathe. But that's just my two cents. I tend to wander off into these tangents quite a bit. It's a habit. One doesn't simply arrive at a conclusion without taking a few scenic detours along the way. It’s better that way, I think. Life isn't a straight line, so why should our thoughts be? kaže:
Of all the physical symptoms, the one that caught me completely off guard—and honestly, the one that’s been the biggest headache—is the nausea. I’m about 20 weeks along now, so I've hit that halfway mark, but the sickness hasn't really let up. It's just these ridiculous bouts of nausea triggered by smells. Not even every smell, mind you, just certain ones that hit me at the wrong time. It's incredibly irritating.😁

I try to steer clear of perfumes, deodorants, body washes, lotions, creams... even toothpaste. I usually just stick to some unscented shower gel, a basic baby oil, and a plain moisturizer for stretch marks. It’s better that way. Honestly, I can’t imagine being stuck on a Greyhound bus next to someone eating a massive deli sandwich or a heavy breakfast roll. Just thinking about those smells gives me a bit of an upset stomach.

I mean, I’ve had those moments where the mere thought of my toothbrush—just the smell of it, or even just seeing it sitting there by the sink after the tenth time—makes my stomach do a complete somersault. It’s that specific kind of nausea where you’re convinced you’re about to lose it right then and there. Honestly, though, looking back, maybe I didn't actually get sick as much as I thought I would. I think part of it was just because I was hyper-focused on all that clutter around the sink, trying to manage the mess, which probably kept me from actually losing my lunch.
I’m still—well, I probably shouldn't even bring this up—but I’ve been brushing my teeth with... It’s all about the kids. Everything we do, really. It feels like we spend half our lives just trying to figure out what’s best for them, doesn't it? Whether it's school supplies or just making sure they have enough energy to run around the neighborhood, it's a full-time job. Just an endless cycle of planning for their future. Makes you think about what kind of world we're actually leaving behind for them. Constant deliberation. That's the reality of it. I actually ended up convincing my dear old friend to join me for a round with the Kaladont set once upon a time. Just one of those things that happened. 🤣

I couldn't even bring myself to touch the hot food. It was honestly just stomach-turning. Even the hot drinks... yeah, total gag factor there too.
I ended up drinking some sparkling water, mostly because my stomach was actually behaving itself for once. I don’t usually go for the carbonated stuff—honestly, I can barely stand it more than a couple times a year—but every now and then, maybe a bottle of seltzer during the week if I'm feeling it. It just felt right in the moment.

So, I finally gave up the coffee thing after about two years. Once I found out I was pregnant, even just the smell of it started making me feel pretty nauseous, you know? It’s funny how that works. 🙄

I completely blanked. Just... gone. Total mental fog. Fabric softeners. It’s funny how we just accept them as a staple in the laundry room, isn't it? You go to Target or Walmart, grab a big jug of whatever scented stuff is on sale, and toss it in with the wash. We’ve been conditioned to think that "soft" equals "clean," but I’ve always had this nagging feeling that we might be overcomplicating things. I was reading about how these chemicals actually coat the fibers of our clothes—kind of like putting a thin layer of wax on a car—just to make them feel smoother against the skin. It works, sure. Your towels come out fluffy, and everything smells like a field of lavender in the Midwest. But then you start thinking about the buildup. You know that weird, waxy residue that starts to accumulate on towels after a few months? That’s the softener doing its job a little too well. I’ve been experimenting with skipping the liquid stuff entirely lately. Honestly, some of the scents they use are just... intense. A bit much for someone who prefers a more neutral home vibe. I tried using a bit of white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead. It sounds like some old-fashioned housewife trick, but it actually works remarkably well at cutting through soap scum without leaving that heavy chemical film behind. Plus, once the clothes dry, the vinegar smell is completely gone. It’s one of those small, domestic pivots that makes you realize how many products we use simply because they're there on the shelf. Not everything needs a fancy, brightly colored bottle to be effective. Sometimes, the simplest route is the most sensible one. Just a thought.It’s just not the same anymore. Honestly, whenever I’m doing the laundry, there’s this lingering sense that things have changed. I even had to tell my mom to stay far away from the washing machine for a while—told her straight up, don't you dare buy that specific brand again, even after you've had kids. I'm done with it. It’s officially blacklisted in my house. There were those times, too... a couple of instances where the smell was just revolting. Even when the clothes were clean and hanging out to dry in the middle of a hot July afternoon, that scent would hit me, and I'd feel physically sick. Just completely nauseating.

I tend to just... shield my nose with my hand whenever I'm walking past someone smoking outside, or if there's just some really intense smell lingering in the air. It's a habit. Just a quick little gesture to block it out.

As for the mental health side of things:

I don't know... I honestly can't quite put my finger on why I’ve been feeling this way. It’s just... everything. I find myself getting overwhelmed by the smallest, most insignificant things lately. I’ll be sitting there, minding my own business, and then suddenly I'm just breaking down in tears over something totally trivial. It feels almost unbelievable how easily it happens. Just constant, heavy sadness triggered by every little thing. It's a lot.

I’m really not exactly the "glowing, overjoyed pregnant woman" type right now, and honestly, the guilt is starting to eat at me. I have a hundred other things on my plate that need addressing, and sometimes it feels like the people around me just don't get it. To be perfectly blunt—the baby wasn't exactly planned for this specific moment. We were aiming for a few months down the road, and even in my wildest dreams, I never imagined we’d actually succeed on the first try. So, I don't feel bad about the timing. What I do feel bad about is that I can't seem to find that sense of happiness or relaxation. I just want to be better—for myself, and for the baby.

I’m sure I’ll think of something else soon enough. Give me a moment.

The physical symptoms are basically identical to mine. I don't have much of an issue with hot food or drinks, though. That’s not my struggle. For me, it’s constant nausea—just about everything triggers it. And those fabric softeners? They smell absolutely revolting to me. Like something's gone terribly wrong.

Ryan Cruz4 said:They should be ashamed of themselves, honestly. 🙂 🙂People just have nothing better to do than talk trash. Why wouldn't you be the first one? 🙂Regarding those patches—why won't you go back? Did the pills fail you, or are they just too much of a hassle?

Those patches completely wrecked my hormones; I gained 30 pounds in just six months, and I dealt with constant allergic reactions at the application site, even though I switched spots every single week.🤷Even now, years later, I still have scars on my arms (where I gripped them most tightly because they kept peeling off my stomach) from those rashes that were so itchy I ended up scratching myself bloody.🙂
On the flip side, a close friend of mine has used them for five years straight without a single issue.🤷

By the way, those synthetic scents always made me feel nauseous too, especially that cloud of cologne my boyfriend sprays around the apartment in the morning; I’m honestly surprised I haven't thrown all his fragrances out the window yet.

Right now, I am beyond frustrated because I actually had an accident in my pants right in the middle of the street. It was pouring rain, so maybe people thought I just sat in a puddle, but it wasn't pretty—I spent fifteen minutes hobbling along trying to find a restroom, only to end up losing it like I'd swallowed a gallon of water just five minutes before reaching my apartment.☕
And for three days, I've been worrying about this stomach ache, terrified that I'd start dealing with massive bloating today. Well, here we are; I feel like if I lit a match, I might blow up the entire apartment building. It feels like I've spent the last week eating nothing but heavy greasy fast food, and now it's all making its exit. I have never experienced anything quite this intense. I woke up in the middle of the night to such a stench that I nearly hallucinated; I genuinely thought I was stuck in a barn next to fifteen horses and cows. This is going to be the death of me!🙂

Roger Rodriguez said:Those patches completely wrecked my hormones; I gained 30 pounds in just six months, and I dealt with constant allergic reactions at the application site, even though I switched spots every single week.🤷Even now, years later, I still have scars on my arms (where I gripped them most tightly because they kept peeling off my stomach) from those rashes that were so itchy I ended up scratching myself bloody.🙂
On the flip side, a close friend of mine has used them for five years straight without a single issue.🤷

By the way, those synthetic scents always made me feel nauseous too, especially that cloud of cologne my boyfriend sprays around the apartment in the morning; I’m honestly surprised I haven't thrown all his fragrances out the window yet.

Right now, I am beyond frustrated because I actually had an accident in my pants right in the middle of the street. It was pouring rain, so maybe people thought I just sat in a puddle, but it wasn't pretty—I spent fifteen minutes hobbling along trying to find a restroom, only to end up losing it like I'd swallowed a gallon of water just five minutes before reaching my apartment.☕
And for three days, I've been worrying about this stomach ache, terrified that I'd start dealing with massive bloating today. Well, here we are; I feel like if I lit a match, I might blow up the entire apartment building. It feels like I've spent the last week eating nothing but heavy greasy fast food, and now it's all making its exit. I have never experienced anything quite this intense. I woke up in the middle of the night to such a stench that I nearly hallucinated; I genuinely thought I was stuck in a barn next to fifteen horses and cows. This is going to be the death of me!🙂

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Now you know why the scale keeps going up. It's just water weight and gas 🤣
That stuff makes me so uncomfortable too 🙂

"Every single one of you tiny little things should be put on a royal diet immediately!"

And all of you idiots? You probably ought to be sterilized right now!

By the way, I am definitely not small. My BMI was a 20 before I got pregnant.

Roger Rodriguez said:Those patches completely wrecked my hormones; I gained 30 pounds in just six months, and I dealt with constant allergic reactions at the application site, even though I switched spots every single week.🤷Even now, years later, I still have scars on my arms (where I gripped them most tightly because they kept peeling off my stomach) from those rashes that were so itchy I ended up scratching myself bloody.🙂
On the flip side, a close friend of mine has used them for five years straight without a single issue.🤷

By the way, those synthetic scents always made me feel nauseous too, especially that cloud of cologne my boyfriend sprays around the apartment in the morning; I’m honestly surprised I haven't thrown all his fragrances out the window yet.

Right now, I am beyond frustrated because I actually had an accident in my pants right in the middle of the street. It was pouring rain, so maybe people thought I just sat in a puddle, but it wasn't pretty—I spent fifteen minutes hobbling along trying to find a restroom, only to end up losing it like I'd swallowed a gallon of water just five minutes before reaching my apartment.☕
And for three days, I've been worrying about this stomach ache, terrified that I'd start dealing with massive bloating today. Well, here we are; I feel like if I lit a match, I might blow up the entire apartment building. It feels like I've spent the last week eating nothing but heavy greasy fast food, and now it's all making its exit. I have never experienced anything quite this intense. I woke up in the middle of the night to such a stench that I nearly hallucinated; I genuinely thought I was stuck in a barn next to fifteen horses and cows. This is going to be the death of me!🙂

😂 😂 😂
Roger Rodriguez, I almost peed myself laughing just reading that (sorry, I know it isn't exactly funny for you...).
It really gets under my skin when people on the subway or the bus stare at me like they've never seen a pregnant woman before, but there's no way in hell they're going to look away! ☕

Harold Miller, honestly, you can't really complain about being pregnant if you're the one who made it happen, right? 🙄 It feels like everyone riding the subway just assumes pregnancy is some huge personal vendetta against them, like we're all just trying to force them off their couches 🙂

Ever since I hit week seven, the mere thought of food makes me want to gag, let alone actually stand over a stove. Between my nose being constantly stuffed up, I’m basically forcing myself to swallow a few bites just to survive, and that’s about as much "cooking" as I can handle.

And then there's those comments from people who know my husband is doing the cooking, acting like he’s some kind of martyr—you know, saying things like "Oh, he's such an angel" or "Poor guy." 🙂 Seriously, it’s like they think men are somehow incapable of making a meal, and if they actually step up to help, they suddenly deserve a sainthood? Like, are we talking about Saint Joseph here? 😕

Ryan Cruz4 said:

I suppose I should start by saying that things aren't exactly moving at the speed they used to. It’s funny, really. You look back at how we used to handle things—everything felt so much more direct, almost blunt. Now? It feels like we're all walking on eggshells, navigating this strange, modern landscape where every word is weighed and measured before it ever hits the air. It's exhausting, if I'm being honest. I was thinking about this earlier while sitting in a coffee shop in Seattle—just watching the rain hit the window and wondering when the conversation became so... cautious. We used to have these long, sprawling debates where you could actually feel the friction of differing ideas. There was a certain warmth in that disagreement. Nowadays, it feels like everyone is just waiting for their turn to speak rather than actually listening. Or maybe I'm just getting old. That's probably it. A little bit of cynicism creeping in with the gray hairs. Anyway, I saw what **boldpuma9** was saying the other day regarding the recent shifts in policy. It’s an interesting take. Very measured. I think there’s a lot of merit to the idea that we’ve lost some of that fundamental grit. We prioritize comfort over substance too often. It’s a quiet shift, but a massive one. Not many people seem to notice because it happens so gradually, like the tide coming in. You don't realize you're underwater until you can't breathe. But that's just my two cents. I tend to wander off into these tangents quite a bit. It's a habit. One doesn't simply arrive at a conclusion without taking a few scenic detours along the way. It’s better that way, I think. Life isn't a straight line, so why should our thoughts be? kaže:
Of all the physical symptoms, the one that caught me completely off guard—and honestly, the one that’s been the biggest headache—is the nausea. I’m about 20 weeks along now, so I've hit that halfway mark, but the sickness hasn't really let up. It's just these ridiculous bouts of nausea triggered by smells. Not even every smell, mind you, just certain ones that hit me at the wrong time. It's incredibly irritating.😁

I try to steer clear of perfumes, deodorants, body washes, lotions, creams... even toothpaste. I usually just stick to some unscented shower gel, a basic baby oil, and a plain moisturizer for stretch marks. It’s better that way. Honestly, I can’t imagine being stuck on a Greyhound bus next to someone eating a massive deli sandwich or a heavy breakfast roll. Just thinking about those smells gives me a bit of an upset stomach.

I mean, I’ve had those moments where the mere thought of my toothbrush—just the smell of it, or even just seeing it sitting there by the sink after the tenth time—makes my stomach do a complete somersault. It’s that specific kind of nausea where you’re convinced you’re about to lose it right then and there. Honestly, though, looking back, maybe I didn't actually get sick as much as I thought I would. I think part of it was just because I was hyper-focused on all that clutter around the sink, trying to manage the mess, which probably kept me from actually losing my lunch.
I’m still—well, I probably shouldn't even bring this up—but I’ve been brushing my teeth with... It’s all about the kids. Everything we do, really. It feels like we spend half our lives just trying to figure out what’s best for them, doesn't it? Whether it's school supplies or just making sure they have enough energy to run around the neighborhood, it's a full-time job. Just an endless cycle of planning for their future. Makes you think about what kind of world we're actually leaving behind for them. Constant deliberation. That's the reality of it. I actually ended up convincing my dear old friend to join me for a round with the Kaladont set once upon a time. Just one of those things that happened. 🤣

I couldn't even bring myself to touch the hot food. It was honestly just stomach-turning. Even the hot drinks... yeah, total gag factor there too.
I ended up drinking some sparkling water, mostly because my stomach was actually behaving itself for once. I don’t usually go for the carbonated stuff—honestly, I can barely stand it more than a couple times a year—but every now and then, maybe a bottle of seltzer during the week if I'm feeling it. It just felt right in the moment.

So, I finally gave up the coffee thing after about two years. Once I found out I was pregnant, even just the smell of it started making me feel pretty nauseous, you know? It’s funny how that works. 🙄

I completely blanked. Just... gone. Total mental fog. Fabric softeners. It’s funny how we just accept them as a staple in the laundry room, isn't it? You go to Target or Walmart, grab a big jug of whatever scented stuff is on sale, and toss it in with the wash. We’ve been conditioned to think that "soft" equals "clean," but I’ve always had this nagging feeling that we might be overcomplicating things. I was reading about how these chemicals actually coat the fibers of our clothes—kind of like putting a thin layer of wax on a car—just to make them feel smoother against the skin. It works, sure. Your towels come out fluffy, and everything smells like a field of lavender in the Midwest. But then you start thinking about the buildup. You know that weird, waxy residue that starts to accumulate on towels after a few months? That’s the softener doing its job a little too well. I’ve been experimenting with skipping the liquid stuff entirely lately. Honestly, some of the scents they use are just... intense. A bit much for someone who prefers a more neutral home vibe. I tried using a bit of white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead. It sounds like some old-fashioned housewife trick, but it actually works remarkably well at cutting through soap scum without leaving that heavy chemical film behind. Plus, once the clothes dry, the vinegar smell is completely gone. It’s one of those small, domestic pivots that makes you realize how many products we use simply because they're there on the shelf. Not everything needs a fancy, brightly colored bottle to be effective. Sometimes, the simplest route is the most sensible one. Just a thought.It’s just not the same anymore. Honestly, whenever I’m doing the laundry, there’s this lingering sense that things have changed. I even had to tell my mom to stay far away from the washing machine for a while—told her straight up, don't you dare buy that specific brand again, even after you've had kids. I'm done with it. It’s officially blacklisted in my house. There were those times, too... a couple of instances where the smell was just revolting. Even when the clothes were clean and hanging out to dry in the middle of a hot July afternoon, that scent would hit me, and I'd feel physically sick. Just completely nauseating.

I tend to just... shield my nose with my hand whenever I'm walking past someone smoking outside, or if there's just some really intense smell lingering in the air. It's a habit. Just a quick little gesture to block it out.

As for the mental health side of things:

I don't know... I honestly can't quite put my finger on why I’ve been feeling this way. It’s just... everything. I find myself getting overwhelmed by the smallest, most insignificant things lately. I’ll be sitting there, minding my own business, and then suddenly I'm just breaking down in tears over something totally trivial. It feels almost unbelievable how easily it happens. Just constant, heavy sadness triggered by every little thing. It's a lot.

I’m really not exactly the "glowing, overjoyed pregnant woman" type right now, and honestly, the guilt is starting to eat at me. I have a hundred other things on my plate that need addressing, and sometimes it feels like the people around me just don't get it. To be perfectly blunt—the baby wasn't exactly planned for this specific moment. We were aiming for a few months down the road, and even in my wildest dreams, I never imagined we’d actually succeed on the first try. So, I don't feel bad about the timing. What I do feel bad about is that I can't seem to find that sense of happiness or relaxation. I just want to be better—for myself, and for the baby.

I’m sure I’ll think of something else soon enough. Give me a moment.

The physical symptoms are basically identical to mine. I don't have much of an issue with hot food or drinks, though. That’s not my struggle. For me, it’s constant nausea—just about everything triggers it. And those fabric softeners? They smell absolutely revolting to me. Like something's gone terribly wrong.

Yeah, I used to scream at my brother constantly whenever he showered and put on deodorant that smelled too strong. 🤣
When he was just sweaty, I didn't care one bit. 😁

Roger Rodriguez said:Those patches completely wrecked my hormones; I gained 30 pounds in just six months, and I dealt with constant allergic reactions at the application site, even though I switched spots every single week.🤷Even now, years later, I still have scars on my arms (where I gripped them most tightly because they kept peeling off my stomach) from those rashes that were so itchy I ended up scratching myself bloody.🙂
On the flip side, a close friend of mine has used them for five years straight without a single issue.🤷

By the way, those synthetic scents always made me feel nauseous too, especially that cloud of cologne my boyfriend sprays around the apartment in the morning; I’m honestly surprised I haven't thrown all his fragrances out the window yet.

Right now, I am beyond frustrated because I actually had an accident in my pants right in the middle of the street. It was pouring rain, so maybe people thought I just sat in a puddle, but it wasn't pretty—I spent fifteen minutes hobbling along trying to find a restroom, only to end up losing it like I'd swallowed a gallon of water just five minutes before reaching my apartment.☕
And for three days, I've been worrying about this stomach ache, terrified that I'd start dealing with massive bloating today. Well, here we are; I feel like if I lit a match, I might blow up the entire apartment building. It feels like I've spent the last week eating nothing but heavy greasy fast food, and now it's all making its exit. I have never experienced anything quite this intense. I woke up in the middle of the night to such a stench that I nearly hallucinated; I genuinely thought I was stuck in a barn next to fifteen horses and cows. This is going to be the death of me!🙂

Seriously, props to you for putting up with him wandering around the place with all those smells. I limited everything for my guy; God, I didn't even forbid him from washing, but he could only use water, and he absolutely had to "air out" before he could even come near me.
I mean, look, if I have to suffer, he should have to deal with it too. It's not like I became pregnant by some stroke of divine grace.

Anyway, I totally get what you mean about the food. If I eat something that causes gas or if I can't make it to the bathroom properly for a few days, I end up with these absolute boulders inside me, though they haven't woken me up in the middle of the night quite like yours did.
That's why my honey says he needs to wear a gas mask whenever he's near me.

Jeremy Morris2 said:Harold Miller, honestly, you can't really complain about being pregnant if you're the one who made it happen, right? 🙄 It feels like everyone riding the subway just assumes pregnancy is some huge personal vendetta against them, like we're all just trying to force them off their couches 🙂

Ever since I hit week seven, the mere thought of food makes me want to gag, let alone actually stand over a stove. Between my nose being constantly stuffed up, I’m basically forcing myself to swallow a few bites just to survive, and that’s about as much "cooking" as I can handle.

And then there's those comments from people who know my husband is doing the cooking, acting like he’s some kind of martyr—you know, saying things like "Oh, he's such an angel" or "Poor guy." 🙂 Seriously, it’s like they think men are somehow incapable of making a meal, and if they actually step up to help, they suddenly deserve a sainthood? Like, are we talking about Saint Joseph here? 😕

Just to circle back to this: "Poor guy."
That's exactly what they said to me when I mentioned that my husband has to brush his teeth with a toddler's toothbrush because I'm so nauseous I can't even stand to be close to him. And since he smokes, I have to push him to brush even more often because I can't handle being near him with that smell either.
What kind of pathetic excuse would he even make? He’s not going to just die and get out of it, that's why I'm saying this.
If I can deal with this bullshit, then he can sure as hell handle it too. And honestly? He's just as much to blame for all this as I am for being pregnant.

And yeah, that nasty, bitter aftertaste you get in your mouth after eating? It was constant.

It’s not happening nearly as much lately, but every once in a while, it still hits me.
Honestly, it was driving me absolutely insane. Plus, the constant buildup of saliva... just gross.
I guess there was one upside, though—it served as a little warning sign that a burp was coming. 😁

Roger Rodriguez said:Those patches completely wrecked my hormones; I gained 30 pounds in just six months, and I dealt with constant allergic reactions at the application site, even though I switched spots every single week.🤷Even now, years later, I still have scars on my arms (where I gripped them most tightly because they kept peeling off my stomach) from those rashes that were so itchy I ended up scratching myself bloody.🙂
On the flip side, a close friend of mine has used them for five years straight without a single issue.🤷

By the way, those synthetic scents always made me feel nauseous too, especially that cloud of cologne my boyfriend sprays around the apartment in the morning; I’m honestly surprised I haven't thrown all his fragrances out the window yet.

Right now, I am beyond frustrated because I actually had an accident in my pants right in the middle of the street. It was pouring rain, so maybe people thought I just sat in a puddle, but it wasn't pretty—I spent fifteen minutes hobbling along trying to find a restroom, only to end up losing it like I'd swallowed a gallon of water just five minutes before reaching my apartment.☕
And for three days, I've been worrying about this stomach ache, terrified that I'd start dealing with massive bloating today. Well, here we are; I feel like if I lit a match, I might blow up the entire apartment building. It feels like I've spent the last week eating nothing but heavy greasy fast food, and now it's all making its exit. I have never experienced anything quite this intense. I woke up in the middle of the night to such a stench that I nearly hallucinated; I genuinely thought I was stuck in a barn next to fifteen horses and cows. This is going to be the death of me!🙂

Roger Rodriguez, you're a legend. 😂😂😂
I deal with bloating, but nothing actually comes out. 😢
That's even worse; those pains are unbearable.

Roger Rodriguez said:Those patches completely wrecked my hormones; I gained 30 pounds in just six months, and I dealt with constant allergic reactions at the application site, even though I switched spots every single week.🤷Even now, years later, I still have scars on my arms (where I gripped them most tightly because they kept peeling off my stomach) from those rashes that were so itchy I ended up scratching myself bloody.🙂
On the flip side, a close friend of mine has used them for five years straight without a single issue.🤷

By the way, those synthetic scents always made me feel nauseous too, especially that cloud of cologne my boyfriend sprays around the apartment in the morning; I’m honestly surprised I haven't thrown all his fragrances out the window yet.

Right now, I am beyond frustrated because I actually had an accident in my pants right in the middle of the street. It was pouring rain, so maybe people thought I just sat in a puddle, but it wasn't pretty—I spent fifteen minutes hobbling along trying to find a restroom, only to end up losing it like I'd swallowed a gallon of water just five minutes before reaching my apartment.☕
And for three days, I've been worrying about this stomach ache, terrified that I'd start dealing with massive bloating today. Well, here we are; I feel like if I lit a match, I might blow up the entire apartment building. It feels like I've spent the last week eating nothing but heavy greasy fast food, and now it's all making its exit. I have never experienced anything quite this intense. I woke up in the middle of the night to such a stench that I nearly hallucinated; I genuinely thought I was stuck in a barn next to fifteen horses and cows. This is going to be the death of me!🙂

🤣🤣🤣
bogatisusa 🤣

God, I feel like such an idiot, sitting here while my coworkers keep giving me these weird looks like something is wrong 😬

Keep typing, just keep it coming, more 🍿

Honestly, stories like these should probably just be printed out and turned into a book 🤣

As far as the gas situation goes, after that first trimester passed, I wasn't really a threat to the public anymore, nor was I having any accidents in my pants.

But listen to this, because life just keeps throwing curveballs:
-There was that one morning where I actually showed up to work wearing my fuzzy house slippers instead of shoes.😳
-And then there was the time I ended up getting sick right in front of the Whole Foods. Someone had smashed a bottle of wine, and the staff started cleaning it up with those super pungent industrial detergents. I just dropped everything right there at the checkout counter and bolted for the exit, feeling totally nauseous.🤮

ironpuma78 said:👍

Back to the topic: suddenly a bunch of nosy, incredibly primitive assholes have shown up, reacting in the dumbest ways possible to the news that we're expecting another (actually our second) girl. A girl that all three of us (plus family) are beyond excited about.😍

The reactions clearly stem from the assumption that we were specifically trying for a boy, or that gender is even a priority in how we approach having kids.
We've heard it all, from: "Well, you can always have more" to: "As long as they're healthy..."—just a mountain of similar nonsense. My favorite was being told that my husband is definitely going to go wild trying for an heir now (as if there's anything he could leave behind that our girls won't, and maybe they don't realize you can keep a maiden name these days anyway)🤷

I don't know, my first instinct is purely destructive, but since arguing with idiots is pointless, I usually just stick to: "But we were REALLY rooting for a girl. We wouldn't have wanted a son at all."

That's the only language people with zero intellect actually understand.☕

I'm just saying: Oh sure, we'll go for a third, fourth, or fifth kid, right up until we finally get a son. 😁
And Harold Miller has an even better one—since he's kind of on the shorter side, he says he'll just wait until he grows enough to finally make a son. 🤣

During this pregnancy, I keep hearing these stories about how doctors told some random stranger their entire pregnancy that it was a girl, only to be shocked when a boy showed up... or the reverse where they said boy and a girl arrived.
The point of those stories is... well, guess what... that apparently, nobody knows anything for sure and it could still be a boy. 😬

Peter Turner6 said:😂😂😂😂😂😂

Now you know why the scale keeps going up. It's just water weight and gas 🤣
That stuff makes me so uncomfortable too 🙂

Honestly, those gases have to be at least four pounds; there's no way it's less than that!😵

Roger Wright45 said:Yeah, I used to scream at my brother constantly whenever he showered and put on deodorant that smelled too strong. 🤣
When he was just sweaty, I didn't care one bit. 😁

Seriously, props to you for putting up with him wandering around the place with all those smells. I limited everything for my guy; God, I didn't even forbid him from washing, but he could only use water, and he absolutely had to "air out" before he could even come near me.
I mean, look, if I have to suffer, he should have to deal with it too. It's not like I became pregnant by some stroke of divine grace.

Anyway, I totally get what you mean about the food. If I eat something that causes gas or if I can't make it to the bathroom properly for a few days, I end up with these absolute boulders inside me, though they haven't woken me up in the middle of the night quite like yours did.
That's why my honey says he needs to wear a gas mask whenever he's near me.

Just to circle back to this: "Poor guy."
That's exactly what they said to me when I mentioned that my husband has to brush his teeth with a toddler's toothbrush because I'm so nauseous I can't even stand to be close to him. And since he smokes, I have to push him to brush even more often because I can't handle being near him with that smell either.
What kind of pathetic excuse would he even make? He’s not going to just die and get out of it, that's why I'm saying this.
If I can deal with this bullshit, then he can sure as hell handle it too. And honestly? He's just as much to blame for all this as I am for being pregnant.

It didn't bother me much during the day, but since he has this habit of cuddling and kissing me in the morning before work, that awful scent would wake me up, and I couldn't fall back asleep because of the nausea. He was looking green in the face heading out to work today because of my gas! 🤣
This is the first time anything like this has happened to me, and I still don't quite understand how or why. 🤷

Jesse Johnson15 said:🤣🤣🤣
bogatisusa 🤣

God, I feel like such an idiot, sitting here while my coworkers keep giving me these weird looks like something is wrong 😬

Keep typing, just keep it coming, more 🍿

Honestly, stories like these should probably just be printed out and turned into a book 🤣

As far as the gas situation goes, after that first trimester passed, I wasn't really a threat to the public anymore, nor was I having any accidents in my pants.

But listen to this, because life just keeps throwing curveballs:
-There was that one morning where I actually showed up to work wearing my fuzzy house slippers instead of shoes.😳
-And then there was the time I ended up getting sick right in front of the Whole Foods. Someone had smashed a bottle of wine, and the staff started cleaning it up with those super pungent industrial detergents. I just dropped everything right there at the checkout counter and bolted for the exit, feeling totally nauseous.🤮

What can I say? I'm still totally dazed.😢I’m just hoping the worst of the chaos is behind us, though the trauma definitely lingers. Honestly, I'm a little terrified to even close my eyes tonight.
No, it was truly horrific. It’s nearly impossible to put into words unless you’ve lived through something similar. Do you know what it feels like to wake up in the middle of the night in pitch darkness, surrounded by such a nauseating stench that I actually had to check if my boyfriend was still breathing? He wasn't even snoring; I'm convinced he was barely pulling in enough air to stay alive. First, I thought maybe the dog had an accident right next to the bed, because I simply couldn't believe a human body could produce something that intense. 🤷
The morning was just as grim. I felt like I was trying to run away from myself, even though there's nowhere to go—it was pure hell. 😱
I just hope I don't have a breakdown tomorrow during my appointment. I think I might actually make my doctor burst into tears if I lose it in her office.

Sandra Allen3 said:I'm just saying: Oh sure, we'll go for a third, fourth, or fifth kid, right up until we finally get a son. 😁
And Harold Miller has an even better one—since he's kind of on the shorter side, he says he'll just wait until he grows enough to finally make a son. 🤣

During this pregnancy, I keep hearing these stories about how doctors told some random stranger their entire pregnancy that it was a girl, only to be shocked when a boy showed up... or the reverse where they said boy and a girl arrived.
The point of those stories is... well, guess what... that apparently, nobody knows anything for sure and it could still be a boy. 😬

It’s funny because my mother-in-law used to be such a pain about us not having kids yet, always asking when we were going to start or saying she was just waiting for my son's child so she could finally pass away in peace...and now, here I am, right before giving birth, and suddenly she's all talk about having a second child so she can finally have an "heir" (even though I'm carrying a little girl)🙂
get this—she said *she* would😠
man, people are never actually satisfied, seriously🙄

Haha, you guys are crazy, I swear 🤣
(SC & Jesse Johnson15 😍)

driftingcrane83 said:Haha, you guys are crazy, I swear 🤣
(SC & Jesse Johnson15 😍)

come on 🙂 get some sun, I know you've got 😬

It’s been a few years since I went through pregnancy... but man, the memory of Mrs. Hyde is still vivid as hell... My niece, who was just a kid back then, described me perfectly: "Auntie, just have a baby already... you're actually insane" :-D
"Love you, Auntie" 😍
And let me tell you, the doctors over at Mayo Clinic's maternity ward definitely haven't forgotten me anytime soon... I think one poor intern actually tried to hide behind a curtain to get away from me, haha

Here is what drives me crazy:

1. When I was pregnant, my husband started policing everything I read about online. Sure, he'd ban coffee, cigarettes, or alcohol—I get that. But when he told me I couldn't drink regular milk and had to stick to raw milk straight from the farm? I lost it.

2. Everyone tries to tell me what to do and how to act, even people who have never even been parents, as if I don't have a brain.

3. It feels like everyone treats me like some terminal patient on their deathbed.

It honestly drives me insane how much people nag constantly. My mom keeps breathing down my neck—and look, I get that my grandma is worried, but I know my own limits better than anyone else does. She acts like I’m going on a hunger strike or something, which is ridiculous because I am definitely not some stick figure 😁!
And don't even get me started on the "eat for two" comments. Every time someone says that to me, I lose it. It makes my skin crawl.
I eat exactly what I need to eat, period.
Would any of you lot rather take on all those extra pounds yourselves instead of trying to force them onto me?? 🙂

Oh, and just to make things worse, I ended up having to throw up outside in a little bag on a park bench. And there were cars driving right past me.
I had to go get blood work done, too. That morning at home, before I even left, the first thing that came up was just yellow bile and saliva.
Then, once I got on the bus, some guy's overwhelming smell of perfume and cigarettes absolutely wrecked me. I was literally breathing through my nose like a maniac, terrified to even open my mouth because I felt like I was going to vomit right there on the floor. 😢

Superman, oh man, I’ve been losing it for at least ten minutes now 😂😂

It’s been ages since I’ve actually laughed this hard... truly from the heart 👍
I know you aren't finding this funny 🙂 but the rest of us are having a blast