What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Some guy from work tried to get touchy-feely with me today, but I backed off. 🙂 Making progress! That kind of stuff is strictly private—just for my man and my kids.

My own people don't say a word, yet I'm getting picked on by complete strangers. Like this waitress at my local coffee shop where I’m basically a regular. Seriously, what is that about?
I suppose I'll just let it slide, though, since it clearly gives her some sort of kick out of it, so I'll just take it on the chin.

~~~Stay positive~~~

Not much has happened yet, but my own husband just completely threw me off... I honestly felt like throwing him out the window.
Since the baby is coming, he wants all the cats—including my Biba van—out of the house because he doesn't want any pet hair around the newborn.🙂
I’m seriously considering a divorce. If this keeps up, I’ll be the only one vacuuming while he refuses to clean up after them.🙂🙂😳

My due date is just six days away now, and looking back at everything, I’m surprisingly level-headed about the whole thing. There have been plenty of little grievances along the way (which I’ve definitely vented about here), but honestly, even having acquaintances touch my belly didn't bother me nearly as much as when my own mother tries to do it :ups:. It feels strangely irritating and just... forced, I guess.
Yesterday, though, my husband and I were hit with a sudden spike in blood pressure because my mom decided to ask if we actually had a "connection" with our doctors at the hospital. Like, what? Since when do you need a personal bond with medical staff just to give birth? Of course, she keeps drawing these endless parallels to her own pregnancy from thirty years ago—apparently, her doctor gave her some sort of injection that cut two hours off her labor. Right... maybe she just got a standard saline shot and is acting like she’s an expert now. It’s just wonderful when your own mother starts fueling your paranoia by suggesting doctors might screw things up right before you go into labor. Thanks, Mom! 🙄

My due date is just 10 days away.

I have to admit, I expected to be much more annoyed by things, but looking back, there are really only two specific situations that truly threw me off—and honestly, I’m still feeling them.

First off, my mother-in-law kept trying to kiss my belly every single time she saw me. She only did it twice before I finally had to tell her that she can kiss the baby once they're actually born, so she stopped.
Generally speaking, I'm not a huge fan of people touching my stomach, though it didn't bother me all that much; most people were actually quite respectful and asked for permission first.

The second thing—and this has been happening lately—is that everyone starts with, "So, when's the big day?" Once I answer, it immediately follows up with, "Are you dilated yet?" 🤦 I mean, seriously? They might as well just ask me to strip down so they can check for themselves. Forgive my language, but that is what genuinely rattles me. I don't understand how people think that is acceptable. I might discuss something like that with a close friend or my mom, but with an acquaintance I run into at the grocery store...
I'm not sure if any of you have dealt with this or how you handle it, but personally, I feel like that is deeply private information and shouldn't be a topic of casual conversation. It's definitely one of those things that left a bad taste in my mouth.

In this pregnancy—honestly, I’ve already lost track of what happened during my last one—the thing that actually sent my blood pressure through the roof wasn't the hormones, it was my own mother.
I finally sit her down to tell her the news, and her first response is just, "Oh, really? Was this actually planned?"
(At that moment, I could practically see stars dancing before my eyes...) I just snapped, "Of course it was planned!!"
And she just shrugs and goes, "Alright then..."

🙂

I really need to jump in on what Tika said here...

It’s not even the belly touching that bothers me—I actually don't mind that part—but just like you mentioned, it’s my mom that gets to me. When she starts poking at my stomach, it's such aggressive tapping that I honestly start worrying about what's going to happen once the baby is actually born 😁
I felt too awkward to say anything, though. Since the baby is everyone's grandchild, I figured it was better to just stay quiet rather than start an unnecessary argument right now, especially when I have enough on my plate as it is...

My due date is November 22nd, and honestly, the most frustrating thing has been the sheer lack of manners from people lately. You see someone who is clearly, visibly pregnant, and instead of being respectful or letting you go ahead of them, they'll actually race you to the register at Target just to cut in line

And then there's the judgment whenever I pick something out for the little one. People act like, "Oh, why would you need that? Someone else will bring it to you." Okay, fine—I guess I'll just wait two months for someone to show up at my house and buy me exactly what I actually need... whatever...

On top of all that, I woke up this morning and just cried my eyes out like it was a monsoon. I've been up since 6 AM because my hands were so swollen and numb I couldn't sleep at all. My husband and I ended up having to rush to the jeweler just so they could cut my wedding ring off my finger... *sniff*... at least the engagement ring stayed on intact...

Betty Davis93 said:I really need to jump in on what Tika said here...

It’s not even the belly touching that bothers me—I actually don't mind that part—but just like you mentioned, it’s my mom that gets to me. When she starts poking at my stomach, it's such aggressive tapping that I honestly start worrying about what's going to happen once the baby is actually born 😁
I felt too awkward to say anything, though. Since the baby is everyone's grandchild, I figured it was better to just stay quiet rather than start an unnecessary argument right now, especially when I have enough on my plate as it is...

My due date is November 22nd, and honestly, the most frustrating thing has been the sheer lack of manners from people lately. You see someone who is clearly, visibly pregnant, and instead of being respectful or letting you go ahead of them, they'll actually race you to the register at Target just to cut in line

And then there's the judgment whenever I pick something out for the little one. People act like, "Oh, why would you need that? Someone else will bring it to you." Okay, fine—I guess I'll just wait two months for someone to show up at my house and buy me exactly what I actually need... whatever...

On top of all that, I woke up this morning and just cried my eyes out like it was a monsoon. I've been up since 6 AM because my hands were so swollen and numb I couldn't sleep at all. My husband and I ended up having to rush to the jeweler just so they could cut my wedding ring off my finger... *sniff*... at least the engagement ring stayed on intact...

Oh, and one more thing! It's just like 🙂

I had a woman nearly run me over with her stroller because she was rushing so hard to beat me to the register—and I have a massive bump, so there was no mistaking the situation.

Since the beginning, I’ve just been staying home and recovering, seeing mostly my immediate family, and honestly, thank God they aren't getting on my nerves. They love to rub my belly, which doesn't really bother me, though I sometimes worry I'm being a nuisance by constantly showing everyone how much the little one is kicking. But if some stranger suddenly tried to touch me? I think I’d instinctively flinch back and ask them to please hands off.

wanderingheron4, I actually choked on the phrase "well, you're already open"!! Seriously, you just want to snap back like: "Oh, so you guys wanna take a look too??" 😵

Regarding appointments, I think from now on I'm going to give people a bit more info when they ask. Just so when I'm getting close to my due date, I don't get hit with a million "when is the baby coming?" questions.

And then today, while I was paying for parking, this younger girl just swerves in out of nowhere—total sliding start—and cuts right in front of me (even though everyone else was waiting their turn like decent human beings). She vanished as quickly as she appeared once I told her to go to the end of the line. Honestly, I probably would've done that anyway. I don't know if I'm just being naive or if I expected a little more respect for pregnant women.

p.s. Those horror stories about childbirth that nobody asked to hear... I love browsing the birth story threads on the forum; I read them and just melt because they're so sweet, but that's *my* choice to read. I just don't get these random people jumping in with their trauma.

Honestly, I’ve reached a point where nothing surprises me anymore. At first, I thought people just couldn't tell I was pregnant—that's why they’d rush past me or elbow their way through—but now that I’m at 31 weeks, I’m still dealing with the same lack of basic decency on the NYC subway. Luckily, I don't rely on it every single day, but every time I do, I'm just floored by how rude and oblivious people can be.
I’m not even asking for a standing ovation, but not once has anyone actually offered me a seat. Not even when I was lugging around a travel bag and my laptop. I stand there, minding my own business in the crowd like everyone else. It’s not just that nobody offers a seat—people actually shove right past me just to race toward an empty one.😲
And then there’s the shoving while boarding the train. Usually, I prefer entering from the back because I can't stand the frantic pushing, but now I enter last just to stay safe. Some rude women will just wedge themselves in and push me aside as I'm trying to get on.
I can almost excuse the teenagers—they're living in their own little world, probably exhausted from sitting around all day, plus they haven't learned manners yet—but middle-aged adults have absolutely zero excuse for being this inconsiderate.

On another note, the constant commentary about my pregnancy is getting old. Fine, maybe in a small circle of friends, but at work? When we're all gathered during a break, it feels awkward when the interrogation starts. Look, I enjoy talking about it, but I don't initiate those conversations because I don't want to be pushy—I know some people aren't particularly interested in my business. Especially the men. 😁

And I am really not a fan of the belly rubbing. At all. Only my boyfriend is allowed to do that. If anyone else tries, I make sure to politely shut it down.

People trying to rub my belly... I reflexively pull away every single time, because honestly, I don't want anyone touching me unless it’s my husband or the little one.
It’s the constant commentary that really gets under my skin, you know? Like, "Oh, your bump is too small," or "Your bump is too big," or "You haven't even gained weight!" or "Anne is just as pregnant as you are, but her belly is half the size of yours!" It’s endless. Everyone thinks they’re an expert on my body, and everyone has some different, unsolicited opinion on how I should look.
But if you want to know what truly drives me up the wall, it’s the unsolicited advice. During the summer, people were practically hounding me because I wanted to go for a swim... then they’d tell me I was moving around too much, or that I needed to stay in bed, or that I had to dress more conservatively so I wouldn't catch some random infection.

Some people seriously need to get help, I swear.

-Eat more!
-How much are you actually eating?
-Your belly looks pretty big already...
-Maybe you should check your blood sugar levels just in case?!
-Don't eat that... please don't drink that.
-I had such a tiny bump back then; I was already on maternity leave by my fourth month, yet here you are at six months and still working hard.
-You should dress a bit warmer (even in the middle of summer 😲)
-I remember chatting with a coworker about pregnancy once, specifically about how sore my breasts were and those intense monthly cramps... 🙂
-The absolute worst moment was when an older colleague went to our manager and suggested they hire her daughter instead of me—just because I’m pregnant and they needed someone to fill my spot while I'm out on leave. I was right at the point where I expected a permanent contract offer! I honestly can't believe someone would think of that. To go against someone you work with like that... I get that she wants better for her daughter, but man, I'm pregnant and navigating this without a partner, and she's basically trying to engineer my exit. It's hard to wrap my head around how anyone could be that cruel and wish ill on someone just so their own kin can get ahead.

I never had any issues with people being affectionate toward my bump; one of my coworkers used to rub my belly all the time.
As for public transit, I’ve actually had quite a few positive experiences. On the bus, I find that the teenagers are usually the ones who jump up to give me a seat more often than the older folks or people in their 30s and 40s.
The only truly awful experience I had was on a crowded bus when a soldier standing next to me tapped a woman in her 40s on the shoulder, asking her to let me sit down since I'm pregnant and carrying grocery bags. She just snapped back at him, "It's not my fault she spread her legs." That was absolutely disgusting.
I haven't had to wait in a line since my bump started showing. I can't even remember the last time I stood in a queue.
Since my job requires me to run errands at places like Chase or Starbucks or the local Post Office, people almost always let me go ahead of everyone else. Or, at the very least, they make sure there's a chair available for me to sit in.

Quincy

Jeremy Kern said:I'd say some people definitely see it that way too.

It actually caught me off guard when someone just stared straight at my stomach, practically measuring it with their eyes—zero discretion. I can tell from across a room if someone is looking at me while I'm chatting with a guy or whoever else, but honestly? I've looked at pregnant women before, but never like *that*. Not like I'd never seen a human body before.🤷

Good grief, they do that constantly back in my hometown! 🤦 The other day, my mom and I were out for a stroll when we ran into this old lady standing right outside the grocery store, just staring intensely at my stomach like she’d never encountered a pregnant woman in her entire life. If my mom hadn't given me a little nudge to hurry things along, that woman would have heard every single thought running through my head. Honestly, that kind of blatant staring has always rubbed me the wrong way, but now that my bump is getting impossible to hide, it’s becoming a constant source of irritation. 🙂

Quincy

Betty Davis93 said:I really need to jump in on what Tika said here...

It’s not even the belly touching that bothers me—I actually don't mind that part—but just like you mentioned, it’s my mom that gets to me. When she starts poking at my stomach, it's such aggressive tapping that I honestly start worrying about what's going to happen once the baby is actually born 😁
I felt too awkward to say anything, though. Since the baby is everyone's grandchild, I figured it was better to just stay quiet rather than start an unnecessary argument right now, especially when I have enough on my plate as it is...

My due date is November 22nd, and honestly, the most frustrating thing has been the sheer lack of manners from people lately. You see someone who is clearly, visibly pregnant, and instead of being respectful or letting you go ahead of them, they'll actually race you to the register at Target just to cut in line

And then there's the judgment whenever I pick something out for the little one. People act like, "Oh, why would you need that? Someone else will bring it to you." Okay, fine—I guess I'll just wait two months for someone to show up at my house and buy me exactly what I actually need... whatever...

On top of all that, I woke up this morning and just cried my eyes out like it was a monsoon. I've been up since 6 AM because my hands were so swollen and numb I couldn't sleep at all. My husband and I ended up having to rush to the jeweler just so they could cut my wedding ring off my finger... *sniff*... at least the engagement ring stayed on intact...

It’s the same old story every single time. Whenever I express even the slightest interest in buying something, I get hit with that predictable lecture—"Oh, don't bother," "Why do you need that?" or the classic, "Someone will just bring you one when they visit." Honestly, just let me live. If I decide I want to buy something, then I’m going to buy it, plain and simple. If someone happens to bring me one later, fine, I’ll take it; if they don't, it doesn't matter because I already have mine!

Quincy

Charles Reyes3 said:-Eat more!
-How much are you actually eating?
-Your belly looks pretty big already...
-Maybe you should check your blood sugar levels just in case?!
-Don't eat that... please don't drink that.
-I had such a tiny bump back then; I was already on maternity leave by my fourth month, yet here you are at six months and still working hard.
-You should dress a bit warmer (even in the middle of summer 😲)
-I remember chatting with a coworker about pregnancy once, specifically about how sore my breasts were and those intense monthly cramps... 🙂
-The absolute worst moment was when an older colleague went to our manager and suggested they hire her daughter instead of me—just because I’m pregnant and they needed someone to fill my spot while I'm out on leave. I was right at the point where I expected a permanent contract offer! I honestly can't believe someone would think of that. To go against someone you work with like that... I get that she wants better for her daughter, but man, I'm pregnant and navigating this without a partner, and she's basically trying to engineer my exit. It's hard to wrap my head around how anyone could be that cruel and wish ill on someone just so their own kin can get ahead.

I never had any issues with people being affectionate toward my bump; one of my coworkers used to rub my belly all the time.
As for public transit, I’ve actually had quite a few positive experiences. On the bus, I find that the teenagers are usually the ones who jump up to give me a seat more often than the older folks or people in their 30s and 40s.
The only truly awful experience I had was on a crowded bus when a soldier standing next to me tapped a woman in her 40s on the shoulder, asking her to let me sit down since I'm pregnant and carrying grocery bags. She just snapped back at him, "It's not my fault she spread her legs." That was absolutely disgusting.
I haven't had to wait in a line since my bump started showing. I can't even remember the last time I stood in a queue.
Since my job requires me to run errands at places like Chase or Starbucks or the local Post Office, people almost always let me go ahead of everyone else. Or, at the very least, they make sure there's a chair available for me to sit in.

It’s always those first two people who start in on you—it's constant. But honestly, nothing gets under my skin quite like when they start commenting on how much I'm eating, especially since I'm barely even eating properly. I haven't had a massive meal since I found out I was pregnant, and I don't exactly have these wild, specific cravings either... I just eat normally. But the moment someone walks through the door and starts nitpicking my plate, it completely ruins my appetite. Everything just turns sour.

And as for that belly size—it’s always the same story whenever my dad’s aunt drops by. She shows up once or twice a week, and every single time it's the same dramatic routine: "Oh my goodness, look at you, your stomach is getting bigger every single day!" Honestly, who cares? So what if it is! It’s just like how your hair turns gray every morning when you wake up; I’m certainly not going to waste my breath pointing that out to you.

And this is exactly what happens at work... just awful. My situation wasn't identical, but it was close enough to feel just as toxic. It wasn't that she was trying to baby me, per se, but she started acting like such a martyr every single time she stepped foot into the office. She basically forced me into working an entirely different shift just to accommodate her, because apparently, since she’s a woman who works from home, she absolutely needs her afternoons free—as if I don't have a life of my own, or anything! To make matters worse, before I even had the chance to tell the boss about my pregnancy, she was constantly hovering over me with these grim warnings, saying things like, "Oh, he’s definitely going to fire you; you better start preparing for that." And then, when she heard that the guy from the other department had left, she didn't offer any sympathy; instead, she just told me to go ahead and throw it all away, implying I was just going to ruin my entire life by having a child. It’s honestly exhausting.

Honestly, it drives me absolutely insane when my in-laws keep lecturing me about how I’m wasting money on baby gear and all this little stuff... they act like we’re just going to magically have everything ready the second the kid arrives. Like, yeah, right.
So, what am I supposed to do until then? Just conjure her out of thin air using some kind of magic trick? 🙂

Jerry Hughes74 said:Honestly, it drives me absolutely insane when my in-laws keep lecturing me about how I’m wasting money on baby gear and all this little stuff... they act like we’re just going to magically have everything ready the second the kid arrives. Like, yeah, right.
So, what am I supposed to do until then? Just conjure her out of thin air using some kind of magic trick? 🙂

🤣
It’s always the same meddling—questioning who’s buying what, why, or if it's even necessary.
Good grief, my folks are just starting with this nonsense. 🤦
People can be incredibly exhausting!

The best advice I can give you is to guard your peace. And no, before you ask, I’m not going skydiving or looking to pick up any habits; I'm perfectly fine as I am.🙂

Honestly, throughout my whole pregnancy, nothing really got under my skin—not even the constant belly touching, which I totally thought would drive me crazy, but it didn't.
But now that I’m hitting the home stretch and the due date is looming, all these daily comments from people have started to grate on my nerves: "When is it happening?", "Not yet?", "How are you feeling?", "We can't wait!", "Come on, hurry up!" 🙂🙂
Look, folks, it's not like I'm the one calling the shots here!! Just let me breathe—it'll happen when we head to the hospital and things actually start moving.

Jerry Hughes74 said:Honestly, it drives me absolutely insane when my in-laws keep lecturing me about how I’m wasting money on baby gear and all this little stuff... they act like we’re just going to magically have everything ready the second the kid arrives. Like, yeah, right.
So, what am I supposed to do until then? Just conjure her out of thin air using some kind of magic trick? 🙂

My situation is the total opposite—she’s got major shopping fever and wants to buy every single thing in sight! No matter how much I explain that a newborn doesn't need a designer onesie from $57... she finally gets it, but man, she’s been hitting up Target so hard lately that I’m worried there won't be anything left for my own kid 😠

I’ve been telling everyone they really need to rein in the baby gear shopping, because honestly, if things keep going this way, I won't be buying anything at all for my kid. When I mentioned that we had already picked up one little outfit for the trip home from the hospital, my mother-in-law just gave me this incredibly sarcastic look and said, "Well, I'm sure the kid will remember exactly which clothes Mom and Dad bought him." 🙄
Then there was my father's wife, who clearly felt the need to make a grand statement by dropping a small fortune over at Pottery Barn. Among the other things, she insisted on buying this (absolutely stunning) tiny little outfit in size 44—which, quite frankly, I can only imagine dressing a teddy bear in. 😢The kid is already pushing size 56...

Please don't let things like this get under your skin... the fact that people are buying these items just shows they're genuinely excited about the baby's arrival and that they actually care, which honestly can't be a bad thing at all. In fact, I think it's quite lovely. 🙂

First off, doctors. They’re basically useless. Honestly, I have to be my own doctor at this point. I have to research everything myself beforehand—if they recommend something, I’m triple-checking it. There’s zero personalized care; it’s like they don't even realize one pregnant woman isn't just some generic case.
Everyone is just going through the motions like they're being held at gunpoint—totally mindless, just acting like robots.

Now, private doctors are usually okay (mine is actually super sweet and reasonable), but even there, you run into absolute morons. Like, I've dealt with a guy who just yells at women—probably because he thinks we're all just mindless idiots and he's the only genius in the room.

The whole attitude from doctors regarding how they handle info is just... wow. It's like, "Look, I'm paying you, but you're way too important and stressed out to actually answer my questions."

2. People judging me for having a dog. And honestly, the weirdest part is the comments coming from other women—some a few years older, some a few years younger.

I see these girls acting so high and mighty.
God... some people seriously have nothing better to do with their lives.
Ugh, gross...
"She's pregnant and walking a mutt?" (One lady was practically ready to throw a fit over it!)

What is wrong with people? It’s like I’m living in Siberia. If it were me, I’d be saying, "Good for you! You're pregnant and still getting out and moving!"

3. People reacting to me walking or riding my bike.

"You're always walking..."
"Oh, you're on your bike again? You're gonna fall." (Seriously, does anyone actually fall off a bike if they're being careful?)
"You're always on your feet, and you're pregnant."
"Are you even allowed to walk that much?"

My family isn't part of this—this is all coming from the general public, those random people you cross paths with every day. What really shocks me is this mindset. When did we become these brainless Walmart-style people who are terrified of just... walking?

Just so we're clear—I walk about an hour and a half a day. I take the dog out for 45 minutes to an hour. I walk to the store, to the hospital, or to the library. Sometimes I head downtown if I need something. It's not like I'm training for a marathon. Plus, I walk way slower than usual; I just move at whatever pace feels right for me right now.

I ride my bike once or twice a week. I can't be bothered with the hassle of driving, so I grab my bike because it's faster.

Most importantly, I love it. It helps me sleep better, my back doesn't ache, and I feel totally normal. I'm a healthy pregnant woman, doing everything by the book.

Okay, I get why people act weird when I'm out walking the dog on my bike. It looks a little intense to them. But then I have to ask: do people actually fall off bikes when they're pedaling slowly and carefully on the sidewalk? Sure, accidents happen, but let's be real—accidents happen even when you're just walking on flat ground.

For example, I almost wiped out in the middle of the street recently. Just a regular, flat street. I tripped over my own feet and ate dirt—literally sprawled out everywhere.

3. Other pregnant women—not the ones dealing with medical issues, but the ones having perfectly healthy, textbook pregnancies.

All I hear is: "Aaaaahhh," "Uggghhhh," "Ooooohhhhh," "Arrrrghhh."
Like, you can't do anything and you're not allowed to do anything.

"Oh, my back hurts." — "Well, go do some stretches, move around a bit, maybe some light Pilates or yoga." — "Nooo, you can't do that!" — "Why not?" — "Because!" — "But why? Seriously, what for?" — "JUST BECAUSE!!"

"I'm craving something." — "I don't feel like making it, and it's not worth going out to buy it because no restaurant makes it right." — "Well, nothing you can do, honey, just call your mom and have her make it for you."

Or being in a smoky room—getting that sour look on their face that just gets worse and worse, but they won't leave, won't open a window, and won't ask others to cut back on the cigarettes. Then, when they finally start feeling sick, they add a loud groan to the sour face. 🤦"Why???" I don't smoke, it's not my habit, but suddenly I'm more sensitive to the smoke. Which means: 1. I don't go to hangouts where everyone is smoking heavily. 2. When I go to a cafe, I stay as long as I can, and if it gets too much, I either go home or find a different spot. 3. If only one or two people are smoking, I'll open a window or ask them to step outside.

What's with the acting, the sour faces, and the vague moaning sounds???

P.S. Shoutout to the exceptions—there are definitely normal people, doctors, and pregnant women out there, but this post is specifically about the ones who drive me crazy. :-)