What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Regarding carbonated drinks... I’ve been sticking to plain sparkling water—at least half a liter a day—so far, which hasn't caused any issues for the baby. This is my first pregnancy, and I actually started feeling movement around the 16th week. 🙂 I stay away from things like Coke or Sprite because of all the sugar, caffeine, and chemicals involved... though occasionally I might steal a tiny sip from my husband. As for salmon, you can eat it as long as it’s baked or cooked; it's a fish with relatively low mercury levels, especially if you opt for wild-caught rather than farm-raised.
Now, let me tell you what REALLY gets under my skin!!!
From the very moment I found out I was pregnant, EVERYONE—and I mean absolutely everyone—keeps insisting, "IT'S A BOY!" It makes my blood boil that people act like having a boy is the only thing worth having. If there weren't women, who on earth would be doing anything? This blatant bias against girls is just infuriating... I HATE this backward, small-minded attitude. Honestly, I'm praying for a girl just so I can shut all those people up... grrrrrr!

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Honestly, I’m not even shocked by that... especially since if you talk to regular smokers—the ones who are truly hooked—they’re usually told not to quit cold turkey because the shock to the system is just too much... it's better to taper off slowly. And logically, if you're tapering down, you're eventually going to end up at just one or two a day anyway. I have a friend who used to smoke well over a pack and a half before she got pregnant, and during her pregnancy, she tried her best to keep it under five... sometimes it was just one or two, sometimes three or four, occasionally six... you know how it goes. And, of course, she had her doctor's blessing along the way.

Honestly, if you ask me, this whole argument is just pure nonsense. What kind of "shock" are we even talking about? To whom? To a body that is finally being relieved of toxins for once... it's almost like the body actually thinks it's being harmed...
And what about the baby? There wasn't even a baby there before, so how could a change for the BETTER harm it...
I suppose everyone has their own way of doing things, and people can keep smoking if that's what they want to do. ☕
From my own experience, I didn't feel any sort of shock during either my first or second pregnancy after quitting smoking abruptly the very same day I took the positive test....

Honestly, what really gets under my skin is how everyone keeps interrogating me about what we're naming the baby, and even though we tell everyone over and over that we just don't know yet, I still get those annoying comments like, "How can you not know? You have to pick a name!" One time I actually slipped up and mentioned a suggestion to my mom, and then the comments started rolling in: "What's wrong with that one?" or "That's not really a name, maybe try something else..." ughhhhhhhh!!!😠😠😠But you want to know the absolute worst part? My mom went ahead and blabbed everything to some of her coworkers at the office, and now I'm just...😠And then she has the nerve to turn around and tell me, "You know, one of my colleagues said she didn't really like that name either." Like, why do I even care if some random lady at work doesn't like it? Good grief!!! So today, I finally snapped and told her straight up that it isn't a name the kid is actually getting and that we aren't telling a single soul until the baby is born, and now she's acting all offended and trying to squeeze information out of my little guy about what his sister's name will be, but seriously, no comment!!! I just had to vent for a second, ughhhhhhh!!!

cosmicviper21 said:Honestly, what really gets under my skin is how everyone keeps interrogating me about what we're naming the baby, and even though we tell everyone over and over that we just don't know yet, I still get those annoying comments like, "How can you not know? You have to pick a name!" One time I actually slipped up and mentioned a suggestion to my mom, and then the comments started rolling in: "What's wrong with that one?" or "That's not really a name, maybe try something else..." ughhhhhhhh!!!😠😠😠But you want to know the absolute worst part? My mom went ahead and blabbed everything to some of her coworkers at the office, and now I'm just...😠And then she has the nerve to turn around and tell me, "You know, one of my colleagues said she didn't really like that name either." Like, why do I even care if some random lady at work doesn't like it? Good grief!!! So today, I finally snapped and told her straight up that it isn't a name the kid is actually getting and that we aren't telling a single soul until the baby is born, and now she's acting all offended and trying to squeeze information out of my little guy about what his sister's name will be, but seriously, no comment!!! I just had to vent for a second, ughhhhhhh!!!

🤣🤣 We did the exact same thing with my mom, where people would say a name and she'd go, "Oh, that reminds me of that one guy, and I can't stand him..." blah blah blah... and then a week or two later she'd be asking us again if we've picked anything, so I just tell her we have, but we aren't sharing it until the baby arrives😁 and everyone is just so pushy... they keep digging for a name and trying to pry it out of us, but we are definitely not giving in😁
Don't let it get to you, it's clearly just their little game because at the end of the day, it's not their kid... and hey, if I decide to name the baby Batman, they don't have any right to say a word about it! 😂

God, everyone is seriously getting on my nerves!!!!
I swear, I can't vent to anyone without getting hit with some condescending "well, you wanted this" or "what did you expect?" garbage. 🙂
Look, damn it, I wanted a baby. Yes, I did. I spent three grueling years fighting tooth and nail just to get pregnant—and honestly, nobody even gave me much credit for that struggle at the time. So fine, I'm pregnant, I'm over the moon, I'm happy as hell, but that doesn't mean I'm not absolutely miserable being nauseous 24/7 or dealing with constant heartburn and my back starting to give out on me already. 🙄
People are just sooooo stupid. 😠

It honestly drives me insane how nobody actually gives a damn about how I’m doing—they only care about my appearance and how much weight I’ve put on! 🙄

I am so incredibly over the rude comments and those constant, mindless measurements people try to pin on me, telling me what I've gained and how much more I'm "supposed" to gain...

Ugh, another day, another headache...
So I went out to grab a nursing bra, right? And this lady tries to push a larger size on me. I already have one at home—same brand, same fit—and it’s actually kind of roomy as it is. I told her, "Hey, do you have a smaller size?" and she just goes, "No, just take this one for now, your breasts will grow by the end of the pregnancy anyway." Then her coworker chimes in like, "Yeah, this one'll be perfect, maybe even a little small!" Honestly, I was starting to boil. I know my body, and my cup size actually *shrank* a size during pregnancy, it didn't grow! So I'm sitting there thinking, why would I buy something that's definitely going to be huge? But no, these crazy people start lecturing me about how I still have plenty of time left. I told her I'm only about two months in, and she hits me with, "Oh, I thought you were just starting, you don't have much of a belly yet, you must be having a girl." Like, excuse me? I'm waiting for a boy, thanks. It's enough to drive you insane. Everywhere you go, you run into these women who think they know everything. And the worst part? They aren't even grandmas, just some random women in their mid-30s acting like they're experts on my life.

My grandmother really pushed my buttons today; she actually had the nerve to tell me I haven't put on enough weight. 😲
I tried explaining to her that I was only 132 pounds two weeks ago, so gaining about two pounds a month feels pretty reasonable to me. But then she hits me with, "And how on earth do you decide what's a reasonable amount per month?" 😠🙂

I suppose the only way to satisfy her would be to pack on 7 pounds every single month until I'm sitting at 200 or 220 pounds at my height. Then she could go around town telling everyone just how incredibly huge I've become. 😠
Honestly, I’d love to just 🙂

omg!!! I just remembered!!
WAXING!!!! 🤣🤣
Usually, I just head to my esthetician to get it handled—I even did it while I was pregnant and it was totally fine. But right now? No way. First off, I’m broke, and second, it’s a total pain trying to lie on my back because this inflamed butt crack is driving me insane. Anyway, I'm planning on hitting up a strip mall salon tomorrow, and I have to somehow squeeze in some shaving by noon just so I can make it by Friday... 🙄

tina_m said:but I really don't want to be carrying way too much extra weight after the baby comes

I just don't want my mom having any excuse to start picking at me, especially over some damn pounds

I know how that sounds right now, but I honestly can't help it

Yeah—it sounds stupid.
But look, I'm not one of those pregnant women who started out with a supermodel body, so this whole thing feels... weird for me.
If I gained weight already and I'm still gonna gain more, I'll just lose it later. Big difference is, I was never even skinny to begin with.
And what are you actually gonna do... stop eating just so your mom won't nag you? That's total bullshit.

You gotta shut people down immediately!
Seriously, the other day my friend's mom comes over and starts messing with me about my pregnancy, like, "Wow, where did that huge belly come from?!" while laughing... so I just looked her dead in the eye and said, "From hell," and she totally shut up while I just kept laughing... see what a total menace I am as a pregnant woman? 🤣
But I had to do it...

Edward Rodriguez4 said:Yeah—it sounds stupid.
But look, I'm not one of those pregnant women who started out with a supermodel body, so this whole thing feels... weird for me.
If I gained weight already and I'm still gonna gain more, I'll just lose it later. Big difference is, I was never even skinny to begin with.
And what are you actually gonna do... stop eating just so your mom won't nag you? That's total bullshit.

You gotta shut people down immediately!
Seriously, the other day my friend's mom comes over and starts messing with me about my pregnancy, like, "Wow, where did that huge belly come from?!" while laughing... so I just looked her dead in the eye and said, "From hell," and she totally shut up while I just kept laughing... see what a total menace I am as a pregnant woman? 🤣
But I had to do it...

I wasn't exactly thin either; I definitely had some extra padding, but since I have a very petite frame, I'm genuinely worried about how I'll look if I end up twenty pounds heavier after the baby arrives.
I know it sounds silly, but I'm not starving myself. In fact, I'm eating more than usual, mostly fruit since I've been craving sweets.

I guess I'll be a "disgraceful" pregnant woman too, though I doubt anyone will take me seriously given my sarcastic sense of humor.

I honestly feel like there’s gotta be more people going through this, but man, my mother-in-law drives me absolutely insane on a daily basis. I swear she tells me like a hundred times a day that I shouldn't pick up my son because he’s too heavy, or that I’ll throw my back out or whatever—she just says stuff just to push my buttons, I guess... And the thing is, I don't even carry him that much! I only pick him up from his crib when I have to change him, you know? Other than that, he’s either playing on the floor or cruising around in his walker... Sometimes I seriously just want to be totally shameless and tell her to mind her own damn business, but I end up biting my tongue because of my husband—plus, I actually want some peace in the house since we all live under one roof...

It is so freaking great having a place where you can just vent everything!!!! 🙂

Edward Rodriguez4 said:Yeah—it sounds stupid.
But look, I'm not one of those pregnant women who started out with a supermodel body, so this whole thing feels... weird for me.
If I gained weight already and I'm still gonna gain more, I'll just lose it later. Big difference is, I was never even skinny to begin with.
And what are you actually gonna do... stop eating just so your mom won't nag you? That's total bullshit.

You gotta shut people down immediately!
Seriously, the other day my friend's mom comes over and starts messing with me about my pregnancy, like, "Wow, where did that huge belly come from?!" while laughing... so I just looked her dead in the eye and said, "From hell," and she totally shut up while I just kept laughing... see what a total menace I am as a pregnant woman? 🤣
But I had to do it...

My neighbor asked me if I swallowed a basketball, and then some other lady asked if I swallowed a watermelon...🤣
Honestly, I couldn't think of a comeback in the moment.😂

Honestly, the most annoying part so far is how people react when I tell them I’m pregnant. Whether it's at work or in class, the first thing everyone asks is, "Why are you still working?" or "Why haven't you gone on maternity leave yet?" Like, do they think I don't know these first few weeks are the most critical? They act like I shouldn't even be near a computer or my phone... 🙂
Then there was this moment yesterday at college... my professor goes, "But how on earth are you going to finish your thesis now that you're pregnant?" I mean, hopefully using a laptop! But hey, if I have to carve it into stone, so be it. 🙄

It honestly drives me crazy that I can't even stretch properly anymore... my torso, my spine—everything feels so tight, especially my core. ☕

I had a total moment of embarrassment the other day. I went into it feeling all confident, thinking I could just breeze through some standard yoga poses, but nope—my glutes and stomach just refused to budge an inch off the floor. I was basically stuck to the mat, just sitting there with this massive "WTF" expression plastered on my face. 😂

I am seriously counting down the days until I can finally nail a bridge pose and actually feel flexible again like a normal human being.

I was getting ready to head downtown yesterday, got all dressed up and went to put on my shoes—and oh man... I could barely even squeeze my feet into them. I started noticing it then, just struggling to find any shoes that actually fit.

If my feet stay this size after I have the baby, maybe then I'll start complaining about it.🙄

I make sure to get my stretching in every single day, and honestly, I still feel incredibly limber!!! My routine starts the moment I wake up; I stretch as much as my body will allow, and then when it comes time to actually get out of bed, I take a moment to sit on the edge first just to catch my breath from the effort of rising. After that, I throw on some lounge pants—which, let’s face it, are becoming my entire wardrobe—and wander over to my computer. I’ll sit there for a few hours at a time; my ergonomic chair is so good that I can settle into just about any position. Every now and then, I'll take a quick stroll to the restroom. Around 9:30 AM, my sweet little pup wakes up, so I pull on some sweats and a T-shirt, and we take a lap around the apartment complex so she can do her business. Then it's back to the computer until my husband gets home from work. Once he walks through the door, we treat ourselves to something delicious and greasy, and then I usually nap for an hour or two. By evening, I just migrate over to the couch in front of the TV. See? My entire day is basically one big workout!!! You have to be able to transition from the bed to the desk to the sofa smoothly!

And don't even get me started on the nightly ritual of tossing and turning from side to side in bed—it's a true art form. I move with all the grace of an elephant stuck in a patch of fresh asphalt... and believe me, that is the LEAST of my struggles during this pregnancy!!!

Up until about two weeks ago, I was getting so incredibly irritated by people constantly badgering me with questions: "Have you finished your thesis yet? How's it coming along? When are you finally graduating?"
The stress of it all actually made me stop writing altogether!!! I'll get back to it when the inspiration hits!
Now, what really bugs me is how everyone keeps asking, "How much longer?" It's relentless. And then they have the nerve to call me rude just because I choose not to answer their questions and instead just stay silent and ignore them.

Being pregnant has honestly been such a drag because I feel even more stuck in place than usual 😂
bogami, once this baby is finally here, I’m hitting the ground running as soon as I'm physically able 😁

Man, forget about shoes—it’s an entire lifestyle choice at this point. If I have to deal with laces on some pair of sneakers, I swear, it's such a massive headache. I end up tripping over my own feet like a total amateur, looking like I've been out plowing a field or something, before I finally get my act together😛

Nothing gets under my skin quite like a mother-in-law trying to micromanage our home renovations or demand cash handouts, especially when she claims we don't even need a stroller until the baby is older. Thank goodness she voiced that opinion to my husband instead of me; lately, I have zero patience left for her, and if she manages to upset me, she can just stay away from our house.🙂