Posts by Jeffrey Cook55

Linda Hernandez15 said:Man, they really tore me apart again. 😍

Well, you're preaching to the choir here. 😘

Back in February, right before my period was supposed to start, I had this total mental breakdown where I became absolutely convinced I was pregnant. It’s one of those things that actually happens—you can totally convince yourself you're expecting when you aren't.

But this time, my mind wasn't playing tricks on me. In fact, I was actually bracing myself for my period to start, but it just never showed up. 🙂

Honestly, looking back, I'm starting to wonder how reliable those early pregnancy symptoms even are. For me, everything felt exactly like typical PMS. The only difference was that I was constantly dealing with this squeaky, raspy voice, but I’d had that same issue a few months prior too, so I originally just chalked it up to a nagging cold or some minor infection.

So, what started as a simple cold turned into... three positive tests... and now, I'm officially looking at a tiny little baby whose heartbeat hasn't even started yet. 🙂

Edward Green said:Jeffrey Cook55, you should head over to the pregnancy chorus! 👋

I'm going, I'm going 😁

But honestly, I've got such a strong emotional connection to that "buy the test!" thread 😬

And thanks again to everyone for the support—I won't quote every single thing 🙂

Amanda Stewart69 said:When does the nausea usually kick in, and how long does it last?

Are we talking actual vomiting here, or just that constant feeling where you feel like you need to throw up but nothing happens?

Look, as someone who is brand new to this whole pregnancy thing—I'm currently in my second month—my nausea only started about two or three days ago. In the mornings, I wake up with this weird, unsettled feeling in my gut. It’s not always like I’m about to vomit, but it happens pretty frequently throughout the day. Today was actually the worst one yet; my stomach was doing flips and it felt like I was going to 😬
every few minutes, but I didn't.
From what I've heard, most women find that this settles down around the fourth month, if I remember correctly.
Besides, every single woman's experience is different 😎 so some people are sick all day long while others don't deal with any nausea at all.

So, I finally made it to the OB-GYN. My doctor mentioned I was actually a little early for my appointment, but she went ahead and checked me anyway. She did a transvaginal ultrasound, and sure enough—it’s official, I’m pregnant! 🙂
I have to head back in about two or three weeks to pick up my official prenatal folder and everything else. 😁

I broke the news to my parents, and honestly, it went incredibly well. They couldn't stop smiling. They even joked that they’re at the perfect age to finally become grandparents and that they'll support whatever decisions the two of us make. To celebrate, they even toasted with a small glass of bourbon. 😁 😬
That said, my mom was acting a bit serious all day afterward—probably just a little sad. I guess it’s hitting her that I won't be living under their roof for much longer once this baby arrives.

My friends are absolutely thrilled. My girlfriends are already hovering, wanting to know every single tiny detail about the pregnancy. The only slight hiccup is that I accidentally "stole the spotlight" from one of my best friends; she’s getting married on June 8th, which is right around the same time I'm due to give birth. 😁

Anyway, overall, I feel wonderful and I'm really hoping this good mood sticks around. 🎉

What did my cold do to me?! 😬

Honestly, I had already read quite a bit about this before I actually became pregnant—so I went ahead anyway. I wasn't sure about the timing for the test, you know? Like, was it too early or what? Plus, I was feeling absolutely miserable at the time. I definitely didn't want anyone taking it personally or getting upset with me. I really hope we don't see this many similar threads popping up anymore. Maybe you could add some specific guidelines to the thread title? 😁

By the way, I still haven't seen your stock ticker symbol
How far along are you now?

First, you're going to have to explain what a ticker even is 😕
I’d much rather put my faith in my doctor during a checkup, but if I had to guess, I'd say we're looking at about three weeks.

welcome to the club

Enjoy these early weeks while you can. It's a unique phase.

Thanks. I’m crossing my fingers that I skip the morning sickness entirely—my mom never had to deal with it, so maybe luck is on my side. Though, I have to admit, I’ve already started yawning like crazy by 8:00 PM. 🙂

Haha, here’s a little fun fact for you. Since I can’t exactly go pee directly onto a test, I ended up using a container instead, and I was actually shocked to realize it held about half a liter 😲

Hey everyone, just checking in to say that I (my paranoid self 😬) took a pregnancy test for the third time today. Totally unnecessary, obviously, since that second line showed up bright and clear as day, so yeah—it’s official 🙂
My partner and I are doing alright, though we both get hit by this sudden wave of panic for a split second (mostly thinking about the bank account), but we’ll figure it out. It’s actually really sweet when he calls me from work just to check in and see how I’m doing—which is pretty out of character for him 😁
I need to sort some paperwork with my health insurance first, then I'm heading straight to the OB-GYN, and after that, I have to tell my parents... honestly, the anticipation is going to eat me alive until it’s all settled. At the end of the day, I can't let myself spiral, because stress is the last thing a pregnant woman needs 🤣
The best moment was telling two of my coworkers. I dropped the news during my lunch break, and they both just lit up, laughing and clapping with pure joy. It really gave me a boost. On the flip side, when we told our group of friends, things got a little awkward. People didn't really believe us and acted like it was weird. I guess it's just because none of our close friends have kids yet, so it's a bit of a shock to their system

By the way, does the abbreviation MM stand for the male half of the duo if I'm reading this right? What exactly is it short for?

Oh, and I mentioned somewhere before that I’ve developed an insane craving for garlic. I mean, I’ve always liked it, but now it tastes absolutely incredible 😬 even though I know it smells terrible to everyone else 😁

I'll check back in soon
Best to you all 🙂

Ugh, honestly guys, I just feel this overwhelming need for someone to hold my hand and guide me through this.

I was walking downtown today and every five minutes I found myself tearing up. I kept telling myself to just calm down, but it’s been such a struggle. On top of that, I've been feeling physically terrible—I can't tell if it's just pure anxiety or if it's actually part of the pregnancy.

I really should be studying for my final exam, but my brain is just mush. I can't even focus on looking at my notes, let alone reading them. My boyfriend suggested I just power through it now so I can get that degree out of the way, since things will only get harder later on.
And then there's the job situation. A friend called me three days ago offering me a position at his firm starting in about six weeks, and I was so excited about it. Now, everything feels so uncertain.
It's just... a lot.

But look, I don't want to be totally pessimistic. I've been debating whether to wait a little longer before telling my parents. My boyfriend asked if he should be there when I break the news, and my gut reaction was "no." I told him he didn't need to be there, that I'd rather handle it myself so he doesn't have to witness their shock. But now I'm second-guessing that. What do you all think? Should he be by my side or not? I know, at the end of the day, it's my call, but I'm still weighing it out...

One more thing—since I am completely clueless regarding > and how a baby develops 😬, I was thinking about picking up a book on the subject. Does anyone have any recommendations? Or is there something similar discussed here on the forum?

Anyway, thank you all so much. Even though I've ended up crying a few times reading your replies, it has honestly made me feel a little lighter. I'm really glad I reached out here. Sending big hugs to everyone.😘

Thanks, Benjamin Nelson8. My vertical line (I) is way fainter than your horizontal one.

Guys, thank you all so much. I’m feeling a little bit better now. 🙂 Even so, it still feels surreal—like I’m stuck in a dream or like this is happening to someone else entirely...

Sometimes I think about how I still feel like a kid inside, but then again, I guess you can never truly be 100% ready for stuff like this anyway.

I'll check back in with everyone in a few days once I'm certain, though by all accounts, I am pregnant.

Thanks so much, Mark. You really helped me feel a bit better for a moment there. 🙂
It’s one of those weird situations where you feel like you know everything, yet you actually know absolutely nothing at all.
The paranoia is getting to me. It feels like I’m suddenly seeing pregnant women everywhere: on TV, in magazines, walking down the street, even in government buildings.... 😁
Yesterday, when my boyfriend and I were getting out of the car and heading toward our apartment so I could take a test, this young family walked right past us with the cutest little girl. It felt like some kind of omen...
I guess I won't know for sure until I have total certainty.

Here’s what happened:
I went out with my boyfriend yesterday to pick up some tests—we grabbed the First Response ones. I did the first test around 6:00 PM. Just to be safe, I bought another one and took it this morning, but now I’m just totally confused. For a positive result, there’s supposed to be a vertical line, but on mine, a line appeared that is so incredibly faint you can barely even see it. It’s driving me crazy. According to the instructions, it doesn't matter if one line is darker than the other, and they show three different examples. The one closest to mine is where the vertical line is much lighter than the horizontal one. Looking at the explanation for that image, I’ll quote it: "Image C—this also indicates a 'pregnancy' result. If there is a vertical blue line in the oval window, and a '-' sign appears in the square window within 10 minutes of the test, the result is 'not pregnant'." I am just a complete mess right now. Has anyone else ever had something like this happen?

I’m going to buy another test and try again in three days.

To be honest, I was crying yesterday when I saw it. This wasn't planned. Afterwards, I found myself laughing and crying at the exact same time. The real issue is that I have no idea how we’re going to make this work. I live with my parents, I’m 25, and I’m still finishing up college, so I don't have an income yet. My boyfriend has a job, but it’s the kind of position where he could be let go at any moment. Plus, my parents are pretty authoritative, and I have no clue how to break the news to them. Right now, I’m just stressing over how to say that sentence (once I’m certain) without shocking them—even though I know avoiding that is basically impossible.

Getting an abortion isn't even an option for me; I couldn't do it, and it’s not that a baby wouldn't be loved, but I am terrified if this turns out to be true because I don't know how we'll manage. My boyfriend is being supportive, even though he’s a little scared too, though he’s definitely more level-headed about everything. It seems like everyone stays calm except for the pregnant woman who's falling apart. 😬
One minute I’m fine, and the next, I’m sobbing.

I’ll wait until Sunday, take another test, and if it’s positive or looks the same as today, I’m heading straight to the OBGYN.

Has anyone else been in this exact situation? I really need some advice, a kind word, or anything at all...🙂

I really need to get the hang of how to handle all this citing... 🙈

I know you don't need a referral just to grab a drink, and it’s certainly not my first time heading down to the local pub 🙂
But honestly, I've never dealt with a bladder infection before, so I figured I'd ask.

Anyway, I'll get everything sorted over the next few days—run some tests and see what's what. Once I have some answers, I'll let everyone know how things are looking. 😁

Alright, I was actually planning on doing that.
If we're talking about a bladder infection, should I head straight to my OB-GYN, or just start with my primary care doctor and let them handle the referrals? (I’d rather ask than just wander around aimlessly if anyone here has been through this before)

I was planning on holding off for just a few more days, but I’m starting to feel pretty anxious today.

Also, what’s the deal with frequent urination and nausea?

I’m honestly not quite sure what’s going on with me right now.
My cycles usually run between 26 and 29 days—most often 26—and since my last period started on September 5th, I’m officially on day 29 today.
Lately, my PMS symptoms have been hitting me incredibly hard, and this month is no exception. My breasts feel swollen, I find myself tearing up for absolutely no reason every single day, and I get these sharp pains near my ovaries. On top of that, the hot flashes are driving me crazy: I can't sleep because if I uncover myself I’m freezing, but if I pull the covers up, I’m sweltering. And then there’s the constant urge to pee; it feels like I need to go every thirty minutes.
Regarding the frequent bathroom trips: if this were pregnancy-related, when does that increased urgency typically kick in?
And what about nausea? Around what point does that usually start to show up (assuming it happens at all)?
Earlier this morning, around 2:00 AM, I woke up with intense ovarian pain and this overwhelming pressure that made me need to pee, followed by feeling so sick to my stomach that I thought I might actually pass out.
When would be the best time for me to take a pregnancy test?
Is there a specific website or an online pharmacy where I can compare different tests and see their prices?

Sorry, I know that was a lot of questions at once. 🙂