Posts by Samuel Diaz

This thread has been pretty quiet lately, but I’m actually serving as the maid of honor for a super close friend of mine this coming May, so I figured I’d bring the conversation back to life... I haven't quite settled on what to get her yet—my plan is to piece together a gift that really hits on her interests while making sure it’s something beautiful she can hold onto forever.

She is absolutely obsessed with history, especially anything involving Egypt and the pyramids... so I’ll probably end up going with a high-end history book on that subject, maybe a nice perfume, and of course a white gold necklace with a little cross.

The way she asked me to be her maid of honor totally caught me off guard; it was so sweet it honestly left me speechless... I actually teared up because I just wasn't expecting it at all. We’re family, we see each other all the time, and I knew she was getting married this year, but I never imagined she’d pick me for such a big role.

She’s seven years younger than me, so I have a feeling she mostly wants me around to help pick out her wedding outfits, grab coffee together, and just hang out, because let's be real—if she wanted some massive, flashy gift, she would’ve called someone else instead of me.

Nah, you seriously don't need to drop that much cash on a First Communion gift... my godmother back then was actually my aunt, and I remember telling her straight up that the last thing I wanted was just money, because honestly, cash just disappears into thin air and leaves you with absolutely nothing to hold onto... zero memories...

I ended up getting this white gold ring with a ton of cubic zirconia that I picked out myself, and even though it cost a fortune ($333) I wear it every single day because I am just sooo obsessed with it...

It wasn't even like I sat my aunt down and made a list of what I wanted... she actually called me a few days before the ceremony and told me to meet her downtown so we could head to this one jewelry store, and she basically told me to pick out whatever ring caught my eye, since she knows I'm totally obsessed with rings and nothing else... I found the perfect one, but when the jeweler told us it was going to be $333 I actually had to take it off and tell them I didn't want it, mostly because they were newlyweds and clearly needed their money more than I did, so it felt super wrong to let them spend that much on me...

But she ended up coming back later and bought it for me anyway, bringing it over right on the day of the ceremony, but man, believe me when I say I didn't touch that thing for weeks because the guilt was just eating me alive... she kept asking why I wasn't wearing it, but I just felt so bad about the whole thing... now, though, I wear it constantly, it's big, it's gorgeous... and it means everything to me...

Look, I didn't have my First Communion until I was 21, but I know for a fact that for teenagers, it’s all about the money, money, money... honestly, I feel like they should push these ceremonies back to when kids are 20 or 21 or something, just so they might actually have a different perspective on things... sometimes I really wonder if these kids even grasp what a First Communion is actually about or what the whole point is

Jeffrey Cook55 said:I haven't actually dug into the details myself yet, I just remember how pale she looked when she was telling me about it.

Honestly, sometimes it’s better to just stay in the dark.

Jesse Flores842 said:So, let's not get ahead of ourselves and start panicking here🤣

Look, a close friend of mine just had her baby about two weeks ago—little guy was about 20 inches and weighed roughly 10 pounds—and she dealt with both minor tearing and some stitches at the same time, 😬 so yeah, you can definitely end up with a bit of a mixed bag.

basically either they tell you to head down to the hospital before the birth happens, or you just end up dealing with the tearing and stretching all on your own.

Honestly, you guys have been so encouraging with everything you've said that I feel like texting my husband right now to tell him he needs to leave work early.🤣

placidgardener19 said:🤣 🤣
Maybe she actually does have a guilty conscience about it, 😈 😁

But honestly, I totally get where you're coming from, and you really don't need to feel like you have to defend why you aren't looking to have kids right now; it isn't about how old you are or any other external factor, it’s just that you’re either ready or you aren't.
Our priorities and what we want out of life shift all the time.
Looking back, being pregnant anywhere between 20 and 27 felt like an absolute nightmare to me.
Then, just about a year ago, I had the complete opposite fear—worrying that I wouldn't even be able to conceive.

Nowadays, my only real wish is for my little one to be perfectly average, with totally normal fingers and a healthy brain 😍 ... as long as my husband and I are healthy too...
and that's it, seriously, everything else is just noise.

That's probably how it works, things just sort of click when they're meant to... and obviously, I know I'd change my mind completely if I were actually in that situation, but you know... I much prefer letting things happen only when I feel truly prepared for them...
As for fears, I have this massive phobia of childbirth; for now, I'll just settle for my period cramps... because right now, just imagining the process feels like wondering how a watermelon could possibly fit through an orange.... but alright, I won't pass my panic onto the new moms or anyone else who is actively trying to get pregnant...

Jeffrey Cook55 Samuel Diaz said:Look, I’m telling you: it isn't your boyfriend's fault that I'm pregnant. 😁

laughing of course....🤣

Jesse Flores842 said:😘 love you too 😘

My hormones are totally messing with my head right now 😍

And honestly, I had no clue you could actually get pregnant while on the pill... I mean, I’ve never even used it myself, so I never really bothered to look into how birth control works since it was never really an option for me in the first place...

To be real with you, Ksenia Quote, I was actually telling my boyfriend about you, and your story kind of shook me up a little bit... I really enjoy reading through everything here because you guys are so peaceful and there's such a huge wave of excitement from everyone, especially the people getting married... which is fine, but the second someone mentions being pregnant on this forum, I’m gonna tease my guy by saying, "Seeeeee! Look how she ended up pregnant when she wasn't even planning it!" and then poor guy immediately starts defending himself like, "Babe, it's not my fault she's pregnant!" 🤣

Taylor Swift

Serpent said:I'm totally on board with that.
Look, if I actually had something that IMPORTANT on my mind, I’d honestly put in the work to dig through every single thread that smells even remotely like my issue before I even thought about hitting post.
Look, this isn't even a new question you're throwing out there, it's just more of the same from someone who clearly just joined the forum to ask the exact same thing that's already been answered at least thirty times in this thread.

Look, let me give you my two cents on this: if he pulls out in time, your chances of getting pregnant are pretty slim, though I wouldn't say they're zero. First off, you have to consider that there's actually some sperm present in that pre-cum fluid men release during sex, which acts kind of like a natural lubricant. 😁 I know this one girl who ended up getting pregnant out of nowhere.
Look, here’s the deal: if things start getting messy and he ends up finishing inside—even if most of it still lands on the outside—you really only need one single sperm cell to get the job done. 😉

If you’re looking to play it absolutely safe and not leave anything at all to chance, honestly, just stick to the classics—pills and condoms.
Look, if you honestly don't give a damn about whether you end up having kids or not, then it really just boils down to those fertile windows and getting some good old-fashioned coitus in.

I'm totally on board with everyone asking pretty much anything under the sun because that's how you actually learn things, even if some of it feels like total nonsense sometimes. So, to answer Serpent's questions one by one, I mentioned being 22 because, honestly, I just don't feel like having a baby right now, and please don't take that the wrong way. I know for a fact that some of you ladies have been trying so incredibly hard to get pregnant and haven't had any luck, which is why it probably sounds a little bit insensitive when I say I "don't need" this right now, but you know what I mean, right? It feels a little awkward for me to be posting stuff like this here since this space is really meant for you all to celebrate together and swap advice and support one another.

When it comes to those "stupid questions" everyone talks about, I honestly don't think they exist because anyone can ask just about anything. Regarding that whole thing where people ask if they should go buy a pregnancy test, I have to say I see so many girls asking, "Am I pregnant?" and it’s like, obviously none of us can actually know the answer to that, so they end up looking a little silly. But if you really think about it, I feel like they aren't actually looking for medical advice, they just want someone to talk to, to calm them down, offer some comfort, or just chat for a bit to ease the anxiety... so even that isn't really a stupid question if you catch my drift. As for me, I'll be the first to admit that I'm super cautious because I absolutely hate surprises like that, okay? And I'm definitely not jumping straight into using condoms right away either; I prefer taking things slow and easing into it without all that stuff at the very start.🙂

Jeffrey Cook55
Taylor Swift

Alright ladies, let's just take a breath and chill out for a second. Look, if you’ve ever actually paid attention in health class or even just bothered to read up on the topic, you already know that there isn't a single method of birth control out there that’s a hundred percent foolproof. It’s just the reality of how things work. Honestly, if you're dealing with this massive, overwhelming anxiety about the possibility of getting pregnant, the only way to truly find some peace of mind is to just skip the sex entirely. Look, if you’re going to get intimate with someone, you’ve gotta be ready to own the consequences, especially if things end up resulting in a pregnancy, because honestly, if you aren't prepared to step up and take responsibility, you shouldn't be getting involved in the first place.

Look, you’ve always gotta be ready to step up and take responsibility when things go sideways, because let's face it, life happens and stuff just goes down sometimes. It’s honestly pretty important to keep that mindset front and center, whether you're navigating a tricky situation on the highway or just dealing with whatever chaos hits you in your daily life. 🤣 Nah, that's definitely a whole different conversation altogether. 😉 .

Taylor Swift

Look, there's really no need to start yelling at me, because I honestly didn't mean any harm by what I said. The whole issue was really just because you're only 22 and out there living your life, but you haven't quite picked up on those deeper, more intense nuances that come with actually being sexually active. Look, the question itself is totally fair, but if I’m being honest, I feel like you guys really should have figured this out a long time ago. Don't you agree? The question wasn't stupid at all, and I definitely wasn't trying to make it sound that way, so honestly, it feels kind of silly that you're getting all worked up about it now.

I mean, am I even joking? I didn't mean to give off the impression that I was being facetious... look, even married women in their mid-30s can end up pregnant by accident, and they aren't suddenly experts on the subject just because they've done it before; it’s not like there's some secret formula, things just happen... that's why I think it's better and smarter to just ask straight up...

And regarding what I said about playing it safe, yeah, we did experiment a bit right at the start, but obviously that wouldn't even cross my mind anymore... and I'll say it again... I'm not joking. All five 😘

Honestly, I think it’s pretty ridiculous when a girl hops onto a forum expecting people to play doctor and tell her whether she’s pregnant or not; look, you can offer some comfort, sure, but actually looking for medical answers here is just silly. It's also just plain dumb (and I mean this with ZERO intention of being offensive) when someone ends up pregnant at 17, 18, 19, or even 27 just because they didn't know certain things and were too afraid to ask, especially since people tend to judge and mock you for being uninformed... I'd much rather someone ask a "stupid" question than end up stuck in a situation they never wanted to be in.

Now, whether that's considered stupid on an individual level or not is really their business. What was I supposed to say to her, "Oh my god, you're so clueless, obviously you could be"? Or if a girl asks if it's possible to have her period and still be pregnant, should I have typed out, "Wow, given your age, what kind of question is that?" I mean, seriously. Just to be clear, I'm writing this totally WITHOUT ANY INTENTION TO OFFEND ANYONE.

ugh, actually, just forget I even said anything.

Jesse Flores842 said:Yeah... pre-cum can definitely happen before you actually finish, and you could totally end up pregnant even if he's trying to "control" it.
Pulling out isn't actual protection!
And look, I'm really not trying to be rude to you or your friend here—but honestly, why are we even debating this at 22?

No, no, you totally misread me there. I don't play that game myself—you know, the whole "trying to control it and then seeing what happens" thing—and I wasn't asking if it actually happens, because you saw I already mentioned I knew that. What I was doing was reading through a thread where everyone was leaving these intense comments claiming that stuff only happens in theory and never in real life, which led me to ask why there are so many unplanned pregnancies if that's the case. And people here were just telling me it's purely theoretical and has nothing to do with reality... and that’s just how things go on this forum, bless your hearts...

Go back and read my post one more time and you'll see that when it comes to being safe, I've done everything by the book; I'm not about that risky lifestyle, I'm strictly playing it safe.

Galileo said:Anything is possible, except for a wooden oven.... 😂

Man... I actually need some help here, not just jokes...😁
I mean, if someone happens to hit the Powerball jackpot for a few million, how could that not be possible? I'm definitely not talking about a wooden oven.

From what I’ve gathered—and just a heads-up, I’m not an expert and haven't personally gone through this—you can totally get an abortion normally even if you're pregnant, or at least that's what I remember reading about on various forums online.

So there’s this one thing that’s been weighing on my mind, and I was just chatting about it with a friend, but honestly, I have a total phobia when it comes to pregnancy—I'm 22, deep in college life and all that, if you know what I mean—so I told her straight up that we’re playing it safe and using a whole pack of condoms at once 😬 because I seriously do not want any accidental surprises happening to me...
But then she just gives me this totally deadpan look and tells me there's no need to worry since he can just "control himself"... okay, fine, whatever I guess... but then later that same afternoon, she calls me up saying she looked it up online and apparently you can still get pregnant even if he pulls out, because some kind of fluid gets released during sex even when combined with spermicide...
It’s like, does she think I’m some kind of genius or something? She’s acting like I’m Štulhofer or something crazy. Since we actually went through those little experiments ourselves back when we first started dating, I wanted to ask if this is just something people talk about in theory or if it actually happens in real life? There’s a huge difference between someone just failing to control themselves and what she’s describing here, so I just want to clear up any confusion... hope you guys get what I'm asking

Jacob Nelson6 said:The last time we hooked up was about two months ago, and he didn't actually finish inside me—it was more like ten days after we were intimate. I got my period a month later and everything seemed totally normal, but now I'm already seven days late. My breasts are killing me and I've just been feeling really off for the last few days... I'm wondering if there's any chance I could be pregnant even though I had my period, especially since I'm dealing with all these other symptoms?

GO GRAB A TEST

Angela Wright said:About a year ago, I posted here about my experience dealing with pain and shared my story regarding endometriosis. Listen to me, people—just popping pills isn't the answer to painful periods!!! PLEASE, just go see a gynecologist and demand an ultrasound exam!!! Endometriosis is becoming way more common among women, and if you don't get treated immediately and the right way it can cause massive problems it could even turn into something malignant like cancer!!!
Unbearable pain isn't normal and it means something is wrong with you! Go right now to your doctor and deal with this once and for all!!

Honestly, I actually know for a fact that intense pain doesn't always have to be a sign of something life-threatening... I had my first gynecological exam when I was sixteen because I would literally pass out from the pain, start seizing up, turn pale, and deal with these insane pains in my right side. The ER doctor sent me straight to a specialist because she thought there might be cysts, problematic ovaries, inflammation, or even internal bleeding... In the end, after doing all the tests, the specialist told me that what I was feeling didn't necessarily mean there had to be some hidden inflammation or disease lurking there...
After that, it happened one more time where I just collapsed because I hadn't taken a pill in time and the pain just radiated everywhere... (In my case, I have to take something the second I feel it in my lower back, otherwise, if I don't lie down and get warm, things get nasty) but alright, I've gotten used to my symptoms and I know exactly when I need to act... I went for another checkup later and the doctor saw how panicked I was and basically told me not to worry since everything looked fine during the exam, even though I still get these crazy pains periodically...
She also mentioned that painful periods don't necessarily stop after you give birth... which is something I've seen a lot of people talking about online...
And for anyone who thinks the pain is just "all in your head"... haha, yeah, I'd love for them to feel it "psychically" like I do, just to see what it’s like to pass out in the middle of the street or on a city bus...

Timothy Hernandez9 said:I used to have absolutely brutal ones, like totally unimaginable. On the first day, I could never even manage to get out of bed. And taking Ketoral (150mg) felt like eating candy! I was even on injections!
I was on Stediril back then, but now I take Yasmin, which definitely made the days shorter even if it didn't touch the pain.
The last time I actually had to reach for Ketoral was after two months of doing belly dance!
Ever since I started dancing, I don't even feel that first-day misery anymore.
Whether I’m some kind of miracle—as my gym instructor puts it—or not, I seriously recommend you give it a shot!
Supposedly, aerobic workouts or other types of dance can have the same effect, but belly dancing really seems to relax those abdominal muscles the most.

I'm heading to Pilates, so I'll let you know if that works too... maybe staying active and moving around really is the secret sauce. 🙂

Sam Hughes5 said:So... I noticed this topic seems to be a common one for pretty much all women out there... so I figured I’d chime in too... honestly, after dealing with some seriously intense pain, I actually thought I wasn't going to make it through... then I discovered that Voltaren Rapid was a total lifesaver... but now I can't even take it anymore because it just makes me nauseous and leaves me feeling terrible... I mostly stick to Advil Forte lately, but even that's starting to lose its edge... I was honestly getting close to giving up on these meds entirely... because as much as they help, they seem to mess me up just as much... and with herbal stuff or teas, you have to stay consistent for ages before you see any actual results... though obviously, most people don't have the patience for that and find it way easier to just pop a pill... but my body just won't take them anymore... does anyone know of a good herbal tea or something similar that helps ease the pain? thanks

I'm super interested in this too, so if anybody knows anything, please speak uuuup 🙏

Katherine said:So, I finally made it to the OBGYN, and even though the doctor mentioned I was a little early for a full checkup, she went ahead and did a vaginal ultrasound, and yep, I am officially pregnant 🙂
I have to head back in about two or three weeks to get my official pregnancy folder started 😁

I told my parents the news, and honestly, it went incredibly well. They couldn't stop smiling, and they basically told me they’re at that perfect age where being grandparents is just a bonus, and they’re totally on board with whatever the two of us decide to do. They even celebrated by having a little toast with some bourbon 😁 😬
Mind you, my mom was acting a bit serious—maybe even a little sad—for the rest of the day. I'm guessing it's just hitting her that I won't be living under their roof much longer, so she's feeling that transition

Our friends are absolutely stoked, and my girlfriends are already hovering, wanting to know every single tiny detail about the pregnancy and everything else. The only slight hiccup is that I kind of "stole the spotlight" from one of my best friends who is getting married on June 8th, which is right around when I'll be due 😁

Anyway, overall, I'm feeling amazing and I really hope it stays this way. 🎉

Katherine, I am seriously so happy to hear everything went smoothly, especially since your folks were so supportive and encouraging... I think it's just tough for your mom because no matter how old you get, you're always going to be her little girl... and man, I've got a few tears in my eye just reading this, so imagine how she must be feeling... if she's anything like me, she's probably crying her eyes out 😁 ,but seriously, wishing you nothing but the best, so please keep us posted on how everything develops 😘

You know, I had such a rough morning today because the cramps actually woke me up, and I felt like I had to force myself to eat something even though I was seriously nauseous, all just so I could take my meds. Honestly, there is nothing worse than being hit with that intense pain early in the morning when you're too miserable to even lie down, let alone try to stuff some food down your throat just to make a pill work... thank God I'm feeling okay now, though.

Hey girls, quick bit of advice... please, never take Ketoral on an empty stomach because it can totally backfire on you. A few months ago, I had such a brutal night and I ended up taking it on an empty stomach out of pure panic since I couldn't handle the pain anymore, and it just made everything so much worse—I started cramping even harder and began shaking uncontrollably, and I didn't really feel human again UNTIL THEY GAVE ME AN IV AT THE ER. So, no matter how scared or desperate you feel, please just head to the emergency room for an injection or an IV instead of trying to pop Ketoral on an empty stomach.

Susan, I honestly got a little choked up reading your post, because even though I’ve mentioned before that I don't really "fit in" here and I definitely don't have the same level of experience as all the other moms and pregnant ladies on this board, I just felt like I had to say something. At the end of the day, no matter how tough a parent tries to act, everyone eventually gets soft when it comes to stuff like this, and the most important thing is that you've got your man by your side giving you that support... maybe this wasn't exactly how you envisioned things playing out, but it is what it is, and I'm pretty sure that in a month or two you'll be riding that hormonal rollercoaster 😘 (just like everyone else on this forum) and everything will eventually settle into place... 😘