If one more person asks me: "How's the pregnancy going?", I think I might actually snap. 🙂
It’s beyond irritating at this point. I can't even wrap my head around why people keep asking it! Fine, if someone hasn't seen me in ages and doesn't realize I'm pregnant, sure... But take my father-in-law, for example. We aren't exactly best friends, but we're on speaking terms and run into each other around town. Every single time he's seen me over the last six months, he hits me with the exact same question: "So, how are you handling the pregnancy?" 🙂 Seriously, are there no other questions in the English language? Try: "How are you feeling?", "How's the baby?", or "Is work getting too exhausting?" etc., etc. Honestly, if you don't have anything useful to say, just stay quiet instead of drilling me with the same repetitive nonsense fifty times! Elvis! What's the move here? I give him the same answer every single time: "I'm great, no issues at all, haven't had any since day one." And then, get this—I'm about twenty days away from giving birth, and yesterday he goes: "Well, you're certainly handling the pregnancy well, huh?" 😱
Or when my brother-in-law told me the other day: "Wow, you've really grown a belly; looks bigger than when we saw you last month." No, Sherlock, I'm due in a couple of weeks—I'll just pull the baby out of a magic hat. ☕ Are all men this clueless, or is it just the family from MM?
Well, we’re all just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best! 😉 My advice? Stop overthinking it. Focus on the actual wedding essentials and maybe everything will fall into place perfectly. Just in case things go sideways, have a backup dress ready to go. Wishing you nothing but luck—I hope the big day turns out exactly how you pictured it! 🙂
Donna Campbell said:I didn't start them a few months ago because my partner and I have been "trying" for a baby for a while now. It just isn't going according to plan. 😢
The goal was to get on something for these next few days so my period doesn't ruin the wedding. Ideally, we'd conceive, but I can't bank on that happening. 😉
And unfortunately, babies don't just show up on command. Look, I know you mean well, but you really should have consulted a doctor about this sooner. I deal with heavy bleeding myself, so I know the drill. 😢 For me, pain relievers might lighten the flow temporarily, but once they wear off, everything hits at once. I can't give you solid advice. You should probably talk to a professional... 🤷
Good luck!
Lee Champa said:It’s a natural process, so why delay it?🤷 — Just postpone the wedding instead!☕
Oh, how brilliant you men are! If you had to deal with what we women go through for even one month, I bet you wouldn't be making jokes like that. 🙄
Donna Campbell said:I hope I’m hitting the right topic here; this is pretty urgent.
I’m getting married in exactly 8 days (May 3rd). I’ll be wearing a massive, heavy wedding gown.
Here’s the issue: my period should hit right around that date. My cycles are usually incredibly heavy and painful. When I say "heavy," I mean I’m running to the restroom every 45 minutes to an hour, even when using the largest overnight pads from Libresse. 😕
With this dress, I have no idea how I’ll even manage to use the bathroom normally, let alone change products. Tampons are out of the question for the first two or three days because the flow is so intense I’d need to swap them every 20 minutes. I've tried it; it's a disaster.
I don't typically take birth control, but I'm willing to pop some pills for a few days just to push this damn period back.
Does anyone have recommendations? And save the "take a cold shower" advice. It doesn't work.
I don't want to be rude, but you're cutting it a bit close if you're trying to delay your cycle now... Birth control would have been a perfect solution, but if you had started months ago, this wouldn't be an issue. I don't get why you're only thinking about this 8 days before the fact. I know exactly what heavy bleeding feels like, which is precisely why I planned my own wedding to ensure those days were 100% avoided. I was already on the pill by then, so I could schedule it perfectly...
The only real advice is to call your gynecologist and ask. They might have a prescription for something specific. 🤷 I wouldn't mess around with medication on my own—you never know how your body will react to sudden changes...
quietfox384 said:I went to the Mayo Clinic and Dr. Pulanić saw me without any issues. From what I could gather in the waiting room, they were seeing everyone who showed up just fine. The only thing is, it looks like their lab might be down due to some strike or something—I couldn't quite tell from the nurse. She told me to swing by next week once the strike settles down so they can give me a referral for the tests I need.
Thanks for the heads-up... I’ll probably try calling them in a day or two before deciding whether to make the trip. They'll call me back, right?! Usually, the nurses at the front desk are friendly and actually want to help...
I just need to pick up my results at the counter downstairs; they should be able to hand those over, right?! Anyway, fingers crossed everything goes smoothly!
swiftbear86 said:It’s vital that the doctor has a contract with Medicare (meaning they accept insurance), regardless of whether the office is part of a community health center or located in a private building.
For anyone using an institution that takes Medicare, supplemental coverage applies.
Alright, I think I get the gist now! My issue is that I just moved to a smaller town and need to find a primary care doctor. I’ve heard the doctors at the local community health center aren't great. There’s one doctor in town (outside the health center) listed as a "Private General Practice," while others are just listed as "Specialist Office..." Does the word "private" just mean she operates out of a private building? Can she still take Medicare? I'll have to double-check...
First timer, huh? Usually, people are booking their slots about three months out. I was already four months along when I went in, so my doctor just told me to swing back by the end of September, and they automatically scheduled me for that window... We'll see how it plays out for you. Anyway, you aren't seeing my doctor because she only runs her clinic on Wednesdays and Fridays. 😉
Good luck, and let me know if you find anything out! Best.
Thanks. I’m out in the Midwest, so it’s way too expensive just to drive all that way and get turned away at the door! I don't know which doctor you're seeing, but you should check if they're actually striking or if it's just everyone walking off the job. I’m seeing Dr. Kindra.
Oh, and I’ve got an appointment scheduled for September after being bumped to the 4th month. I’ve already finished all my tests, and now they really need to push me back... I just hope this stupid strike wraps up soon.
quietfox384 said:Regarding this looming doctors' strike—I have an appointment at Mayo Clinic in hematology this Thursday. It’s not an emergency, but I waited three months for this slot. Now what? If I actually show up, what are the odds they even see me? What's the move?
Let me know how it goes! I’m scheduled for hematology at Mayo Clinic next week, so I need to know what I'm walking into if this strike drags on... I’ll probably call them the day before so I don't waste a trip to NYC for nothing, but hey, if you hear anything, let me know... Thanks! 😉
Can someone break down the difference between a GP working at a public clinic versus a doctor in Private General Practice? If I go private, am I paying out of pocket for every single checkup, referral, and prescription, even if I have supplemental insurance? What exactly am I paying for at a private clinic? It’s all a bit confusing. 🤷
Linda Johnson15 said:Common strap. 🙂 People even use satin ribbons and lace to decorate fondant cakes.
Look, if you’ve got a pastry chef telling you that the bottom tier of a cake has to be rock hard just to support the weight of the layers above it, they aren't being "old school"—they're just unprofessional. They clearly don't know their stuff. With the way cake stands and modern structural techniques work today, you can easily have a light, airy base without everything collapsing. In my book, giving advice like "it has to be dry to hold up" is nothing more than a way to mask a lack of actual skill. 🤷
Even the women who just whip up cakes at home already know exactly how it's done. ☕
Thanks for the reply. Since you clearly know your stuff, let me ask: how are those ribbons sterilized? I assume you can wipe down plastic gift wrap with alcohol, but what about satin or fabric? That’s why I’m skeptical about using fresh flowers on a cake—I can't be sure they're 100% clean. I honestly have no clue how that works. 🙈
Regarding the cakes, you've got a point. But look, not everyone lives in Washington, D.C. where you have twenty elite bakeries to choose from. I live in a tiny town. I'm lucky if I can even find a licensed professional willing to bake for me, and she's 25 miles miles away. I had to choose based on her menu, and I respected her opinion regarding tiered cakes. She ran her own shop, so I doubt she's clueless, but she's retired now and probably isn't keeping up with modern trends. Point is, we don't all have the same options. We have to make do with what's available. 😉
Honestly, it’s a relief to know I’m not the only one who went with whipped cream. I was genuinely worried everyone here would drag me for being old-fashioned! 😁 I’ve been staring at those fondant cakes lately, and they just look so "plastic" to me. I have no clue why they’re being pushed so hard these days. One reason is probably just the price tag—they cost way more than standard cakes, so obviously, bakeries want to chase that higher margin... 😉
p.s. Does anyone happen to know what that colored ribbon at the base of every tier is? I see it all the time on fondant cakes, but this one is made of whipped cream... It really gives the cake a unique touch...(Ignore the cake itself. I just wanted to ask about that ribbon)...
Look, any cake can work with frosting if you actually know what you're doing. Personally, I’m just not a fan—and it isn't about how it looks, it's about the flavor. Someone mentioned earlier that nobody is going to praise a cake just because it looks pretty if it tastes like cardboard. I couldn't agree more. If it tastes great, who cares if it lacks fancy piping?🙂
And I honestly don't get why fadedfalcon5 claims wedding cakes shouldn't be made with whipped cream. What’s the big deal? Is a wedding cake fundamentally different from a birthday cake or an anniversary cake? 🤷 A cake is a cake! None of them are designed to sit out in the heat for hours anyway. As for the number of tiers or the specific decorations, I don't see how that has anything to do with the icing choice.🤔
Olivia Castillo562 said:Fondant isn't "chemicals"—it's mostly powdered sugar, a bit of fructose, gelatin, and glycerin. Last year, I attended some weddings where they had massive multi-tiered fondant cakes from Costco. They used a combination of ice cream and sponge that I haven't even tried yet. It wasn't dry; I think the quality depends entirely on the pastry chef.
We are planning to visit several bakeries to sample different cakes and pastries, but for now, we are leaning toward fondant.
And how exactly is glycerin produced if not through a chemical process?!😉 Look, it's not poison, but I've seen firsthand that people usually find those cakes way too sweet and rubbery, leaving half of them sitting on the plate. A baker I know mentioned that if you're stacking tiers, the bottom layer needs to be drier to support the weight of the whole thing. I didn't dig too deep into the science, but it likely comes down to the size of the cake, the filling, and definitely the skill of the baker!🤷
I finally picked out my wedding cake the other day. Since we're having a summer wedding, I wanted something light—nothing heavy like those dense walnut or chocolate sponge cakes. I also wanted to steer clear of the typical Black Forest or fruit cream classics you see at every single wedding lately. When something becomes a trend, people just follow it blindly without thinking. 🙄 In the end, I went with a three-tier setup (separate tiers): first tier is fruit, second is vanilla parfait, and third is chocolate parfait. 😍 It should be light enough to satisfy just about anyone.
Now, I was torn between using fondant or whipped cream. Fondant can make a cake look absolutely stunning, but there's a catch... If you stack the tiers directly on top of each other, the bottom layer has to be incredibly firm to support the weight, and I have zero interest in serving a dry, hard cake. Plus, let's be honest: fondant is basically pure chemicals, and half the guests usually leave it sitting on their plates. I didn't want to see perfectly good cake going to waste. Ultimately, flavor won over aesthetics, and I'm confident I made the right call. We're doing whipped cream, decorated with some handmade daisies the baker is making herself. We'll see how it turns out... 😉
mellowharbor16 said:Ladies, quick question... I’ve been on birth control for ages and I can't even remember the last time I got bloodwork done—maybe a year and a half ago?! Then my PMS hit, combined with a few other bad days, and I decided to just quit the pill entirely. It was honestly the only way to force myself to finally go see my OBGYN to get a referral for labs and set up an exam (I kept putting it off because I couldn't face the hassle of waiting three hours just for a damn referral paper!). So, I stopped taking them, grabbed the paperwork, and scheduled everything. My appointment is December 15th (even though I haven't seen her in months), and now I'm wondering: should I get my blood drawn right before the exam so the results are fresh? Also, will this break I took mess with my blood count? (I forgot to mention I plan to start back up again, but I'm low-key terrified since I've been on them for 5 or 6 years—worried about long-term effects :/ ). And how stupid was it to take a month or two off and then jump right back in?! P.S. This was just one of those crazy female moments where you snap at everyone and everything and just throw the whole plan out the window... yeah...
I think that wasn't exactly a genius move. The whole point of getting bloodwork while you're on the pill is to monitor how they affect your platelets, liver enzymes, and stuff like that. If you took a break, your results might not reflect your actual status while on them. It’s lazy of your doctor not to schedule regular checkups, but hey, you can always demand that yourself. You can use the pill for years without any issues, no breaks needed. Stopping for a couple of months and then restarting is a massive shock to the system. We're talking hormones here... But whatever, it's done. You'll just have to see what your doctor tells you.
restlesstiger102 said:Oh, please. For me, they hit everything. My libido tanks, I get pounding headaches, and the depression kicks in right when my period shows up.
I don't even know which part of this mess is the absolute worst. If I switch to a fourth type of pill, who’s to say they won't be just as much of a disaster? Maybe I should just grit my teeth and stick with what I have for another few months to see if this whole thing settles down on its own.🤔
Ugh, I might as well have a PhD in pill swapping at this point. I’m currently on my sixth different brand in thirteen years. Just like you said, every single one messes with me somehow. I try to tough it out as long as I can, but once it becomes too much, I switch. Honestly, I've stopped holding my breath hoping the next one will actually be better. I'm planning to get pregnant next year, so I'll just grit my teeth and deal with it for a little while longer.
I’m on Claire right now too, so I can tell you firsthand: that depression you’re describing? It hit me hard around the third or fourth pack. There were days I didn't even have the willpower to leave my apartment. I didn't want to see anyone; everyone was just getting on my nerves. At one point, I actually thought I was losing my mind or having a genuine breakdown from studying too hard. I kept taking them, though, and eventually, things started looking up. I haven't had those depressive episodes since, but honestly, I’m never quite sure which moods are the pills and which are just me. I just chalk any unexplained mood swings up to hormones. This stuff is a total rollercoaster.🙂
Regarding Claire, I’ve been on them for about ten months now, and I’m still trying to find my footing. Every single month feels like a total roll of the dice. And let's get one thing straight: that idea that your body just "adjusts" after the first few months? Total myth. For me, this process is taking way, way longer than anyone cares to admit. ☕
Hang in there for a few more months and you'll see. Things might stabilize sooner than you think, and you'll be fine. Every single adjustment comes with its own adjustment period, and honestly, that’s the absolute worst part of the whole process.
Angela Harris33 said:Can I just head over to an urgent care clinic, ask them to run some blood work to check if my liver is doing okay, and just pick up my pills there? Basically, can I skip seeing the specialist altogether? PS, how do they even decide which specific pill is right for someone if they aren't actually testing hormones? I looked into hormone testing and man, it is incredibly expensive... so I have a feeling most places don't bother doing it unless it's absolutely necessary.
PPS, what else do they typically look for in a standard blood panel besides liver function?
I don't get why you'd want to dodge an OB-GYN. You can hit up a lab for blood tests all day, but a doctor still has to write the prescription for those pills! As far as I know, you can't just walk into a pharmacy in the States and grab birth control without a script.
And let's be real—your doctor isn't going to run a full hormonal panel and say, "Based on these levels, you need Yaz, Logest, or Novynette." They can't predict exactly how your body will react. They'll pick something based on your age and general health, and if it hits you wrong, you go back and swap it out.
If there's one thing you shouldn't DIY, it's medication. Playing around with hormones is dangerous business. But hey, it's your life.☕
Larry Howard4 said:Ah, thanks for the info. So, theoretically, if I start taking folic acid before I actually stop the pills, there shouldn't be any issues, right?
Yeah, you can even start while you're still on them. A friend of mine was planning for a baby recently, and her OB-GYN told her to start folic acid a few months before ditching the pill—and keep it up until she actually conceives. It’s not like it builds up in your system; any extra just gets flushed out through your urine. You won't overdo it. Good luck!
Larry Howard4 said:Look, if you’re worried about getting pregnant, just use a condom. You were drinking yesterday, and you were drinking today. What do you think happens? Do you really believe that as soon as you swallow a pill, it magically travels through your system and results in immediate diarrhea? It doesn't work like that.
On another note, why does every doctor suggest waiting two or three months after stopping birth control before trying to conceive? Like, what’s actually the risk if I get pregnant right after I stop taking them? I'm on Yasmin.
Look, the main issue here is likely that oral contraceptives can deplete your folic acid levels. Folic acid is absolutely critical during those first few weeks of pregnancy to prevent fetal defects. If you conceive immediately after quitting the pill while your body is running low on folate, it could mess with the baby's development...
Women who haven't been on the pill can just start taking folic acid once they're pregnant, but for those who have been using them, you need to start much earlier. That’s probably why they recommend that buffer period—to let your system "clear out" the hormones and replenish those nutrient stores.😉