Posts by Elizabeth Edwards10

Anthony Watson35 said:I married an idiot. I know, sounds harsh, but honestly? What else am I supposed to call him?
Like, why on earth would I need a baby bathtub? It’s totally useless because he thinks it's perfectly fine for Domagoj to give Marina their little girl a bath in the big tub—where he basically holds her with one hand (!!!😲!!!) while rinsing her with the shower head (🤦) (she's barely three months old, btw)
Seriously, what am I even supposed to say to him at this point...
He spends all day talking shop with his "genius" buddies and relatives, yet somehow manages to never actually listen to a single smart thing anyone says. It's exhausting 🙄

Just tell him straight: since your bones won't be back in place until long after the umbilical cord falls off, you won't be able to bend over to bathe the baby in the big tub, so he should handle it. And since he plans on doing it every single day, he can also expect to scrub out the tub every night before bath time—because why would you do that? You want the specialized tub. Simple. I'm curious to see what color tub he ends up picking.🥳

Thanks, Brenda Barrett58 😉
In my opinion, when the cervix is visible, things have reached an extreme level.

It’s great that you all heard about how the uterus can be visible from the outside, but I’d prefer a more realistic, medically sound example. Uterine prolapse doesn't just pop out like that—ask a gynecologist if you don't believe me.

Immediately after childbirth, the vaginal area is naturally more swollen, and the muscles haven't regained their tone yet—especially while you're still dealing with postpartum bleeding. What you saw likely wasn't the uterus itself, but rather the internal vaginal tissue, which is heavily inflamed right now. If you have significant swelling, everything can look quite raw and irregular, but this usually resolves quickly on its own without any medical intervention.
To be clear, the uterus cannot simply drop out through the vaginal canal; organs don't just exit the body like that. It might descend lower into the pelvic floor, which can cause issues like bladder control problems, but that's a different matter. As long as you haven't been overexerting yourself—standing for hours on end or lifting heavy weights—and you've avoided intercourse during the immediate postpartum period, there’s no reason to panic. Straining on the toilet isn't going to cause uterine prolapse. Generally speaking, recovery should involve avoiding heavy strain for the first six weeks and making sure you rest frequently. You don't necessarily need to sleep all day, but you shouldn't be on your feet for too long either. It's also wise to incorporate Kegel exercises.
If you're still feeling anxious about it, go see your OB-GYN for peace of mind.

I’m dealing with some serious knee issues right now because I have to avoid glucosamine and chondroitin entirely. My little one is only three months old, and while my knees are mostly worn out from years of sports, physical therapy is definitely helping her. It’s not about squats or anything high-impact; it's more about controlled, static resistance exercises targeting the quadriceps and the muscles surrounding the knee. That’s honestly the best way to handle cartilage problems—you reduce the friction and take the direct load off the joint. For an actual diagnosis and a tailored exercise plan, I’d highly recommend seeing a sports medicine specialist, like Dr. Summan over at the Box Office clinic in downtown Chicago.
I’ve also been struggling with hip issues. I haven't been able to fully rotate my right knee since I was eight months pregnant. I suspect it’s a two-fold problem: part of it is compensation because I’m trying to protect my knees, and the other part comes from sleeping on my side during pregnancy and dealing with awkward positions while nursing at night.
On top of all that, I've noticed a massive breakout of oily skin and acne between my breasts and on my face ever since I gave birth.

briskhawk21 said:I am so relieved to hear that.👍
Because right now, my legs feel like elephant limbs—completely swollen—and my feet have jumped up two or three sizes.
I'm really hoping that clears up soon, too.

My legs weren't nearly as swollen (there was some puffiness, but I could still see my ankles), but my hands... 🙄
my fingers were so numb I couldn't feel anything, almost like they didn't belong to me. I couldn't even make a fist because of the swelling in my joints. Two weeks later, it vanished completely. Some people swell up even more after giving birth, but that's usually short-lived.

That’s just how it goes... I went through the exact same frustration. It was driving me crazy being so sedentary when I’m normally an athlete who’s always on the move. Right before my due date, I could barely manage a workout or even a quick trip to Target, especially since I was dealing with constant false labor pains. But look, eight weeks later, I’m pretty much back to my usual weight. My belly button is still a little wider than it used to be and the line on my stomach hasn't faded yet, but I had a bit of a pooch—I'll get that sorted once I find the time to get back into Pilates and running. 🙂
All those aches, pains, and that heavy, clumsy feeling? Gone. Honestly, I don't even feel like I've given birth.

Scott Campbell72 said:Yeah, "we have time"—exactly. But what they don't realize, and honestly won't ever understand, is that regardless of how much time you technically have left before delivery, there are certain things you simply cannot do anymore. Period. 😠
I'm sitting here watching 'So You Think You Can Dance' and admiring how effortlessly people move. Meanwhile, I consider it a massive victory if I manage to pull myself off the floor, given all the discomfort and aches 😠 Everyone else looks like a gazelle—so graceful and agile 🤣 I can't even remember what it felt like to bend down to pick something up without running through a mental checklist of how to execute the move with minimal pain or irritation. You can't really explain it to someone who hasn't lived it... I wouldn't have believed it if someone had told me either 🤣 They'd probably think it couldn't possibly be *that* bad—but now I know better 😉

As for me, I've been losing my mind because we moved a few weeks ago, and in my head, everything—the house, the furniture, the gear, the tiny clothes—would be totally set by the eighth month. At this point, considering my luck, getting the laundry done is a major accomplishment, let alone vacuuming the house (which, naturally, requires about three breaks) 😬

If you need some solidarity, we got the keys to our place last August. We planned to move by late October or November. Last November, I told my husband, "Look, I'm pregnant. I won't be able to handle a move when I'm six months along; it's going to get too hard." He just laughed it off, saying, "Come on, we aren't moving that late. We'll be in the new place before Christmas!" Needless to say, he hadn't even started working on anything by mid-January (he actually built the kitchen himself with a friend). I imagined celebrating a birthday in our own home in April and growing a bunch of plants on the terrace. Instead, I ended up heading to the hospital. Luckily, I was only there for a week, mostly because he didn't lift a finger until after I gave birth. Then his logic was that once I delivered, he’d still have at least three days to finish everything. After the birth, he spent a month complaining about the move and doing a bit of cleaning (we ended up hiring a professional cleaner who scrubbed the whole place for five hours—bless her soul). So, I came home from the hospital to a new apartment, and the very first thing I did was try to put sheets on the bed and the crib, because everything was just sitting there in bags I had packed and labeled before leaving for the hospital. Of course, he had no idea what was in any of them. Two months later, a mountain of our stuff is still sitting at my sister's house. In the kitchen, the countertop isn't even secured to the wall yet, and the dishwasher is just sitting there unanchored, though it works. The living room cabinet doesn't even have doors, and we don't have the cash to fix it right now, but whatever—at least we moved in. Honestly, I don't stress over it, not even the lack of money. My hormones drive me in a completely different direction. Once you have the baby, none of this matters.

slyorca said:I've been in the exact same boat.🙄
Every single aunt and neighbor kept telling me I was having a boy, and I'd just shut them down:
- "Actually, no, it's a girl."
-"Oh, they must have misread the scan, it's definitely a boy!"

But then those very same people acted all shocked once my little girl actually arrived.😍

I have this coworker who is infinitely irritating—an incompetent mess who constantly tries to micromanage everyone else's business, yet her kid is always getting sick on Mondays and Fridays so she can skip work, even though the kid is already in sixth grade. When she was four months pregnant, she told me she was having a boy. I told her, "No, it's a girl." She actually responded by saying, "Well, boys kiss their moms more, whereas girls tend to be difficult; it's just the hormones." 😲
I honestly don't know how someone can be that dense, especially since she's highly educated and relatively young. Even if I were "difficult" as she puts it, what does that have to do with gender? Talk to the hand, you clueless woman.

That whole situation with the lady on the light rail sounds wild. Honestly, I don't know what you said to her in the shop to make her swing at you... (just kidding, obviously, it’s absolutely terrible that you had to deal with that 😲)
I actually had a surprisingly pleasant encounter with a local parking enforcement officer today. I was heading over to the Social Security office and pulled up right in front of a meter to drop some coins in, when this young man in a high-vis vest across the street calls out, "Ma'am, you don't need to pay for parking!" I thought he was joking, but I really was just there for a minute to file some paperwork. Then he tells me, "I can see you're pregnant, you don't need to worry about the fee." I told him thanks, that was a lovely surprise, and he just says, "No problem, anything for the country!"
wtf?? 🤣

Regarding the numbness in your fingers, if it helps, you can take solace in the fact that it usually clears up about two weeks postpartum. In my case, it started out milder—just a tingling sensation at night or in the mornings—but eventually, it progressed to total numbness. For about a month and a half, I couldn't feel anything at all. It was unsettling; it felt like my fingertips didn't even belong to me. It’s a terrible sensation, but eventually, the feeling returns along with the swelling subsiding.

copperowl51 said:I had a total meltdown at the doctor's office today. I only popped in to pick up some paperwork, but my regular physician is on vacation, so I was seeing a substitute. I handed my insurance card to the nurse, and she just told me to hang tight. So, I waited. And waited. And waited... Not to mention, I’m eight months pregnant and my belly is practically out in front of me. She kept calling in everyone who was "hers," even people who showed up forty-five minutes after I did! Then, she ducks into my doctor's exam room, and a group of guys just hangs out by the door, blocking my way. Honestly, I stayed quiet because I didn't have the energy for an argument, but my blood pressure felt so low I was genuinely worried I might pass out right there.
When I finally made it to the front, the doctor just grabbed my file and pulled out the completed paperwork my regular doctor had already prepared!!! All that for almost two hours of waiting. I was so close to tears from pure frustration; I just muttered that I'd been waiting a bit too long, and they had the nerve to reply, "Oh, we didn't realize everything was already ready." 😠

This has never happened to me, and here is why: whenever I need something from my doctor, I knock on the door or catch them as someone is leaving. I use my most pathetic, martyr-like voice to explain how terrible I feel and that I just need my papers quickly because my car broke down, I walked here, I live far away, and I'm terrified I might pass out. One time it was low blood pressure, another time it was a stomach bug, another time it was abdominal pain—and sure enough, once a doctor hears "pregnant woman with abdominal pain," they move you to the front of the line. Use a little creativity, people. It doesn't occur to me to just sit there and take it while they act unprofessionally.

Roger Sullivan66 said:It drives me crazy that I’m the only one feeling the urge to prep everything for the baby and get the house in order. Then my husband has the nerve to say, "Oh, look at you, getting all nesting-ready," while my blood pressure is hitting the ceiling. Honestly? Part of me just wants to blow the whole thing up—let him handle the cleaning and the prep his way while I’m stuck in the hospital. But then again, if I did that, my mom would just swoop in to fix everything, and he still wouldn't lift a finger. The baby would end up coming home wearing his old oversized T-shirt, and the family would immediately ditch the diapers, letting her build immunity by rolling around in the dirt and leftover scraps from some backyard BBQ... probably even disinfecting the umbilical cord with cheap bourbon or something.
I can barely tolerate myself lately, but it’s not even funny. It honestly feels easier for me to pull every single book off the shelves, dust them, and put them back than it does for him to help.

I’d give every man out there just one hour of that week 39 pregnancy bliss—specifically during those six minutes of active labor. Maybe then they’d actually see things differently (assuming they even survived 😬).

That whole situation used to infuriate me too, especially since our move was delayed throughout the entire pregnancy just because of pure laziness. In the end, he actually managed to get everything done while I was in the hospital—the move and all that—but knowing him, I insisted on hiring a cleaning service. It’s worth every penny, rather than $12/h!
Why don't you all do the same? Just hire someone to get everything spotless the day before you head home from the hospital. I highly recommend my 🙂

Meow. We’re cut from the same cloth. 😁
Same here. I know people ask questions just to engage in that empty, verbal hair-stroking, but that doesn't sit right with me. I prefer to say exactly what's on my mind. Likewise, I don't bother asking how someone is if I genuinely don't care; I'll either ask what's actually new, or I won't ask anything at all. It also irritates me when people give those overly polite, scripted responses. I communicate to actually connect, not to perform some act of courtesy. That said, it's obvious most people have no idea how to truly communicate, which is why their relationships remain so superficial. I see no reason to seek friendship with people like that, so naturally, my circle is small. But whatever—how many people actually have a core group of real friends they can lean on?

First off, it’s entirely possible you’re feeling early pregnancy symptoms. I knew I was pregnant the very next day—I was 100% certain—but that’s purely subjective. Some women don't realize they're pregnant until three months in. Don't panic; breast tenderness can just be a side effect of ovulation. Regardless, a test won't pick up anything until at least two weeks after ovulation, so it's simply too early right now. Just wait for your period to arrive, then test whether it shows up or not. Some women experience spotting during those first few months of pregnancy as well.

I call my loved ones "fat" and "chubby," provided they aren't actually overweight. It’s just an affectionate nickname. I have a friend who is nearly 6'7" and weighs less than 165 pounds, yet I still call him "big guy." My visiting nurse from the clinic practically lost it laughing when she realized that was his nickname. If people are genuinely offended, fine, I can stop—but I don't see the issue. Pregnant women are naturally round, and I certainly didn't feel insulted when people commented on how huge I looked. There's no malice intended. Besides, I won't stay this size forever.

cosmicviper21 said:Look, here’s the deal: I’ve been through this once already, and I had the exact same experience where everyone tried to scare the life out of me with these endless horror stories about how much it hurts and how I should brace myself for the worst possible pain imaginable. I was just like, "Okay, but why wouldn't I be able to handle it if you did, especially considering how many people in the US actually make it through this without dying?" 😠And that was that. Anyway, I didn't let it get in my head; I just tried to enjoy the moment. When things actually started going down during labor, I prepared for the worst, but I was honestly shocked by how manageable it actually was. I gave birth in like two hours. Yeah, it hurts—it definitely hurts—but it’s a kind of pain you can push through, and it doesn't last forever. Plus, you get that massive reward afterward and everything just fades away. At least, that’s how it went for me.🙂

I honestly can't stand any of you who claim birth was easy. Mine lasted nine hours and it was brutally painful, though it passed and most of the memory has faded. It's something that happens and then it's over. In two years, I could do it again. It also annoyed me how everyone felt the need to tell me their entire life story. Pregnant women seem to be magnets for lunatics, but get used to it, because it won't be any different once the baby arrives. Just the other day, I was walking with a friend who isn't pregnant, and some woman walks up to *her* and says, "How sweet, a future mom," and she replies, "I'm not pregnant," and the woman just insists, "Oh yes, you look like you are." 😲🤣Then she turns to me and asks, "What a cute baby, how long did it take you to give birth? Was the pain intense?" I just told her, "Not really, I was reading the Wall Street Journal at the table and didn't feel a thing." 😂

The absolute worst part was dealing with the trash left behind on the light rail; nobody would even dream of picking it up. It’s always those aggressive middle-aged women or younger retirees acting entitled. Then you have the idiots at the Target checkout—people who jump into the priority lane meant for pregnant women or people with disabilities just because they don't want to wait in the main line. I’ll grab a single loaf of bread, and suddenly they’re lecturing me about using the express lane. Fine, use the express lane, but I also use the priority lane when I see someone who actually needs it. If you show me proof of pregnancy or a disability card, I’ll gladly let you go ahead. But of course, once I call them out, it’s always "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize." What is wrong with people? Are you blind? My stomach is practically touching my teeth. Or they give me the usual lines: "What, are you just standing here for fifteen minutes? I'm catching a bus!" or "Why are you in such a rush?" No, lady, maternity leave exists specifically so I don't have to spend an hour vibrating with rage in a grocery line. Idiots.
Beyond that, I am beyond frustrated with the IRS. They are calculating maternity benefits based on an average net pay that has already been stripped of social security, income tax, AND local surcharges, despite having absolutely no legal basis to do so. We should be looking into a class-action lawsuit.

Sarah Johnson7 said:One time after a question like that, I totally snapped and told them, "What, you wanna know if we're actually having sex?! Yeah, we're doing it all the time!" That shut them up pretty quick. 🙂

I once told someone we couldn't get pregnant and faked a crying spell. She’ll never ask anyone anything that personal again. Honestly, I wouldn't even ask my own brother. People like that are just revolting. ☕

What annoyed me most was having to argue every single time at Walmart after deciding to use the express lane (since I'm 8 months along). I’d give them this giant, fake smile and say, "It's just this!" The rest of the line would chime in: "Well, use the fast lane!" I’d drop the smile and go, "Yeah, and I also have the one where pregnant women get priority. So, where's your baby bump?"

And then there's the way everyone suddenly stares out the window when I board a bus. That’s what I find truly pathetic. I have never once failed to give up a seat to a pregnant woman, a parent with a small child, or someone with a disability. Never. I even stood up once during my seventh month for a woman who was further along than I was, simply because nobody else bothered.

When did you actually take the test? Most of these kits work by detecting elevated levels of hCG—the pregnancy hormone—in urine, and those levels typically don't spike until about two weeks after ovulation. If you tested too early, that explains the negative result. Either way, just run another one. And for what it's worth, price doesn't necessarily dictate reliability; it's more about the specific reagents used in the reaction. Some brands are sensitive enough to pick up lower hormone concentrations earlier, while others might require you to miss a period before they show anything. Just retest and you'll have your answer. There are plenty of other reasons why your cycle might be off, too. Good luck. 😉