What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?
in Pregnancy ·
I suppose I should start by saying that things aren't exactly moving at the speed they used to. It’s funny, really. You look back at how we used to handle things—everything felt so much more direct, almost blunt. Now? It feels like we're all walking on eggshells, navigating this strange, modern landscape where every word is weighed and measured before it ever hits the air. It's exhausting, if I'm being honest. I was thinking about this earlier while sitting in a coffee shop in Seattle—just watching the rain hit the window and wondering when the conversation became so... cautious. We used to have these long, sprawling debates where you could actually feel the friction of differing ideas. There was a certain warmth in that disagreement. Nowadays, it feels like everyone is just waiting for their turn to speak rather than actually listening. Or maybe I'm just getting old. That's probably it. A little bit of cynicism creeping in with the gray hairs. Anyway, I saw what **boldpuma9** was saying the other day regarding the recent shifts in policy. It’s an interesting take. Very measured. I think there’s a lot of merit to the idea that we’ve lost some of that fundamental grit. We prioritize comfort over substance too often. It’s a quiet shift, but a massive one. Not many people seem to notice because it happens so gradually, like the tide coming in. You don't realize you're underwater until you can't breathe. But that's just my two cents. I tend to wander off into these tangents quite a bit. It's a habit. One doesn't simply arrive at a conclusion without taking a few scenic detours along the way. It’s better that way, I think. Life isn't a straight line, so why should our thoughts be? kaže:
Of all the physical symptoms, the one that caught me completely off guard—and honestly, the one that’s been the biggest headache—is the nausea. I’m about 20 weeks along now, so I've hit that halfway mark, but the sickness hasn't really let up. It's just these ridiculous bouts of nausea triggered by smells. Not even every smell, mind you, just certain ones that hit me at the wrong time. It's incredibly irritating.😁
I try to steer clear of perfumes, deodorants, body washes, lotions, creams... even toothpaste. I usually just stick to some unscented shower gel, a basic baby oil, and a plain moisturizer for stretch marks. It’s better that way. Honestly, I can’t imagine being stuck on a Greyhound bus next to someone eating a massive deli sandwich or a heavy breakfast roll. Just thinking about those smells gives me a bit of an upset stomach.
I mean, I’ve had those moments where the mere thought of my toothbrush—just the smell of it, or even just seeing it sitting there by the sink after the tenth time—makes my stomach do a complete somersault. It’s that specific kind of nausea where you’re convinced you’re about to lose it right then and there. Honestly, though, looking back, maybe I didn't actually get sick as much as I thought I would. I think part of it was just because I was hyper-focused on all that clutter around the sink, trying to manage the mess, which probably kept me from actually losing my lunch.
I’m still—well, I probably shouldn't even bring this up—but I’ve been brushing my teeth with... It’s all about the kids. Everything we do, really. It feels like we spend half our lives just trying to figure out what’s best for them, doesn't it? Whether it's school supplies or just making sure they have enough energy to run around the neighborhood, it's a full-time job. Just an endless cycle of planning for their future. Makes you think about what kind of world we're actually leaving behind for them. Constant deliberation. That's the reality of it. I actually ended up convincing my dear old friend to join me for a round with the Kaladont set once upon a time. Just one of those things that happened. 🤣
I couldn't even bring myself to touch the hot food. It was honestly just stomach-turning. Even the hot drinks... yeah, total gag factor there too.
I ended up drinking some sparkling water, mostly because my stomach was actually behaving itself for once. I don’t usually go for the carbonated stuff—honestly, I can barely stand it more than a couple times a year—but every now and then, maybe a bottle of seltzer during the week if I'm feeling it. It just felt right in the moment.
So, I finally gave up the coffee thing after about two years. Once I found out I was pregnant, even just the smell of it started making me feel pretty nauseous, you know? It’s funny how that works. 🙄
I completely blanked. Just... gone. Total mental fog. Fabric softeners. It’s funny how we just accept them as a staple in the laundry room, isn't it? You go to Target or Walmart, grab a big jug of whatever scented stuff is on sale, and toss it in with the wash. We’ve been conditioned to think that "soft" equals "clean," but I’ve always had this nagging feeling that we might be overcomplicating things. I was reading about how these chemicals actually coat the fibers of our clothes—kind of like putting a thin layer of wax on a car—just to make them feel smoother against the skin. It works, sure. Your towels come out fluffy, and everything smells like a field of lavender in the Midwest. But then you start thinking about the buildup. You know that weird, waxy residue that starts to accumulate on towels after a few months? That’s the softener doing its job a little too well. I’ve been experimenting with skipping the liquid stuff entirely lately. Honestly, some of the scents they use are just... intense. A bit much for someone who prefers a more neutral home vibe. I tried using a bit of white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead. It sounds like some old-fashioned housewife trick, but it actually works remarkably well at cutting through soap scum without leaving that heavy chemical film behind. Plus, once the clothes dry, the vinegar smell is completely gone. It’s one of those small, domestic pivots that makes you realize how many products we use simply because they're there on the shelf. Not everything needs a fancy, brightly colored bottle to be effective. Sometimes, the simplest route is the most sensible one. Just a thought.It’s just not the same anymore. Honestly, whenever I’m doing the laundry, there’s this lingering sense that things have changed. I even had to tell my mom to stay far away from the washing machine for a while—told her straight up, don't you dare buy that specific brand again, even after you've had kids. I'm done with it. It’s officially blacklisted in my house. There were those times, too... a couple of instances where the smell was just revolting. Even when the clothes were clean and hanging out to dry in the middle of a hot July afternoon, that scent would hit me, and I'd feel physically sick. Just completely nauseating.
I tend to just... shield my nose with my hand whenever I'm walking past someone smoking outside, or if there's just some really intense smell lingering in the air. It's a habit. Just a quick little gesture to block it out.
As for the mental health side of things:
I don't know... I honestly can't quite put my finger on why I’ve been feeling this way. It’s just... everything. I find myself getting overwhelmed by the smallest, most insignificant things lately. I’ll be sitting there, minding my own business, and then suddenly I'm just breaking down in tears over something totally trivial. It feels almost unbelievable how easily it happens. Just constant, heavy sadness triggered by every little thing. It's a lot.
I’m really not exactly the "glowing, overjoyed pregnant woman" type right now, and honestly, the guilt is starting to eat at me. I have a hundred other things on my plate that need addressing, and sometimes it feels like the people around me just don't get it. To be perfectly blunt—the baby wasn't exactly planned for this specific moment. We were aiming for a few months down the road, and even in my wildest dreams, I never imagined we’d actually succeed on the first try. So, I don't feel bad about the timing. What I do feel bad about is that I can't seem to find that sense of happiness or relaxation. I just want to be better—for myself, and for the baby.
I’m sure I’ll think of something else soon enough. Give me a moment.
The physical symptoms are basically identical to mine. I don't have much of an issue with hot food or drinks, though. That’s not my struggle. For me, it’s constant nausea—just about everything triggers it. And those fabric softeners? They smell absolutely revolting to me. Like something's gone terribly wrong.