What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

I remember back when I was four months pregnant, someone actually had the nerve to ask me, "So, did it come back to life?"😱😱😱

So, since I’ve got a Golden Retriever, people always love to hit me with that classic line: "Oh, once the baby arrives, you won't have any time to walk the dog anymore," which honestly drives me absolutely insane... because I’m actually a responsible person and I'm not just winging it, so I’ll always make time for my pup, especially since he brings me so much joy that he's basically the reason I even managed to get pregnant in the first place... plus, my husband is totally on board to watch the little one while I take the dog out at least once a day. And then there are the people who tell me not to walk him too much now that I'm pregnant... like, hellooo, why wouldn't I???? I am perfectly healthy, my doctor says everything looks great and that I can walk as much as I want, but there's always some smart-aleck out there who'd rather just sit on the couch all day instead of getting some fresh air.... honestly, people irritate me more than anything else, though I was actually surprised that I'm not gaining as much weight as I expected, since I'm usually a total foodie and prone to packing on the pounds... hopefully, I won't jinx myself by saying that out loud!

Dana Murphy said:Honestly, nothing bugs me more than trying to sleep while pregnant 🙄
I just can't get comfortable—I've got like ten pillows everywhere... I'm constantly tossing and turning because my hips start aching after a bit 🙄
Then, once I finally settle down and drift off, some damn mosquito starts buzzing right by my ear 🙂 or, you know, the usual—I have to run to the bathroom 😠

Signature: Aside from having to wrestle with three different pillows just to get comfortable—two under my head and one between my legs—it’s actually too cold here for mosquitoes to even bother showing up. :)

Kate Cox2 said:Even worse is when they throw in those little parting shots, like, "Well, just you wait...". (Whether it's when you're heading to the hospital, when the baby arrives, or even once they start daycare... there's always some unsolicited "wisdom" ready to go.)

Good grief, honestly—it sounds less like advice and more like a veiled threat.🙄
Just... please, leave me alone! :2up:

A girl I know just gave me that classic line—you know the one—something like, "Oh, you have absolutely no idea what's coming for you." Typical. 🙄 So, when I start venting about how this or that is getting on my nerves... well, what am I supposed to do? Just shut up? If you're going to ask me how I'm doing, you kind of have to be prepared for the actual answer.

Jacob Castillo60 said:I don't really mind other people being around, but I absolutely cannot stand anyone touching my stomach area!

Plus, my skin has become incredibly dry lately, and no matter what I try, nothing seems to work quite right; I actually tried mixing some raw shea butter with almond oil myself to keep things completely natural, but honestly, it’s only providing temporary relief, because even as I'm typing this, the skin on my hands feels so tight it's like I'm wearing gloves that are several sizes too small!!

And to be honest, I'm feeling pretty anxious because after having one spontaneous miscarriage, I find that every single time I experience any spotting now, I can barely muster the courage to actually check what color it is!!

I feel that... though honestly, there are days when I just can't be bothered to deal with all the upkeep. :(

Benjamin Roberts5 said:Honestly, my skin has never felt better or softer than it does right now during this pregnancy.🤷
I guess I'm one of those lucky few when it comes to that... it's seriously soft, like a baby's bottom.😍

And I actually don't mind at all when people touch my belly. 😍
Actually, I kind of love it.
But people always ask if it's okay first, which is nice. It's rare to find someone who just reaches out without asking...

It doesn’t bother me personally—I mean, I only deal with one or two people here, mostly just some colleagues from work. Strangers don't really approach me, and honestly, I have zero desire to hang around them anyway—the language barrier makes it a massive chore. It just gets on my nerves having to constantly explain that I don't speak much English—as if anyone actually gives a damn. 😠 : (

ugh;27406289.....personally, I think pure, unrefined coconut butter is absolute gold[/B says:
, half a pound $33, and I use it for everything—cooking, skin moisturizer, hands, lips, even a hair mask

I once picked up a great one—smelled amazing, very coconutty—and then after dropping my cash here, I get home and this one smells totally rancid despite being well within its expiration date. Just a huge letdown... what am I supposed to do, just gamble my money every time hoping it isn't another dud? 🤷 So I gave up and just stick to standard lotions from Target😢

Lawrence Hughes66 said:I remember back when I was four months pregnant, someone actually had the nerve to ask me, "So, did it come back to life?"😱😱😱

That is just awful 😲 I eventually got the explanation that they meant "has it started moving yet?"... but still, damn... people really need to watch their wording🙂

I’d also add that I was genuinely surprised by how poorly I’ve been handling pregnancy, though I was told that people who are naturally more sensitive tend to struggle more with these shifts, which makes sense, I guess.

It’s wild how much changes—both physically and mentally. I don't think I'll ever look at a pregnant woman the same way again; before, it was always "oh, look!" 😍 Now it's more like: "yeah, I know how you feel, hang in there, you've got this."

P.S. I had to 'kill off' some of your emojis—don't hate me... it's a stupid rule that you can't use more than ten

Honestly, my own mood swings are probably what gets under my skin the most. I feel like I’m constantly tearing up or just stuck in this depressive funk, and I know I’m being a total pain to myself. It’s like I’ve become obsessed with these random things that weren't even on my radar a few months ago. For instance, I’ll be dreaming at night that I can’t find the right stroller, or I’m wandering through Target searching for newborn onesies specifically with those snap closures... then I wake up drenched in sweat because I couldn't find anything, and in my dream, it felt absolutely vital that they had those snaps because apparently, everyone on some parenting blog says they're way easier to use. 🙂 I’m just constantly wound up in this knot of anxiety, even though I know deep down that none of this actually matters, but I just can't seem to help myself.

And then there’s my husband, who drives me crazy by constantly asking me what’s wrong. Just telling him that I’m pregnant and feeling on edge doesn't cut it; he insists on a full, detailed breakdown of exactly what the issue is. 🤷

My girlfriends are getting on my nerves too, always asking if I’m feeling all "overjoyed" and "blessed," and then they give me this look of pure confusion when I admit that I’m not.

Even the "experienced moms" in my circle are starting to grate on me—they try to convince me that they’re the only ones who know what they're doing and that I have to follow their exact playbook.

Then there are the endless comments about how my belly looks too small for being eight months along, and people questioning if everything is actually okay. A few days ago, my neighbor actually cornered me in the apartment hallway to ask if I was even seeing an OB-GYN. 😲

On the bright side, though, my skin has turned absolutely gorgeous! I catch myself constantly touching it, still kind of in disbelief at how good it looks. 🤣

So, I’m definitely going to go take a soak today since the sun is finally out. Maybe things will start looking up...

It honestly bugs me how some people just don't seem to realize they shouldn't be dumping heavy tragedies on someone who's pregnant—like, I'll be grabbing coffee with a friend and she starts telling me all about her recent miscarriage, and I'm just sitting there thinking, "Are you actually telling me this right now?"... If I’d had more sense, I probably would've just stood up and walked out... It left me feeling so shaken I couldn't even sleep all night.🤷

Amanda Davis12 said:It honestly bugs me how some people just don't seem to realize they shouldn't be dumping heavy tragedies on someone who's pregnant—like, I'll be grabbing coffee with a friend and she starts telling me all about her recent miscarriage, and I'm just sitting there thinking, "Are you actually telling me this right now?"... If I’d had more sense, I probably would've just stood up and walked out... It left me feeling so shaken I couldn't even sleep all night.🤷

In any case... it really does drive you crazy...
Oh, and another thing that irritates me—when people start having kids and suddenly act like they have to give away their dog 😕 ....as if that’s even an option.

Anthony Johnson2 said:In any case... it really does drive you crazy...
Oh, and another thing that irritates me—when people start having kids and suddenly act like they have to give away their dog 😕 ....as if that’s even an option.

Oh, absolutely... and then there's that lovely little disclaimer about how the dog is "jealous" and you shouldn't let them near the baby 🙄
Look, first off—and obviously—we’re going to be incredibly careful. We'll watch how they react, and sure, there might be a little jealousy there—dogs are living creatures, after all—and we'll work on helping them adjust. BUT, if we actually need advice from random strangers who haven't even laid eyes on our dog? THANKS, BUT NO THANKS.
😠

It honestly drives me crazy how my sister-in-law—who’s actually younger than me by just six weeks—gets all the attention during her pregnancy. Every time they post an update, everyone goes "wow," but when I try to share something, it's just a lukewarm "oh, okay." Like, the other day I told them I finally felt the baby kick, and instead of a "that's amazing!" or "I'm so happy for you!", she just immediately pivoted to talking about how her little one is constantly moving around. It’s like my milestones don't even count.

My skin gets so dry after a shower, but I've been using Vaseline, and it works wonders; I feel so soft and smooth afterward.
And don't even get me started on stretch marks. They drive me absolutely insane—no matter how much lotion I apply, they just keep appearing!

vividhawk87 said:It honestly drives me crazy how my sister-in-law—who’s actually younger than me by just six weeks—gets all the attention during her pregnancy. Every time they post an update, everyone goes "wow," but when I try to share something, it's just a lukewarm "oh, okay." Like, the other day I told them I finally felt the baby kick, and instead of a "that's amazing!" or "I'm so happy for you!", she just immediately pivoted to talking about how her little one is constantly moving around. It’s like my milestones don't even count.

My skin gets so dry after a shower, but I've been using Vaseline, and it works wonders; I feel so soft and smooth afterward.
And don't even get me started on stretch marks. They drive me absolutely insane—no matter how much lotion I apply, they just keep appearing!

Good grief...😢 I find myself contemplating the profound importance of one's sleeping arrangements. It is a matter of significant gravity, really. A bed is not merely a piece of furniture; it is the very foundation of our physical and mental restoration! One cannot simply underestimate the impact of a quality mattress on one's daily productivity and overall temperament. I often find myself drifting into long discussions regarding thread counts and lumbar support—it's quite essential for maintaining a balanced lifestyle in this fast-paced American society. Truly, we must prioritize our rest if we expect to thrive.
I find myself genuinely perplexed by the lack of enthusiasm surrounding your recent changes. Honestly, I am struggling to grasp how nobody is celebrating this! It feels like such a monumental shift, yet there is this inexplicable silence where there should be widespread applause.

loneridge94 said:Honestly, my own mood swings are probably what gets under my skin the most. I feel like I’m constantly tearing up or just stuck in this depressive funk, and I know I’m being a total pain to myself. It’s like I’ve become obsessed with these random things that weren't even on my radar a few months ago. For instance, I’ll be dreaming at night that I can’t find the right stroller, or I’m wandering through Target searching for newborn onesies specifically with those snap closures... then I wake up drenched in sweat because I couldn't find anything, and in my dream, it felt absolutely vital that they had those snaps because apparently, everyone on some parenting blog says they're way easier to use. 🙂 I’m just constantly wound up in this knot of anxiety, even though I know deep down that none of this actually matters, but I just can't seem to help myself.

And then there’s my husband, who drives me crazy by constantly asking me what’s wrong. Just telling him that I’m pregnant and feeling on edge doesn't cut it; he insists on a full, detailed breakdown of exactly what the issue is. 🤷

My girlfriends are getting on my nerves too, always asking if I’m feeling all "overjoyed" and "blessed," and then they give me this look of pure confusion when I admit that I’m not.

Even the "experienced moms" in my circle are starting to grate on me—they try to convince me that they’re the only ones who know what they're doing and that I have to follow their exact playbook.

Then there are the endless comments about how my belly looks too small for being eight months along, and people questioning if everything is actually okay. A few days ago, my neighbor actually cornered me in the apartment hallway to ask if I was even seeing an OB-GYN. 😲

On the bright side, though, my skin has turned absolutely gorgeous! I catch myself constantly touching it, still kind of in disbelief at how good it looks. 🤣

So, I’m definitely going to go take a soak today since the sun is finally out. Maybe things will start looking up...

😂😂😂 That was too good. You really gave me a laugh.
Hang in there, these moods will pass 😘

So, I head to my dentist to get some work done on a tooth. I ask for a local anesthetic to dull the pain, and she just looks at me with this cynical smirk and goes, "...well, how are you planning on giving birth?!" 😲 How is she supposed to not get on my nerves? 😠

Kate Cox2 said:Even worse is when they throw in those little parting shots, like, "Well, just you wait...". (Whether it's when you're heading to the hospital, when the baby arrives, or even once they start daycare... there's always some unsolicited "wisdom" ready to go.)

Good grief, honestly—it sounds less like advice and more like a veiled threat.🙄
Just... please, leave me alone! :2up:

Hahaha, I feel the exact same way

It’s been boring for ages... "Just wait until you have kids of your own!" Well, oh, we'll definitely see😁
I guess I'll just turn off my phone and walk on eggshells whenever the baby naps, all the way until they start school
Maybe I'll force guests to whisper while the kid sleeps and make everyone shut up whenever the child speaks
And so on...☕

Amanda Davis12 said:It honestly bugs me how some people just don't seem to realize they shouldn't be dumping heavy tragedies on someone who's pregnant—like, I'll be grabbing coffee with a friend and she starts telling me all about her recent miscarriage, and I'm just sitting there thinking, "Are you actually telling me this right now?"... If I’d had more sense, I probably would've just stood up and walked out... It left me feeling so shaken I couldn't even sleep all night.🤷

And then there's my mother-in-law, always going on about some woman who had a C-section and supposedly didn't get enough anesthesia, so she felt everything and everything went wrong, etc., etc. ☕

Everyone seems to have these intense horror stories or "interesting" tales about giving birth 🤷

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Oh, absolutely... and then there's that lovely little disclaimer about how the dog is "jealous" and you shouldn't let them near the baby 🙄
Look, first off—and obviously—we’re going to be incredibly careful. We'll watch how they react, and sure, there might be a little jealousy there—dogs are living creatures, after all—and we'll work on helping them adjust. BUT, if we actually need advice from random strangers who haven't even laid eyes on our dog? THANKS, BUT NO THANKS.
😠

That is the absolute truth... as if I don't already know my manager can be a handful... but she's mine, and she'll learn how to handle kids eventually too...

Kudos to this thread...
I find myself agreeing with the first point—men are definitely more likely to play the gentleman than women are 🙏
To be honest, even now at 36 weeks pregnant, I can't say that being pregnant ever actually gives you an advantage 👎 I remember before I was pregnant, just watching those women with huge bellies lugging heavy grocery bags or standing in line for twenty minutes because some grumpy lady ahead of them—who probably worked the fields manually right up until her delivery—refused to let a pregnant woman go first 🙄 and I always let them go ahead of me... I haven't experienced that courtesy myself once, except for that single instance when a woman my age at Walgreens let me cut in front because her cart was overflowing. I didn't even ask, she just did it... the ONE AND ONLY time in 36 weeks of pregnancy

And then there’s the sheer annoyance of people coming at me with comments like, "Where is your bump?" (I'm carrying a small baby in here—YES, with emphasis on SMALL, you don't need to rub it in) or "You looked bigger in your fifth month," which, honestly, what is wrong with people?!
Or the unsolicited medical advice: "You know, if the baby is breech, they'll have a flat head and hip issues..." Just complete nonsense

I've made a vow not to lecture my friends, acquaintances, or colleagues when they experience their first pregnancy just because I've been through it too. If someone asks for my input, I'll gladly help, but offering unsolicited advice is out of the question

Don't even get me started on the birth stories... You'll inevitably run into someone who tries to bring you down by describing their grueling labor. No, I wasn't under the impression it wouldn't hurt when this "tiny" creature is forced through a hole the size of a cucumber 🙄

Then there's the stuff about pets. We have a cat... and the constant, infuriating questions about how we'll manage with a cat. "You know they get jealous," "You won't be able to handle it," "Cat hair is toxic"... Honestly, just shut it. I'm not asking you to babysit my cat and my child; I'll figure out the logistics myself!!

I was actually pretty stunned today by how decent people were on the bus—a pregnant woman with a kid hopped on and three people immediately jumped up to give her their seats... and I'm talking older ladies here, since I was basically the only young person on the bus. Then, a few stops later, this guy gets on with a four or five-year-old, and once again, people just stood up and gave up their spots... honestly, it's hard to believe 🙂

Honestly, I find the constant commentary regarding my large bump quite grating—as if I have some direct control over its shape or size just because the baby is growing fast... as though it's a choice I'm making daily.

The gender guessing games get under my skin too... everyone makes their predictions, and then when they’re wrong and it turns out to be another little girl, they act surprised. Personally, I am just profoundly grateful that the baby is healthy and thriving; the gender itself is entirely inconsequential to me.

Then there is the matter of the name we’ve chosen—Kko—which carries the lovely meaning of "dear." Everyone seems convinced they will inevitably end up calling him "Dragec"... well, they can certainly try.

copperfox172 said:So, I head to my dentist to get some work done on a tooth. I ask for a local anesthetic to dull the pain, and she just looks at me with this cynical smirk and goes, "...well, how are you planning on giving birth?!" 😲 How is she supposed to not get on my nerves? 😠

That is so unprofessional! I’d be looking for a new dentist immediately

And regarding those weird dreams: my husband was complaining one morning that I kept waking him up in my sleep by rambling about strollers... he said I was just mumbling "stroller, stroller..." over and over.
That was before we actually bought one, so thankfully the sleep-talking stopped once we did.🤣
Poor guy—I spent months badgering him about it during the day, and then apparently I was still hitting him with it at night too (he told me he was sick of hearing about strollers, and I tried to respect that, but my subconscious clearly had other plans).

As for the belly, people are always judging—saying it's way too big or way too small...

But this part really ticked me off: most of our furniture is light-colored (basically all white), and then my friends come over and act like it's a crime, saying, "Oh man, good luck cleaning that, the baby is going to wreck everything!" It's like they think babies are born covered in spray paint or something...

Amanda Davis12 said:It honestly bugs me how some people just don't seem to realize they shouldn't be dumping heavy tragedies on someone who's pregnant—like, I'll be grabbing coffee with a friend and she starts telling me all about her recent miscarriage, and I'm just sitting there thinking, "Are you actually telling me this right now?"... If I’d had more sense, I probably would've just stood up and walked out... It left me feeling so shaken I couldn't even sleep all night.🤷

This caught me totally off guard too.
Jesus, I can't tell you how many horror stories I've heard about failed twin pregnancies.
Until I started getting sick and basically telling everyone to go screw themselves for bringing it up. 😁
And honestly, the sheer amount of negative comments regarding my twins surprised me:
just constant stuff like, "oh you poor thing," "enjoy sleep while you can because you'll never again," "you're gonna be huge," "how are you gonna handle two?", "you have no idea what's coming," "it's gonna be double the work," "you'll neglect your husband," and... well, you get the idea...
Look, maybe some of that stuff is actually true, but if you don't feel the need to say something nice to a pregnant woman, then honestly, screw you.
We've got enough fears and paranoia on our own without other people piling it on top of us...
🙂

People really surprised me today... the decency is just gone. No courtesy toward pregnant women, nothing. You're standing there waiting in line and people act like you're invisible. Then you've got these others hovering, trying to cut in because they're so desperate to grab whatever they're buying. Like, seriously? wtf?😕

Being pregnant doesn't give you any kind of edge anymore. If you try to step ahead, you practically have to announce, "Hey, I'm pregnant, I get priority." And honestly, I don't feel like doing that. Look, man, if you can't see it, you just can't see it.🤣

And my neighbor... oh boy.🤦The other day she actually asked me if the baby had "come back to life."🙄
I told her: It’s been alive since the start, T. We even felt the first movements around seven weeks, though it was barely noticeable then. God, I hate that old-school way of putting things... "come back to life."🤣