What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

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.

it's the exact same thing over here....like, what are you even gonna do with a dog once you have a baby? suddenly you won't have time for walks or anything??? honestly, I'll always make time for my dog, that's just how it is... the only people who can't manage that are the irresponsible ones who don't actually care about their pets...

Kate Cox2 said:It honestly drove me absolutely insane how everyone would act so judgmental the moment they realized I was wearing thongs. It’s as if it were some sort of strictly forbidden ritual during pregnancy...😁
I truly haven't the slightest clue why people care; I kept wearing them without any issue whatsoever, though I did finally pick up some standard briefs just recently. But then again, as I have remarked before—I am quite a resilient individual, and nothing really bothers me much.😁

And another thing... you actually drive a car???? 😲That simply cannot be allowed!!!! Honestly, you aren't supposed to do that at all... 🙄

Same deal here, both with the thongs and the driving!!
Another thing that bugs me is that classic question: "Are you still working?" People look at me like I've lost my mind. And the best advice ever: "Just make sure you don't overexert yourself!!!" As if typing on a laptop is basically lifting heavy crates in a warehouse.😁

Douglas Booth22 said:The only thing that really gets under my skin lately is being asked: "What are you going to do about the cat?" 🙄 My Figo is such a good boy; he sleeps right in his own basket and nowhere else. Before the baby arrives, we’re taking him in for his checkup and neutering, so there won't be any issues.
Honestly, I wouldn't dream of getting rid of him now—he’s a full member of this family and we absolutely adore him. 😍

Yeah, I'm with you on that. It feels like everyone is constantly asking us what we're planning to do with the cat.😂 Of course he's staying! He's part of the family, and we've had him for almost four years now. He's up to date on shots, he's neutered, and I just know the little one is going to love him.😍😍

Count me in for the thong debate too 😁 honestly, I’ve been roasted by pretty much everyone about it (well, except for Sarah Harris5)... but look, I’ve been wearing them for years because they’re just way more comfortable, and I’m not about to quit just because people want to act up... 🤷 plus, it drives me absolutely insane when some random stranger on the subway or the city bus walks right up to me and starts interrogating me about whether I’m pregnant (thankfully, nobody’s actually tried to grab my stomach yet)... I wouldn't say I'm a super shy guy, but man, give me some space, you know? (because it seriously happens to me all the time)

I showed up at my OBGYN’s office at 6:45 AM to grab that maternity leave paperwork, and there were already seven women ahead of me. Then three massive pregnant women lined up right behind me, and not a single person thought to let the three of us who actually look like we're struggling go first... just sad...

Edward Williams8 said:I showed up at my OBGYN’s office at 6:45 AM to grab that maternity leave paperwork, and there were already seven women ahead of me. Then three massive pregnant women lined up right behind me, and not a single person thought to let the three of us who actually look like we're struggling go first... just sad...

Look, even at my doctor's office, there’s no such thing as an "express lane" for pregnant women... I mean, how are they even supposed to tell who's actually expecting and who isn't? Personally, I don't care about cutting in line. Dealing with the morning sickness was way harder—especially during those early weeks when I was so nauseous I spent the entire waiting room session glued to the seat right next to the restroom, praying I wouldn't lose my lunch right then and there.😉

Honestly, what is it with people lately? You’re trying to have a decent conversation, and instead of actually engaging, they just drift—their eyes darting from your face down to your midsection, then up to your chest, then back down to your stomach again. It’s exhausting.🙄 Hey! If you're going to talk to me, at least have the decency to look me in the eye!!!

The other day I'm just out for a stroll when some losers in a van start whistling at me from behind.
I turn around, they catch a glimpse of my massive gut, and 😲😲😲
so I just 😉

Sarah Harris5 said:Hey ladies, I could really use some tips from anyone who actually manages to stay chill when things get crazy... because honestly, I’d love to master that, especially since my little one totally picks up on my stress vibes.
I swear, I let absolute idiots get under my skin so easily, and then I don't even realize I should've just ignored them until I'm already shaking with rage, and by then, it's too late.
My brother constantly pushes my buttons with basically everything, and I fall for his bait every single time.😵
Help me out here... how do you guys just tune everything out and focus solely on your kid???

As for me... I've pretty much gone full hermit mode. My phone has been turned off for months now, and I only pick up the landline for my grandma or one close friend—everyone else just gets ignored. I spend most of my days going on these super long walks with my dog. I'm avoiding people like the plague, too; I make excuses to my husband so we don't have to go to his family's Sunday dinners, telling him I'm just exhausted, and I tell my girlfriends I'm not really up for hanging out because I'm feeling edgy... but the truth is, I actually feel amazing when I'm by myself, whereas being around them just makes me super anxious. I don't go to coffee shops anymore, and I won't touch any movies or shows that have animal cruelty or tons of violence in them. Instead, I'm reading kids' magazines, popping onto the forums, walking, soaking up the sun, and just messing around with my garden... I'm totally isolated from the whole world... I've even backed off a bit with my favorite grandma because her old-school stories just drain me, but she's elderly so I can't exactly explain to her that it's all just outdated nonsense...

My main sources of irritation lately have been
1. certain people....solution: avoidance.
2. boutique baby stores and their insane price tags....solution: avoidance.
3. letting random comments get under my skin....solution: I only hang out with the good ones—people who actually lift my mood with their comments—so I can actually feel good about myself.
4. college....done. I pushed through, crushed my final exam of the year, and now I am officially free.

So yeah, life is great right now.👍

😁 Basically, dodging the drama is my number one strategy.
(And honestly, I stick to it.)
I’ve realized there are times when people are giving me advice and I don't even hear a word they say because I just subconsciously tune them out.🤣

Same here, though back when I actually had a flat stomach and wasn't showing yet... I bet they made the exact same faces once I got closer...
I’m just gonna print the due date and gender on a T-shirt... I am way too exhausted to keep repeating myself

Honestly, I couldn't care less about any of this.
I can try my best to tune everyone out, but it always finds a way to get through
I can attempt to steer clear of certain people, but there’s always some new individual ready to get under my skin.
The only thing that actually gets to me in those moments is thinking about my baby and the fact that he hears everything—he shouldn't have to listen to this nonsense right now.

I’m thinking about printing this on a T-shirt: "Touch my stomach and you get a slap!"
Honestly, I feel like I’ve already earned a PhD in backward dodging whenever someone reaches out toward me. So far, it’s only worked against one person—someone I least expected it from... and even then, things got pretty heated quite quickly.

Kenneth Sullivan3 said:Honestly, what is it with people lately? You’re trying to have a decent conversation, and instead of actually engaging, they just drift—their eyes darting from your face down to your midsection, then up to your chest, then back down to your stomach again. It’s exhausting.🙄 Hey! If you're going to talk to me, at least have the decency to look me in the eye!!!

Man, I feel that... it's so awkward...
And what's even crazier is that there's nothing to even see yet, and most women don't even mention anything during this phase. But whatever, news travels fast in small towns. And anyone who sees me out on the street based on our conversations just stares at my gut.
They're probably just checking to see if anything is popping out yet.
😠

Also, my dad is getting on my nerves... I mean, obviously he's not going to want a grandkid while I'm still driving a beat-up old Ford Fiesta 😕

But hey, at least they aren't asking when we're having a baby, just when the kid is finally going to start moving.😁

Honestly, I’m such a nervous wreck! If things aren't perfectly organized or if people are unhappy, I just can't sleep.
But then pregnancy hits, my hormones go wild, and suddenly I just don't care about much of anything.
The best strategy? Just avoiding people and annoying situations altogether!
It's also super important to carve out a few hours just for yourself every day—you know, to relax, lie down, read, paint your nails, cook, or whatever makes you happy.
When I think about how much longer I have to hang in there until the baby comes, and knowing from experience how much stuff can go wrong... everything else is just trivial nonsense (yeah, including work and my boss).

Lately, with this heatwave hitting hard, it feels like everywhere I go, people ask me the same thing: "Ma'am, how much longer?" Even the lady at Chase was asking when I was paying off my loan, and I just told her, five. She looked so confused, so I had to clarify—five more payments left—before realizing she actually meant how much longer until my appointment 😂 But seriously, today at the grocery store, yesterday at the bakery, and even my godmother at the farmer's market... everyone asks. When I tell them I've got until August 30th, they all give me that look, like, "Oh man, you're really gonna be dealing with this heat for that long?" Like, yeah, if I have to, wtf??? 😕 Nobody would ever say, "Hey, let's make things easier for you" 🤣

New grievance: hitting up the farmer's market. Ever since I started showing, everyone’s been trying to be "helpful" by stuffing my bags with extra apples and pears... I went out today just for some meat, a pound of fruit, and half a bag of green beans, and somehow I'm walking back with six heavy bags—easily 10 pounds of extra stuff. As if nobody realizes how much of a struggle it is to carry all this while pregnant!

The lady at the bakery yesterday was like, "Hold on, let me pick out the biggest croissant for you," and honestly... made my whole day.

I had such a horrible experience that I spent almost the entire day in tears.
I went down to the DMV 12 miles out in the heat, with temperatures climbing north of 90 degrees, just to deregister my car. The woman behind the counter flat-out refused to take my license plates because she claimed they looked dusty, essentially telling me to get lost and go home to wash them first.
To make matters worse, she started making snide comments, acting like I thought being pregnant entitled me to some kind of special treatment.
She even implied she didn't want to touch the plates because she was afraid of catching some kind of disease from them.
Obviously, I wasn't about to turn around and head home, so I told her I’d just wipe them down with a wet wipe if she really thought they were that dirty—they weren't, honestly, my husband had just cleaned them.
Then she threatened to call her colleagues over unless I stepped outside immediately.
So, I walked out, wiped them down, and suddenly they were "clean enough" for her.
Honestly, part of me regrets not letting her call those colleagues, because since it was just the two of us, how could I ever prove what she said to me?
The main reason I actually stepped outside was because I felt the tears starting to well up, and I refused to give her—or anyone else there—the satisfaction of seeing me break down.
But it doesn't matter; I'm waiting for my chance, and I won't forget her face.
What irritated me most was finding out later that she actually has two kids of her own.
It just goes to show you what kind of women we can be.