What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Frank Morales6 said:I’m heading to the clinic today for my scan—and let’s just say I’ve definitely got the biggest bump in the room.
The waiting room is packed; two guys actually showed up for their 4D ultrasounds.
Then there’s a whole crowd of women who aren't even pregnant, and nobody is saying anything. One girl, whose belly was actually smaller than mine, had the nerve to get up and offer me her chair.
I didn't take it since the room cleared out pretty fast anyway.
But honestly, what is the deal with these pregnant women showing up with their husbands? Why don't they ever say anything to them if it doesn't cross their minds to speak up?

Honestly, even if they're pregnant, some people are just clueless—they were probably like this before they even conceived.
Where is the world heading?
We really need to make "Basic Manners 101" a mandatory subject in elementary school.

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 🙂

Elizabeth Edwards10 said: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 🙂

That's exactly what I decided to do, hire a cleaner... if anyone knows a reliable, meticulous one in RI, let me know..

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 thread always puts me in a certain mood. Sure, there are plenty of nasty stories here, but honestly, it’s just a relief to see I’m not the only one dealing with bad experiences and being a little high-strung...

That part about husbands sitting in waiting rooms 🙏 🙏 is the absolute TRUTH!!! And I totally agree with the point that their wives share the blame too. I've basically concluded that women can be their own worst enemies; I see so many of you irritating other women who seem to have way less empathy than you'd actually expect from a human being.
Yesterday, some young girl was so incredibly rude, just cutting right in front of me for a bathroom stall that I was left speechless. I even mentioned to my husband, "Well, maybe she'll be pregnant one day and end up in the same boat," and he just bluntly snapped back, loud enough for people to hear, "She's such a mess, she probably won't." I ended up feeling more embarrassed for her than she was 🙂

It really gets under my skin when my husband won't let me clean, though I practically have to beg him for five days straight just to get him to touch the vacuum 🙂

plus the fact that my aunts are always sweating (God forbid they were bigger than my chest!)

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." 😠

That reminds me, the same thing happened to me about eight days ago. My doctor was being covered by someone else, and when I went in for my 7-month paperwork, she told me I was TOO EARLY and to come back around the 30th (which is today!!!) 😕 But she handed everything out perfectly fine to her "own" patients—I saw it with my own eyes!! It was never "too early" for them.

My fingers are tingling with this absolutely horrific sensation.
It’s completely draining my energy—and frankly, it’s starting to scare me a little.
Most people have the nerve to tell me it’s "normal"—as if that matters—but it is incredibly aggravating, and quite honestly, it’s enough to move me to tears.

Just got back from the Department of Labor... It wasn't even that I was pissed, more just stunned by how unprofessional those people were...

I went in for my regular monthly check-in and the person at the desk immediately goes, "Oh, you're pregnant," then shouts across the entire hallway, "We've got a pregnant lady over here!"????? I'm just standing there like, are you serious... So I ask why they're sending me away instead of letting me check in, and she says they need to verify things. She calls someone over and says, "I have this lady here "with a belly full of teeth", what am I supposed to do with "the three of them"?"😲

Like, what three people? What are you even talking about?😂

They send me to another room—where it's already getting a bit crazy because I'm in a rush and don't feel like playing musical chairs just because they think I'm special... The woman tells me they didn't know I was pregnant since it wasn't noted anywhere. I told her, why would you need to know if I'm showing up every month and doing everything required? It's not like I'm asking you guys about your dental history...

She insists they have to know. I asked if this changes anything regarding my status at the Department of Labor, and she said no. So I asked, what's the actual issue? She says there's no issue, but they still have to know. I basically told her that since asking a woman if she's pregnant or planning on having kids during an interview is straight-up discriminatory, I'm under no obligation to disclose my pregnancy. The only way they could tell is if they actually looked at me, given how much I've filled out lately.

In the end, they just gave me an excuse so I don't have to come in next month, and they marked me down for the following month too—so that's the grand wisdom of them finding out about my pregnancy at the Department of Labor... 😱 😱 Oh, and then the woman calls someone else again and says, "I have a pregnant woman here who considers herself capable of working and wants to keep looking for a job," and the other person acts all surprised by my statement. 😂 😂 😂

Patrick Grant14 said:My fingers are tingling with this absolutely horrific sensation.
It’s completely draining my energy—and frankly, it’s starting to scare me a little.
Most people have the nerve to tell me it’s "normal"—as if that matters—but it is incredibly aggravating, and quite honestly, it’s enough to move me to tears.

I’m right there with you—at first, it was just happening while I was sleeping, but now my hands feel dead even during the day... I'll be typing away at my desk and suddenly my fingertips just go completely numb.

Patrick Grant14 said:My fingers are tingling with this absolutely horrific sensation.
It’s completely draining my energy—and frankly, it’s starting to scare me a little.
Most people have the nerve to tell me it’s "normal"—as if that matters—but it is incredibly aggravating, and quite honestly, it’s enough to move me to tears.

I’m dealing with the exact same thing, though I’m already at my breaking point... it started about a month or so ago and it’s been nothing but misery...
I can barely even make a fist in the morning because my skin feels so tight, just a truly terrible sensation... 😠

Frank Morales6 said:I’m heading to the clinic today for my scan—and let’s just say I’ve definitely got the biggest bump in the room.
The waiting room is packed; two guys actually showed up for their 4D ultrasounds.
Then there’s a whole crowd of women who aren't even pregnant, and nobody is saying anything. One girl, whose belly was actually smaller than mine, had the nerve to get up and offer me her chair.
I didn't take it since the room cleared out pretty fast anyway.
But honestly, what is the deal with these pregnant women showing up with their husbands? Why don't they ever say anything to them if it doesn't cross their minds to speak up?

It’s the exact same thing for me; whenever I walk into a waiting room looking like I'm about to pop, the men just sit there until someone finally tells them to get up—or, ideally, before the women have to be the ones to stand. As for my husband, he’s never once sat down in an OB-GYN waiting room, even when the place is completely empty. He's certainly been raised with decent manners, at least.😍

I was absolutely livid this past Wednesday at the blood center after waiting in line for two and a half hours... and get this: they have a sign saying PREGNANT WOMEN ARE ONLY SEEN ON WEDNESDAYS (but apparently, they see everyone else on Wednesdays too, so we pregnant women end up stuck waiting forever while everyone else just cuts right in front of us) if they had just written PREGNANT WOMEN ARE SEEN ONLY ON WEDNESDAYS, it would have made life so much easier for both them and us, since we can't just show up any other day, whereas everyone else can.... plus, sitting there for two and a half hours just for a single vial of blood (it was a sensitization test because I'm Rh-negative)

vividhawk87 said:I was absolutely livid this past Wednesday at the blood center after waiting in line for two and a half hours... and get this: they have a sign saying PREGNANT WOMEN ARE ONLY SEEN ON WEDNESDAYS (but apparently, they see everyone else on Wednesdays too, so we pregnant women end up stuck waiting forever while everyone else just cuts right in front of us) if they had just written PREGNANT WOMEN ARE SEEN ONLY ON WEDNESDAYS, it would have made life so much easier for both them and us, since we can't just show up any other day, whereas everyone else can.... plus, sitting there for two and a half hours just for a single vial of blood (it was a sensitization test because I'm Rh-negative)

It's the same old story...
I remember asking over at Ford if they could just run that test for me right then and there, but nope, I ended up waiting almost three hours too... everyone gets to go before the pregnant women)🙄

I won't even get started on Ford... I showed up early this morning to get my blood sugar checked (even though you're supposed to make an appointment), but I decided to bluff my way in. My sister-in-law tried the same thing about a month ago and actually pulled it off. So, there I am, the waiting room is half empty, I’ve got all my paperwork ready to go, and then the nurse tells me they can't see me because it's too busy and tells me to book an appointment for next week... honestly, what a joke. It's infuriating!

Meanwhile, over at the transfusion center, people who had referrals for both transfusion and microbiology were getting two tubes drawn right there, heading straight to micro, and just leaving the tubes behind. They were finished with everything in twenty minutes flat. And we all know how backed up the microbiology department gets with 100 or 150 people waiting... yet this transfusion unit could barely handle the thirty of us sitting here.

vividhawk87 said:I won't even get started on Ford... I showed up early this morning to get my blood sugar checked (even though you're supposed to make an appointment), but I decided to bluff my way in. My sister-in-law tried the same thing about a month ago and actually pulled it off. So, there I am, the waiting room is half empty, I’ve got all my paperwork ready to go, and then the nurse tells me they can't see me because it's too busy and tells me to book an appointment for next week... honestly, what a joke. It's infuriating!

Meanwhile, over at the transfusion center, people who had referrals for both transfusion and microbiology were getting two tubes drawn right there, heading straight to micro, and just leaving the tubes behind. They were finished with everything in twenty minutes flat. And we all know how backed up the microbiology department gets with 100 or 150 people waiting... yet this transfusion unit could barely handle the thirty of us sitting here.

I think I'm just going to go to a private clinic like Mayo Clinic for my OGTT, $20, they don't require appointments and the atmosphere is actually decent...

Nicholas Doyle91 said:I’m right there with you—at first, it was just happening while I was sleeping, but now my hands feel dead even during the day... I'll be typing away at my desk and suddenly my fingertips just go completely numb.

Yes, I'm right there with you.
Even while I'm talking on my phone or doing something similar.

ruggedbadger332 said:I’m dealing with the exact same thing, though I’m already at my breaking point... it started about a month or so ago and it’s been nothing but misery...
I can barely even make a fist in the morning because my skin feels so tight, just a truly terrible sensation... 😠

Personally, I feel as if someone has gone and anesthetized my fingers.
Like some sort of local anesthetic.
It's truly dreadful.

Is there any actual help for this, by the way?

Well, I've already placed my order, so I guess I'll just wait those few days...

OT: It’s starting to get on my nerves again—around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon, my eyes just start drooping. Then, if I make the mistake of lying down for even 10 or 15 minutes, I'm wide awake all night long!!! (And yes, last night was definitely one of those nights.) It must be the weather; the rain and this chill in the air just make everything feel so heavy...

Patrick Grant14 said:Yes, I'm right there with you.
Even while I'm talking on my phone or doing something similar.

Personally, I feel as if someone has gone and anesthetized my fingers.
Like some sort of local anesthetic.
It's truly dreadful.

Is there any actual help for this, by the way?

My fingers started tingling and my palms felt heavy about two weeks ago (I'm 34 now).
I noticed it feels better if I dunk my hands in cold water and stretch my wrists and fingers out. Swimming helps too.
My doctor suggested magnesium, but I haven't really noticed anything, plus I can't stay on it forever.

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.