What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Some guy at Walmart actually let me cut the line last weekend just because I only had three items in my cart. 🙂
It’s funny how things work out sometimes.

On a different note—and this is driving me crazy—everyone at the office today kept commenting on how small my bump is. And I mean almost everyone. 🙂 Yeah, it’s smaller than my first pregnancy, but I also didn't gain as much weight, so everything is perfectly fine. Still, apparently, everyone expects me to be absolutely massive. 🤷

I’m heading over to Peterson’s for a quick couple-day stay—taking the light rail, backpack on my shoulders—and not a single soul thinks to offer me a seat. High schoolers just stare at me while I’m struggling to navigate through the crowd in those ridiculous low-floor streetcars, and the teenagers are exactly the same... It was the same story on the ride back. It isn't like standing up killed me, but honestly, I have to wonder: where did basic manners go?

driftingpanther69 said:I’m heading over to Peterson’s for a quick couple-day stay—taking the light rail, backpack on my shoulders—and not a single soul thinks to offer me a seat. High schoolers just stare at me while I’m struggling to navigate through the crowd in those ridiculous low-floor streetcars, and the teenagers are exactly the same... It was the same story on the ride back. It isn't like standing up killed me, but honestly, I have to wonder: where did basic manners go?

They're gone. Honestly, I don't feel bad about it at all; I make a point to stand up for people every single morning because everyone tends to grab those priority seats like they're reserved for the disabled, so I just say, "Excuse me, would you mind if I sit here?" and I couldn't care less about that 5% of people who might think I'm being rude. Most of them actually start apologizing, saying things like, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." No worries, honey, it's fine. 🤣
Plus, my husband had this run-in with an older woman at the post office the other day. She was maybe sixty, just scribbling away on some envelopes off to the side, and we joined the line. Just as we were about to step up, she drifted right into our path like we weren't even there, though I was already positioned to go. My husband politely pointed out that since she was pregnant, she should have priority. And this lady goes, "Oh, goodness, I didn't realize!" Seriously, lady, stop playing. I'm seven months along; you can see this belly from an airplane. 🤣 They're the type who are always the very first ones in the pew on Sunday morning, yet they don't actually practice any of those values in their real lives. 😁

Honestly, I’m not sure if anyone else has run into this particular phenomenon, but it’s maddening. When I actually take the time to groom myself—you know, put on some makeup and wear something that isn't just a baggy sweatshirt—it’s like people couldn't care less about my presence. In fact, I get these glares from older women that feel downright malicious, like they're judging me for thinking I have the right to walk around looking decent when I should just be staying home because I'm pregnant. It’s absurd. Then, if I show up looking completely disheveled with greasy hair tied back in a messy ponytail, suddenly everyone acts all sympathetic and the atmosphere softens. It’s bizarre. I truly get the impression that once you become pregnant, society expects you to shrink down into nothing more than a biological incubator—just walking around like livestock. God forbid you actually give a damn about your appearance or maintain any sense of self-respect 🙄

Honestly, I’m constantly running into this situation on the subway—people try to offer me their seats, and they'll even let me cut ahead in line at the grocery store, but I just end up saying, "No thanks, I'm good!" because I feel totally fine and I really don't want anyone fussing over me or treating me like I'm fragile. It’s funny, though, because earlier today at the hospital, a nurse practically gave me an earful! She was questioning why I was even bothering to pull a number from the kiosk since I'm pregnant and should technically be seen right away without waiting. Plus, I had to go in for my glucose tolerance test, and since that involves three separate blood draws, it’s supposed to be prioritized anyway.
I had honestly assumed I’d just get my blood drawn immediately once I was checked in. 🕺

I can't help but wonder if people have stopped offering their seats on public transit or letting others skip the line because they've dealt with pregnant women like me who turn down the help. 😬

So I was standing in line at the local Quest Diagnostics today when this guy basically lost his mind and started physically wrestling his way right in front of me just to get to the front. He looked completely shaken up and totally overwhelmed by how much he was panicking about the whole thing, so honestly, I can't even be mad at him because I just feel for the guy 😛

And here we go... I just hit the 9-week mark today, and honestly, I’m still not even brave enough to bring up the pregnancy topic yet. We’ve already broken the news to my parents and the folks at work (because, unfortunately, I have to).

At the office, the water cooler talk has already shifted to those endless comments about how "once the baby starts kicking, the morning sickness will finally vanish."

Then there’s the situation tonight: my parents are "offering" (to use a polite term) to come stay with us after the baby arrives. The thing is, the two of us live in a tiny 300-square-foot studio apartment. They know this perfectly well; they used to stay with us for ten days at a time back when they could visit more often, but now that we aren't living in the same area, things are different. They want to move in this summer, right around the time I'm due... and they just don't get why that's a bad idea. My husband has spent the last ten minutes on the phone trying to explain it—not by saying we want privacy, and not even by pointing out the lack of space, but simply because we don't want them there. A flat "no," thank you. Let's see how long this goes on... 🤦😵

Grumpy: I truly love these people and they are wonderful, but sometimes, even with the best intentions, people just fail to realize when something doesn't fit.

Man, I've been hunting for this thread everywhere

Grumpy 🙂 is giving me so much stress I've actually lost weight.
The constant typing. Usually, my stomach is fine, but now it's a complete disaster.
Then there's the insomnia. Never had a problem sleeping in my entire life.
Plus, I didn't bother buying those high-waisted maternity briefs, so now they're just teasing me—my current ones keep rolling down and getting in the way. 🙂
And just for the record, adding the Grumpy tag again. 😠

Only one month left to go. Ommm. 😁

Casey Miller5, this isn't even your first pregnancy, so I guess I'm wondering why it still gets under your skin like this 😬

Rachel Williams said:And here we go... I just hit the 9-week mark today, and honestly, I’m still not even brave enough to bring up the pregnancy topic yet. We’ve already broken the news to my parents and the folks at work (because, unfortunately, I have to).

At the office, the water cooler talk has already shifted to those endless comments about how "once the baby starts kicking, the morning sickness will finally vanish."

Then there’s the situation tonight: my parents are "offering" (to use a polite term) to come stay with us after the baby arrives. The thing is, the two of us live in a tiny 300-square-foot studio apartment. They know this perfectly well; they used to stay with us for ten days at a time back when they could visit more often, but now that we aren't living in the same area, things are different. They want to move in this summer, right around the time I'm due... and they just don't get why that's a bad idea. My husband has spent the last ten minutes on the phone trying to explain it—not by saying we want privacy, and not even by pointing out the lack of space, but simply because we don't want them there. A flat "no," thank you. Let's see how long this goes on... 🤦😵

Grumpy: I truly love these people and they are wonderful, but sometimes, even with the best intentions, people just fail to realize when something doesn't fit.

Ugh, that is such a creepy way to put it!😁 "Once the baby comes to life"?!🙄

My grandma used to say the exact same thing to me. I really hope your coworkers aren't all ninety years old and stuck in the Stone Age like my grandma was back in her elementary school days😁

Commenting on my weight gain and claiming I need to watch what I eat. They do this so often that I’ve become completely numb to ☕

Terry Rodriguez13 said:Commenting on my weight gain and claiming I need to watch what I eat. They do this so often that I’ve become completely numb to ☕

Just tell them you're gonna eat them alive! ☕

About a year before I got pregnant, I actually put in the work and dropped about 30 pounds. Now, at just 16 weeks, I’ve already gained 2 pounds, yet my stomach is protruding far more than those few pounds would suggest. Is it the iron supplements, the progesterone, or just being stuck cooped up indoors? Who can truly say? Then there’s the commentary from a close—and let’s be honest, incredibly tactless—female relative: "Oh great, you're going to be wider than you are tall!" 🙂🙂🙂

Commenting on my stomach being a bit smaller. I just got the most disgusting remark from a cashier: "Oh my god, where did your belly go? Who knows WHAT he did to you?!"

I told one woman straight up that I’m way too big for that—I don't have a single stretch mark from any pregnancy (honestly, all the weight goes to my hips and glutes because even though I gain weight easily, I won't let it show)

Ugh, the absolute worst comments! 😲😲

Luckily, I only ever run into lovely people. I honestly get the feeling that Americans just love pregnant women and can't help but shower them with compliments! 🎉

I had someone tell me during my fifth month—my bump showed up pretty early too—that they didn't even realize I was pregnant, assuming it was just something else 🤣

Aside from that one instance, I haven't dealt with much stupidity. Just the occasional comment about whether we were still "two-for-one" deals, but that wasn't exactly malicious or even particularly dumb...

The absolute dumbest comment (and we’ve barely even started). I finally head out to an ATM in town (my feet were killing me). I run into two friends. They convince me to show them my belly, they take one look and shout: "That's just fat." That is exactly what every pregnant woman expecting twins wants to hear when she's facing all those complications. And it isn't fat. I didn't have that before three months ago, and I'm barely eating anything just so I don't throw up.

Other pregnant women who just won't stop complaining. 😬 Especially the ones who love to go on about worst-case scenarios, unbearable pain, and dying.
I honestly don't get this fear-mongering. How is that kind of info supposed to actually help other women? ☕
Then there’s the comment about how I need to "eat for two." Like, wtf? I'm an 80+ pounder myself and the baby isn't even 9 pounds yet. How is that eating for two? 🤣 And of course, someone had to mention that I haven't gained enough weight, even though I’ve put on a pretty solid 22 pounds. If I didn't have some extra weight to lose from before, maybe I'd get where they're coming from.

Daniel Palmer, you haven't seen anything yet! This is just your first little brush with Mother Duck. Just wait until you have your own—you'll realize how many there actually are, and honestly, if you aren't complaining constantly about how exhausting everything is, people will think you aren't being a "real" mom. 🥳

A friend of mine was practically assassinated by pure judgment. She got hit with a wave of disbelief and total outrage just because she admitted she was actually loving maternity leave! She told them it felt easier than her old job and that life felt surprisingly chill right now... People reacted like she’d just committed a crime. It was honestly like watching one of those ridiculous commercials where a woman smiles perfectly while claiming she absolutely loves her big national bank. 😁

It’s definitely the people who won't stop touching my stomach—which, by the way, is finally starting to show. 🤦🏼‍♀️
And then there's all the superstitions. They're ridiculous, but the ones about the forty-day mark after birth hit the hardest.