What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Michael Barrett11 said:I had this encounter with a pregnant woman this past Saturday night that honestly left me feeling pretty frustrated.
She was standing right outside a bar where some loud karaoke party was going on inside; she was just leaning against the wall, looking perfectly fine and healthy, but she had a cigarette in her hand. I guess I just found the whole sight incredibly disappointing... and it definitely rubbed me the wrong way. 😠

Man, that stuff drives me absolutely insane too. The other day I’m walking with my crew through the park, right? And there’s this young mom sitting there, her little two-year-old is playing in the sandbox, and she’s just sitting there puffing away on a smoke. Her belly is huge, too. It’s just gross. Seriously, seeing that is so nasty.😛

Harold Cook2 said:Man, that stuff drives me absolutely insane too. The other day I’m walking with my crew through the park, right? And there’s this young mom sitting there, her little two-year-old is playing in the sandbox, and she’s just sitting there puffing away on a smoke. Her belly is huge, too. It’s just gross. Seriously, seeing that is so nasty.😛

Wait, I don't get why this is bothering you guys so much?
It’s her problem and her pregnancy—not ours. Neither of those situations—whether she was at a concert or just sitting in the park—was actually threatening anyone's breathing since she was smoking outdoors... so I guess the question is, what exactly is the issue here? 🤷

So, I got chewed out today by some lady in HR—just my luck. I’m trying to get my name change processed through Medicare before the baby arrives, and she goes ahead and writes down my old address on the paperwork instead of the current one... just—unbelievable. Seriously. :2up:
And then there’s the fact that you haven't even proven it yet—as if being 35 weeks pregnant isn't enough of a reason to skip around aimlessly. I had to trek all the way to the Medicare office just for a two-minute errand because I was supposed to be registered there or whatever. 16 miles Moving forward... (old address).
And what is he even saying...

MM and I originally agreed we’d just be the three of us at home—just us—but he totally flipped the script yesterday. He actually cornered me, asking why I always have to make things complicated, why I can't just accept help like everyone else, and why I feel the need to play this "superwoman" role all the time...

Me

And I’m like, look, I want to see how it actually goes. Maybe my contractions won't leave me completely bedridden, maybe I won't need constant help with the little one, and honestly? I just don't want someone hovering over me constantly giving unsolicited advice just because they’ve already had kids...

Then he goes: "But who's going to cook? Who's going to clean?" So I told him straight up—he lives in the house too and isn't disabled, so he can handle his share. His response? "Yeah, but what if you're too exhausted from being woken up every couple of hours by the baby??"

Yesterday was a total breaking point for me, and it happened right on my birthday. If I could have fired him on the spot without a second thought, I would have...

Then there's my mother-in-law insisting she'll be staying with us. I told her it wasn't necessary, but that she could drop by so I wouldn't worry. Then my own mom tells me she's coming over immediately after I get out of the hospital, whether anyone calls her or not...

Honestly, I'm just feeling pretty miserable because nobody is actually asking what *I* want or how *I* feel. Everyone—my mom, my MIL, and MM—is basically trying to map out my entire future for me. It just drives my blood pressure through the roof. I guess I'm just the black sheep in a family that loves to lecture and expects me to follow the exact same traditional paths all the women before me took...

analogmason15 said:MM and I originally agreed we’d just be the three of us at home—just us—but he totally flipped the script yesterday. He actually cornered me, asking why I always have to make things complicated, why I can't just accept help like everyone else, and why I feel the need to play this "superwoman" role all the time...

Me

And I’m like, look, I want to see how it actually goes. Maybe my contractions won't leave me completely bedridden, maybe I won't need constant help with the little one, and honestly? I just don't want someone hovering over me constantly giving unsolicited advice just because they’ve already had kids...

Then he goes: "But who's going to cook? Who's going to clean?" So I told him straight up—he lives in the house too and isn't disabled, so he can handle his share. His response? "Yeah, but what if you're too exhausted from being woken up every couple of hours by the baby??"

Yesterday was a total breaking point for me, and it happened right on my birthday. If I could have fired him on the spot without a second thought, I would have...

Then there's my mother-in-law insisting she'll be staying with us. I told her it wasn't necessary, but that she could drop by so I wouldn't worry. Then my own mom tells me she's coming over immediately after I get out of the hospital, whether anyone calls her or not...

Honestly, I'm just feeling pretty miserable because nobody is actually asking what *I* want or how *I* feel. Everyone—my mom, my MIL, and MM—is basically trying to map out my entire future for me. It just drives my blood pressure through the roof. I guess I'm just the black sheep in a family that loves to lecture and expects me to follow the exact same traditional paths all the women before me took...

I’m dealing with something very similar with both my mom and my mother-in-law, so I totally get where you're coming from.
You just need to figure out what you actually want and give them specific jobs—like telling Mom to bring over pre-cooked meals, asking my husband to handle certain baby stuff, or giving my mother-in-law a third task.
Basically, don't let them dictate how or when you spend time with your own kid. Just stick to your guns.👍

It pissed me off too, seeing what Harold Cook2 was up to. I’m sitting there having a coffee, and this couple sits down next to me. The woman is visibly pregnant, and there I am, being all sensitive, when she pulls out a blue pack of Walter Wolf and starts lighting up one after another right there with her latte. I couldn't help myself—I muttered, "How can someone smoke like that with a baby on the way?" She heard me, obviously, and now I'm the one getting glared at. Apparently, I'm the one who should be ashamed.

Lately, it feels like everyone is trying to get their hands on my chest. "Wow, look at those!" they say. And when the guys say it, I just think: Get a grip. It's pathetic watching them stare at my boobs like they can't look away. It's gross.

Honestly, I couldn't care less what anyone else does—if they want to waste their lives, fine... It’s not like my acquaintances have any right to judge me for being active and hiking up hills constantly. They love to make those little comments like, "Oh, you shouldn't be doing that, you'll strain yourself..." —as if! As if staying cooped up at home, eating everything in sight and overindulging like 🙄 would somehow be better.

Anyway, putting that aside—which wasn't even my point, just a bit of a tangent there—what I really wanted to vent about is how much junk is out there on the market specifically designed for young, inexperienced parents. You know the type; people who get worked up thinking every single gadget is an absolute necessity, and they feel pressured to buy the newest, most expensive, most "premium" thing for their kid.

And look, we fall right into that target demographic ourselves—young and clueless. But looking around, I can see that half of this stuff is completely unnecessary... though I haven't quite pinned down exactly which parts yet. 😬

Take BMS, for example. I was looking at this bizarre item that makes zero sense—it's about $5 or so, has two holes, and comes in red or blue. We actually asked the clerk, "What is this?" and she goes, "Oh, that's a frame. You put the first positive pregnancy test in the bottom hole, and then you stick the ultrasound photo in the top one." 😕 WTF? I mean, kudos to whoever actually wants to preserve a pregnancy test for months on end, 😂 and honestly, major props to whoever came up with the idea to mass-produce and sell this nonsense. 🙏

Sometimes I truly feel like an idiot just looking at the sheer volume of "baby gear" available.
Like these dressers... what kind of ridiculous dresser is this? What's the point? "To hold baby things," they say. Does it really need to be covered in patterns of ladybugs and little pigs? Seriously. And those three massive drawers... I don't find them practical at all. Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be better to have several smaller drawers or maybe some small cabinet doors, just like a normal piece of furniture?
Oh, wait, I forgot—apparently, the baby will feel more loved if their dresser has a lion print on it. 🙄

Hey, is it actually normal to feel this incredibly weak during the early stages of pregnancy? I’m currently 7 and a half weeks along, and since yesterday, I’ve just been feeling absolutely terrible—I have zero energy to do anything other than lie down, and the nausea is hitting me pretty hard too. It's exhausting. I have an appointment scheduled with my OB-GYN tomorrow, though I can't help but wonder if I should have just rushed to the clinic today given how poorly I'm feeling.
There isn't any physical pain, per se, but this weakness and fatigue...

Nicholas Green69, honestly, don't sweat it; it’s perfectly normal. Your body is just trying to adjust to a new situation, and while some people feel it way more intensely than others, it's all part of the process. Just stay calm and try not to panic. 👍

Nicholas Green69 said:Hey, is it actually normal to feel this incredibly weak during the early stages of pregnancy? I’m currently 7 and a half weeks along, and since yesterday, I’ve just been feeling absolutely terrible—I have zero energy to do anything other than lie down, and the nausea is hitting me pretty hard too. It's exhausting. I have an appointment scheduled with my OB-GYN tomorrow, though I can't help but wonder if I should have just rushed to the clinic today given how poorly I'm feeling.
There isn't any physical pain, per se, but this weakness and fatigue...

It’s totally normal, but seriously, go get some blood work done just to be safe. I went through the exact same thing at the start, and it even hit me again recently. This time, my labs were a mess—my iron levels tanked and my red blood cell count was low, which left me feeling completely wiped out. All I want to do is eat pickles. Sometimes I feel like I've had a massive jolt to my system, my body starts shaking, I go pale... I was stuck in one of those episodes from like 2 PM until now, and I'm only just starting to feel human again.

Everything bugs me lately, but today was the final straw. I finally found a crib mobile on this forum—not even cheap, mind you—and then the seller just goes ghost after I already sent the 😠😳. Hopefully, some higher power intervenes, because I’m about to lose my mind. I'll give it a few more days, then I'm reporting her 👎
.

Adam Nguyen11 said:I honestly don't get why fat bothers people so much. Like, where exactly are you finding it? Are you walking through life being fat, pushing things while being fat, or just wondering how much more fat there is to deal with...? 🙄🙄🙄
Being fat is such a ridiculous thing to obsess over. 😛

Honestly, this kind of crap just makes me absolutely LIVID!!! At first, I was just sitting there laughing nervously, feeling super awkward and turning bright red. But then my hormones kicked in and I just stopped giving a damn. Now? I snap right back at them, and trust me, it isn't pretty. The last time someone tried it, I just looked them dead in the eye and said, "Yeah, maybe I'll lose the weight, but you're still gonna be an idiot forever." 😁
And man, does that feel good!

Edward Rodriguez4 said:Honestly, this kind of crap just makes me absolutely LIVID!!! At first, I was just sitting there laughing nervously, feeling super awkward and turning bright red. But then my hormones kicked in and I just stopped giving a damn. Now? I snap right back at them, and trust me, it isn't pretty. The last time someone tried it, I just looked them dead in the eye and said, "Yeah, maybe I'll lose the weight, but you're still gonna be an idiot forever." 😁
And man, does that feel good!

🤣🤣 Girl, 🤣🤣

Ugh, I can still hear those comments ringing in my ears... even though people have mostly stopped saying them lately, it's fine, because now it's just their stares that get to me... they look at me like I'm some kind of 😲
like they just stumbled upon a freaking hippo walking on two legs in the middle of a Starbucks☕

fadedscout2 said:🤣🤣 Girl, 🤣🤣

Ugh, I can still hear those comments ringing in my ears... even though people have mostly stopped saying them lately, it's fine, because now it's just their stares that get to me... they look at me like I'm some kind of 😲
like they just stumbled upon a freaking hippo walking on two legs in the middle of a Starbucks☕

😂😂 A freaking hippo! 😍
Seriously though, where is the class?! Where's the basic decency?! 🤷
Yeah, okay!!! I am fat!!!!
I'm pregnant! I'm fat! And I am HAPPY!!!

When some total stranger just reaches out and touches my stomach...

Question: Are you still holding it together?

Not exactly—I think I'm actually falling apart at the seams...

So I’m standing in line at the grocery store... cashier is talking right over everyone else... eeeeeee... "You haven't gained any weight," she says. I tell her, yeah, I've put on ten pounds. She goes, "Do you eat okay?" Me... I eat. "High blood pressure?" Me... no. "Nausea?" Me... no. "Anything hurting?" Me... no. "Heartburn?" Me... no. She was just itching for an excuse to start yelling... "WELL THEN YOUR KID IS GONNA BE BALD..." wtf... apparently everyone needs a diagnosis. If you aren't sick, then something must be wrong with you...
What's wrong with bald kids? 😬

Jessica Vaughn ahahahahah ahahahhaah 🤣 🤣
God, she's basically a psychic at this point 😂

Seriously though... I went to drop off a urine sample the other day, and right on the lab door, it says in huge letters: PREGNANT WOMEN AND DISABLED PATIENTS HAVE PRIORITY!!
So there I am, looking at this massive line, and I ask this elderly lady, "Excuse me, ma'am, mind if I jump ahead of you?" I really didn't feel like waiting because I could see some people coughing and sneezing, and honestly, I just didn't have the energy to stand there for 15 minutes... even if it was moving fast... especially being 36 weeks pregnant. The lady goes, "Of course you can, honey!" So I try to step in, but then this middle-aged guy behind her just shoves me aside, saying, "Hey, take it easy, I've been standing here for half an hour and I'm sick," and he just pushes right past. I just stood there frozen, totally stunned by what happened... when the old lady finally finished, she absolutely laid into him; I actually felt embarrassed just for being involved in that mess...
I generally hate cutting in line, so now I find myself back at the end of the queue, whether it's at the doctor's office, the post office, or the DMV... it seems like people just refuse to acknowledge a baby bump. Total lack of manners.

Frank Davis5 said:Jessica Vaughn ahahahahah ahahahhaah 🤣 🤣
God, she's basically a psychic at this point 😂

Seriously though... I went to drop off a urine sample the other day, and right on the lab door, it says in huge letters: PREGNANT WOMEN AND DISABLED PATIENTS HAVE PRIORITY!!
So there I am, looking at this massive line, and I ask this elderly lady, "Excuse me, ma'am, mind if I jump ahead of you?" I really didn't feel like waiting because I could see some people coughing and sneezing, and honestly, I just didn't have the energy to stand there for 15 minutes... even if it was moving fast... especially being 36 weeks pregnant. The lady goes, "Of course you can, honey!" So I try to step in, but then this middle-aged guy behind her just shoves me aside, saying, "Hey, take it easy, I've been standing here for half an hour and I'm sick," and he just pushes right past. I just stood there frozen, totally stunned by what happened... when the old lady finally finished, she absolutely laid into him; I actually felt embarrassed just for being involved in that mess...
I generally hate cutting in line, so now I find myself back at the end of the queue, whether it's at the doctor's office, the post office, or the DMV... it seems like people just refuse to acknowledge a baby bump. Total lack of manners.

Well, why don't they just have separate lines for pregnant women and "everyone else"? 🤔
where I live, they actually do it that way so there's zero confusion about who goes first and who's tenth! 👍

It just reminded me of when I went to the Mayo Clinic recently for an ultrasound and the doctor (not naming names) REPEATED at least five times, "I don't know how we're gonna get a good look through all this extra padding." 🤦🤦🙈🙈
Like, what am I paying you $183 to tell me stuff like that?!
She did the scan perfectly fine though... what a piece of work!

I was absolutely losing my mind yesterday when I had to swing by the IRS just to get a stamp—because apparently, I still need those, because our system is just working so incredibly smoothly, right? 🙄 And this lady looks at me and goes, "Oh, I see it's been six months since your last check-in... I'll have to schedule an appointment for you," and then she actually gives me a date of November 2nd—which is literally only a week before my due date!!!!—just so I can come in for an individual consultation to revise my business plan!! 😕😕 wtf?!?!? 😠😠
🙂🙂🙂🙂

Edward Rodriguez4 said:Well, why don't they just have separate lines for pregnant women and "everyone else"? 🤔
where I live, they actually do it that way so there's zero confusion about who goes first and who's tenth! 👍

It just reminded me of when I went to the Mayo Clinic recently for an ultrasound and the doctor (not naming names) REPEATED at least five times, "I don't know how we're gonna get a good look through all this extra padding." 🤦🤦🙈🙈
Like, what am I paying you $183 to tell me stuff like that?!
She did the scan perfectly fine though... what a piece of work!

Well, they don't. They just have that sign...
Though I'm pretty sure other health centers around the country have them.