What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Man, I totally get what you mean about the subway. Personally, maybe two or three times in my life has someone actually offered me their seat, even though I’m commuting almost every single day right during peak rush hour. Honestly, it isn't even the standing part that gets to me, it's the constant shoving; it feels like people would literally fight to the death just to squeeze into a tiny bit of space, wouldn't they? 🙂 Not to mention those rides when the bus is absolutely packed with high school kids. 😠
I happen to have low blood pressure, and there have been plenty of times where I’ve felt like I was about to pass out completely. There hasn't been a single public transit trip where that hasn't happened at least once, especially when you combine the summer heat and the crowds with a hundred different smells—including things like garbage 😬.
So, I just find myself praying that I don't feel too faint while I'm on board.
It's always funny how some older ladies will lecture me afterward, asking why I didn't just speak up and say I was feeling weak so they could give me their seat. But then, whenever I actually *do* try to say something, all I get is some judgmental comment about how "young people these days" have no stamina or whatever. 🙂

I can't remember if I’ve mentioned this before, but I am a firm believer that pregnant women should always take a seat on the subway—even if they’re complaining about how hard it is to get up in the first place. It’s all about avoiding those sudden jolts, heavy braking, or losing your balance entirely. A friend of mine was about eight months along once, and she actually had to clutch her stomach just to stay upright when the train jerked 😲 we both nearly lost it right then and there, and the lady sitting there didn't even have the decency to say excuse me.

Honestly, that’s exactly what keeps me up at night. It feels like most people just don't pay any attention, or if they do, they simply couldn't care less about what's happening.

I’m at 27 weeks plus 4 days today, and people still haven't realized I'm pregnant. It’s starting to get really irritating, and honestly, it feels a bit awkward... everyone keeps acting surprised by how small my bump is and asking where the baby is, which triggers this paranoia that maybe the little one isn't developing properly 🙂.

I've actually gained about 23 pounds so far, so I don't understand how no one can tell 🙂

Anyway, I've started telling everyone ahead of time so they aren't shocked when we start using the stroller soon.

ironjackal20 does exactly what I do—she wears those tight little tees and starts rubbing her stomach whenever someone looks her way!! 😬 😉
Or honestly, whenever I need something, I just start rubbing my own stomach!! Hahaha, what can I say?

The next time some mother with an undisciplined kid tries to lecture me with that "you'll see" nonsense, I’m going to tell her to focus on raising her own child instead of trying to educate mine.

Screw you all, you lunatics! 😠

Angela Davis74 said:The next time some mother with an undisciplined kid tries to lecture me with that "you'll see" nonsense, I’m going to tell her to focus on raising her own child instead of trying to educate mine.

Screw you all, you lunatics! 😠

Hey girl, looks like that birthday party last night was quite the blast! 😬

Anyway—that whole "you'll see" attitude really gets under my skin.

I’m pretty much at the finish line now, and looking back, I can honestly say my pregnancy was a total breeze—well, except for the usual little hiccups. You know the drill: the minor aches, fighting off random bugs, putting on a few pounds, feeling wiped out... but if I had to pick the one thing that really drove me up the wall, it was definitely the heartburn 🙂

That was the one thing I just couldn't win against; even taking some Tums only offered a fleeting moment of peace before it came roaring back, and nothing else seemed to touch it.
Normally, I could probably eat literal garbage and be fine—I've never had an issue with my stomach or digestion, and I didn't even deal with morning sickness. But this? This was absolutely killing me......

It irritates me when people drag their kids along to "adult" gatherings. Then you have these children running wild over everyone. If you have nowhere to take your kid, stay home. Don't show up to a crowd of people, let your brain go numb, unchain the child, and call it a vacation while they trample over others. How convenient. And then they have the nerve to lecture anyone else. All I see is someone trying to boss around a five-year-old who clearly doesn't listen to them because they have zero authority.

The important thing is that she’s busy mocking me for reading, learning, and seeking answers... please.
Go ahead, give the little girl some juice and a few pieces of chocolate right before bed. Don't bother brushing her teeth either. Let her get a cavity so you can wonder why it happened. It's predictable. 😛😛

ruggedhound said:Probably nobody... everyone just ignores you. They probably think you have nothing better to do than wander around Walmart while pregnant. 🙂 😁

Oh, obviously it doesn't just happen by magic. But me, pushing a full cart: excuse me, sorry: I shove everything toward the express lane for pregnant women and tell the cashier, "Excuse me, I'm pregnant, can I go now?"
If she turns me down, she risks me calling her manager—which stops the whole line and creates a massive scene during the shift.
So far, no one has dared refuse me. One woman once said, "if the others let you," and I politely pointed out that she was currently working the PREGNANCY AND DISABILITY LANE, so maybe some other pregnant lady—or someone with a prosthetic limb—could let me through instead.

:evil:
🙂

Sam White62 said:Oh, obviously it doesn't just happen by magic. But me, pushing a full cart: excuse me, sorry: I shove everything toward the express lane for pregnant women and tell the cashier, "Excuse me, I'm pregnant, can I go now?"
If she turns me down, she risks me calling her manager—which stops the whole line and creates a massive scene during the shift.
So far, no one has dared refuse me. One woman once said, "if the others let you," and I politely pointed out that she was currently working the PREGNANCY AND DISABILITY LANE, so maybe some other pregnant lady—or someone with a prosthetic limb—could let me through instead.

:evil:
🙂

Hahaha, you’re a legend! I don't usually shop at Walmart, but now I'm a little surprised... wait, does an express lane specifically for pregnant women actually exist?

Sam White62 said:Oh, obviously it doesn't just happen by magic. But me, pushing a full cart: excuse me, sorry: I shove everything toward the express lane for pregnant women and tell the cashier, "Excuse me, I'm pregnant, can I go now?"
If she turns me down, she risks me calling her manager—which stops the whole line and creates a massive scene during the shift.
So far, no one has dared refuse me. One woman once said, "if the others let you," and I politely pointed out that she was currently working the PREGNANCY AND DISABILITY LANE, so maybe some other pregnant lady—or someone with a prosthetic limb—could let me through instead.

:evil:
🙂

See, I totally thought that applied to all registers, and it was just sitting above one specific lane🙄
We handle the crowds at Walmart by using those handheld scanners—we scan everything ourselves and always zip straight to our own register.

It’s kind of like that logic where people say, "Well, it's her own fault she's pregnant," or when I heard someone ask, "Why should I give up my seat for a pregnant woman if she isn't sick?"🙂

Ever since my bump started showing, I don't even mind when people touch it anymore. I actually let everyone feel my little guy kicking.😍

Sam White62 said:Oh, obviously it doesn't just happen by magic. But me, pushing a full cart: excuse me, sorry: I shove everything toward the express lane for pregnant women and tell the cashier, "Excuse me, I'm pregnant, can I go now?"
If she turns me down, she risks me calling her manager—which stops the whole line and creates a massive scene during the shift.
So far, no one has dared refuse me. One woman once said, "if the others let you," and I politely pointed out that she was currently working the PREGNANCY AND DISABILITY LANE, so maybe some other pregnant lady—or someone with a prosthetic limb—could let me through instead.

:evil:
🙂

I was at Walmart today returning some bottles for the deposit. I didn't even say a word, I just stood there and three people actually let me cut in front of them immediately. Then, when I went to the maternity lane with my receipt, the cashier almost shut me down instantly, but then she saw my bump and muttered under her breath, "Ugh, she's pregnant, I guess I have to let her through."

Steven Watson19 said:Hahaha, you’re a legend! I don't usually shop at Walmart, but now I'm a little surprised... wait, does an express lane specifically for pregnant women actually exist?

Pretty much every single Kroger. For instance, I think the one in Cleveland doesn't have them—so about two years ago, during my last pregnancy, I went up to the customer service desk to find a manager to ask what to do. It was a Saturday at 2 PM, there was an 800-meter line at every open register, and five of them weren't even staffed.
They ended up opening a lane just for me. 😍

My sister was at the OBGYN today... both me and my husband were right in the middle of our checkup when she just bursts in, talking non-stop about the SATs—since her son is taking them right now—and she simply won't shut up!
And then, to top it all off, she starts lecturing my husband about how he doesn't even know which week of pregnancy I'm in. Seriously? Grrr...

Just wanted to give you all a little heads-up—I actually managed to snag a seat on the subway today... both times I hopped on 🥳
...

feralmoose32 said:Just wanted to give you all a little heads-up—I actually managed to snag a seat on the subway today... both times I hopped on 🥳
...

Vau, that really is worth noting!
It's such a shame how rude people can be sometimes

Sent from my iPhone

I feel exactly the same way 🎉 ..though only one person actually spoke up ..and that was some sister from Brooklyn ..honestly, she practically forced me to take a seat (I played it cool and acted like I didn't care, as if I couldn't 🤣)..everyone else was completely silent, even though I worked my tail off today ..there were even two people who almost shoved me aside just to get a seat before I could

Hey there.
I’m in the same boat—nobody ever offers me a seat on the bus, though I don't exactly go hunting for one myself, even when I've spent way too much time on my feet. But recently, after an exhausting shopping trip with a friend, I finally decided to sit down. Believe it or not, some guy lunged at me, grabbed my shoulder roughly, and barked, "What, are you disabled or something? Why do you have to sit right next to all these elderly people?!" Naturally, I snapped back at him with the same energy, telling him no, but that I am pregnant. He had the audacity to actually lean in to inspect my stomach to judge how far along I was. Disgusting. At least the other passengers on the bus looked horrified—that’s a small mercy.

It’s just constant. People seem to think they have a VIP pass to critique my body without being asked. One minute I’m too thin, the next I’ve gained too much weight, then my bump is too small, or today, someone decided it was too big. They'll tell me I'm going to have a hard labor, or ask if my feet have swollen yet... it never ends.

Fortunately, I’m actually enjoying this pregnancy and staying pretty zen about it, so their nonsense doesn't rattle me too deeply, but I still can't wrap my head around why people act like this.

Yesterday I was out grabbing coffee with a friend who has two kids, and this guy actually tried to force me into the backseat because apparently pregnant women in their third trimester aren't allowed to wear seatbelts. Honestly, I was just annoyed, so I sat in the back anyway and buckled up. ☕
I’m still driving, obviously, and buckling up feels totally normal to me—the belt just sits low across my belly and between my breasts. But driving without a seatbelt? That feels 😲!!

Also, people constanty get on my case about our stroller. We bought the Chicco umbrella stroller with the zero position option, but without the bassinet attachment. Now, the local busybodies are acting all shocked and asking if I’ve lost my mind for wanting to push the baby in just the stroller.

Oh, and I swung by work the other day for my usual paycheck, and some coworkers—they’re like 50 or 55—started judging me. They were questioning why I wear tight clothes when they all used to wear baggy stuff, even checking my shirt to see if it was stretchy enough or if it would squeeze the baby 🙄 while simultaneously preaching that you should just hold the baby in your lap instead of using a car seat 🙂