What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

mellowranger16 said:Don't go hanging out with animals too much; the kid might actually start picking up their habits 🙂

I don't follow... 🙂
What, you planning on licking your own backside now? 🤣 Or go all in on all four... 😂

🤷
mellowranger16, I'm with you on this one.

Jacob Phillips4 said:Good grief!

So here I am 😲

My mom is being absolutely relentless about her hatred for pets, and now she’s trying to scare us with all these horror stories about parasites, bacteria, and whatever other nasty stuff a little four-legged creature might pass on to my tiny 🙄 God, give me strength...🙂

And then there's this other thing—this friend of mine pops up one day offering me his wife's pregnancy pillow (which, by the way, survived two kids!), but he won't just be a decent human being and let me borrow it, noooooooo, he insists that I buy it from him 😲 and honestly, I found that so incredibly tacky? Like, when all my girlfriends were having babies before me, I was always happy to lend out things I’d already bought for my own little one, and I think a normal rotation of gear (for free) is just how things work, you know? 🤷

Jeremy Morris2 said:So here I am 😲

My mom is being absolutely relentless about her hatred for pets, and now she’s trying to scare us with all these horror stories about parasites, bacteria, and whatever other nasty stuff a little four-legged creature might pass on to my tiny 🙄 God, give me strength...🙂

And then there's this other thing—this friend of mine pops up one day offering me his wife's pregnancy pillow (which, by the way, survived two kids!), but he won't just be a decent human being and let me borrow it, noooooooo, he insists that I buy it from him 😲 and honestly, I found that so incredibly tacky? Like, when all my girlfriends were having babies before me, I was always happy to lend out things I’d already bought for my own little one, and I think a normal rotation of gear (for free) is just how things work, you know? 🤷

Honestly, dogs are healthier than most people... you get them vaccinated annually against all those ailments, and studies show kids raised with pets actually have better immune systems ☕
It irritates me whenever someone asks what I should do with my dog. Usually, it's people who hate themselves in the morning but claim to love the whole world by the afternoon. To them, it’s perfectly normal to euthanize a pet just because a baby is coming 🤷
Besides, this isn't my first child... if I didn't get rid of the pet after the first one, why would I after the second? 🙂

Jeremy Morris2 said:So here I am 😲

My mom is being absolutely relentless about her hatred for pets, and now she’s trying to scare us with all these horror stories about parasites, bacteria, and whatever other nasty stuff a little four-legged creature might pass on to my tiny 🙄 God, give me strength...🙂

And then there's this other thing—this friend of mine pops up one day offering me his wife's pregnancy pillow (which, by the way, survived two kids!), but he won't just be a decent human being and let me borrow it, noooooooo, he insists that I buy it from him 😲 and honestly, I found that so incredibly tacky? Like, when all my girlfriends were having babies before me, I was always happy to lend out things I’d already bought for my own little one, and I think a normal rotation of gear (for free) is just how things work, you know? 🤷

And that's just the tip of the iceberg... I once gave a baby gym to an acquaintance because I received a new one as a gift and didn't need two. That same woman then asked if I wanted to buy the baby gym from her... she barely used it 🤣... so it's clear... I'm being asked to buy back something I originally gave to her 🙂 🙂 🤣

I honestly believe that people who don't care about animals aren't exactly good people.
Seriously, my dog has more common sense than half the people I encounter. When our neighbor’s little girl was visiting, she tried to bolt toward the street, and Lara actually stepped in—she physically nudged her back into the yard and wouldn't let her near the road. She's incredibly gentle with kids, too. It’s not even a debate for me; I’d never stop my own child from playing with her. If someone has an issue with that, they shouldn't bother coming over to our place.

wanderinghawk said:Honestly, dogs are healthier than most people... you get them vaccinated annually against all those ailments, and studies show kids raised with pets actually have better immune systems ☕
It irritates me whenever someone asks what I should do with my dog. Usually, it's people who hate themselves in the morning but claim to love the whole world by the afternoon. To them, it’s perfectly normal to euthanize a pet just because a baby is coming 🤷
Besides, this isn't my first child... if I didn't get rid of the pet after the first one, why would I after the second? 🙂

And that's just the tip of the iceberg... I once gave a baby gym to an acquaintance because I received a new one as a gift and didn't need two. That same woman then asked if I wanted to buy the baby gym from her... she barely used it 🤣... so it's clear... I'm being asked to buy back something I originally gave to her 🙂 🙂 🤣

Exactly! 🙂 I’m positive my dog is as healthy as they come—honestly, his hygiene is probably better than half the people I know! And don't even get me started on the benefits of growing up with a dog; the impact that kind of companionship has on a kid is just undeniable, isn't it? 🤷

I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to seeing them together, seriously! Honestly, he’s just such a total softie when it comes to babies that I can already tell they're going to be absolutely perfect. 😍 At first glance, I'm telling the little one that once he arrives, he’s definitely going to have a big, hairy older brother waiting for him! 🤣

casualnomad18, that dog is seriously brilliant!

casualnomad18 said:I honestly believe that people who don't care about animals aren't exactly good people.
Seriously, my dog has more common sense than half the people I encounter. When our neighbor’s little girl was visiting, she tried to bolt toward the street, and Lara actually stepped in—she physically nudged her back into the yard and wouldn't let her near the road. She's incredibly gentle with kids, too. It’s not even a debate for me; I’d never stop my own child from playing with her. If someone has an issue with that, they shouldn't bother coming over to our place.

👍 👍

she's adorable!

and yeah, people are weird as hell.
but not in a good way.

The other day I ran into an acquaintance, and naturally, she noticed I was pregnant and immediately jumped to the question of what on earth I plan to do with my cat once the baby arrives...🙂
I found myself stuck in this ridiculous loop of explaining how my cat is strictly an indoor pet, fully vaccinated, up to date on all his vet visits, blah blah blah—as if I’d ever just abandon a companion who has been my constant through everything for nearly ten years, making me happy every single day😢 and as if it would even be remotely sane to just toss him out onto the street now.

But honestly, my cat and I talk to him every day, telling him he’s about to get a little brother or sister, warning him that babies can be a bit clumsy, but promising him we'll always protect him.😍

I truly hope he lives a long life so that when my baby arrives, they can experience firsthand just how wonderful having a little creature like him is, and how great it feels to have such a loyal friend by your side.

Mark Cox13 said:The other day I ran into an acquaintance, and naturally, she noticed I was pregnant and immediately jumped to the question of what on earth I plan to do with my cat once the baby arrives...🙂
I found myself stuck in this ridiculous loop of explaining how my cat is strictly an indoor pet, fully vaccinated, up to date on all his vet visits, blah blah blah—as if I’d ever just abandon a companion who has been my constant through everything for nearly ten years, making me happy every single day😢 and as if it would even be remotely sane to just toss him out onto the street now.

But honestly, my cat and I talk to him every day, telling him he’s about to get a little brother or sister, warning him that babies can be a bit clumsy, but promising him we'll always protect him.😍

I truly hope he lives a long life so that when my baby arrives, they can experience firsthand just how wonderful having a little creature like him is, and how great it feels to have such a loyal friend by your side.

Honestly, I don't think there's a kid out there who doesn't love animals. 😍 You'll have to share some cute photos once that kitty starts curling up next to the baby! 🤣

I guess everyone around me has just accepted that I’m a little bit eccentric—so nobody has actually said anything about my kid living in a house with four dogs. They're all indoor pets, obviously. 😁
I really hope they don't start talking about it.

I just came across this video where a cat was gently patting a baby's head with its paw while she was crying, and the little thing actually calmed right down and drifted off to sleep. Honestly, absolutely precious.

casualnomad18 said:I just came across this video where a cat was gently patting a baby's head with its paw while she was crying, and the little thing actually calmed right down and drifted off to sleep. Honestly, absolutely precious.

I've spent far too much time watching those kinds of clips myself. I can only hope my own pet turns out to be just as gentle with the baby; perhaps having that presence will help soothe them when things get restless.😁

A close friend of mine has a Labrador and a newborn, and honestly, the bond they share is just incredible. The dog is so devoted to her—he’s constantly watching over her and even sleeps right by her side. My favorite part is when the baby starts crying and he actually starts howling along with her! It really feels like she has two babies in the house at once. 😁
In my household, we’ve all reached a consensus that the dog and the baby are going to be inseparable. I actually have a Lab myself, and that’s exactly why we decided to get one—so that when the little one finally arrives, they’ll already be best friends. 😍

I’m my own biggest headache 🙂

Regarding the whole pets and newborns debate—people were breathing down my neck to get rid of my cat while I was still in the hospital. 😢 When I told them absolutely not, they pivoted to, "Well, fine, just make sure you give him to your relatives once the baby arrives." Again, I said no. I wasn't about to hand over a family member just because I hadn't seen how they’d bond yet. 🤣 Once we finally got home from the hospital, we let the little one sniff the cat to introduce them, and that was really the extent of it. 😁 Then one day, I’m frantically searching the house for the cat like a total lunatic, only to find him curled up right next to her in the playpen, tucked under her feet and watching over her. 😍

As for the immunity thing, my little one is 15 months old now and has only caught a cold once—just a minor thing where we had to swing by the pediatrician. Everyone is constantly shocked at how she isn't more prone to getting sick.

I completely agree with that... Honestly, ever since I can remember, I’ve lived alongside animals—mostly cats and dogs. Back in elementary school, about 80% of my classmates were constantly coming down with something, but I always seemed to be part of that lucky 20% who stayed healthy. Knock on wood, I’ve never had any major issues. No nagging colds, no fevers—in fact, the last time I actually ran a temperature was four years ago.🙂

So, some coworker I barely know—just someone I pass in the hallway ☕—actually had the nerve to tell me my stomach looks too big and that I should probably see a doctor to find out what’s wrong with me 🙂🙂🙂
She doesn't even know how far along I am, let alone any other reason she could have used to jump to that conclusion 😵😵

A question for the group—are you planning on driving your newborn home from the hospital in a car seat? 😲 "

I mean, isn't that just the law?
They won't even let you put a baby in the car without an approved car seat.

wanderinghawk said:I don't follow... 🙂
What, you planning on licking your own backside now? 🤣 Or go all in on all four... 😂

Furthermore, this should be considered mandatory; one must learn from the absolute best. A child raised with a dog or a cat at home would undoubtedly emerge as the fastest participant in any crawling competition.