What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Zachary Gomez said:Actually, I’m also seeing a private doctor for my pregnancy. That's how I started, though I end up bouncing around everywhere—between Denmark and the US, using fertility specialists, private doctors, and even socialized medicine. For certain things, I still have to go through my insurance provider (for referrals and such), so I actually opened a file with them as well just in case. Generally, if you have a specialized referral, you get seen immediately... like when I went in for blood sugar testing or a Combos test at Mayo Clinic...

The worst part was dealing with a substitute social worker who was in such a rush to go on break with her sister that she barely examined me and then handed me an incomplete referral...

So far, I’ve done every single test without needing any official referrals—my public OBGYN hasn't even seen me yet, let alone knows I'm pregnant!😁 I assume I’ll eventually have to check in with them at some point because of hospital protocols (I'm guessing you need a referral for that, right? 😕), but until then—everything is strictly private. All the tests, blood type, thyroid stuff... I'm actually heading in this Monday for my glucose test. There is just no way I'm spending my time dragging myself from one clinic to another; I managed to get everything done all in one convenient spot!

George Davis6 said:So far, I’ve done every single test without needing any official referrals—my public OBGYN hasn't even seen me yet, let alone knows I'm pregnant!😁 I assume I’ll eventually have to check in with them at some point because of hospital protocols (I'm guessing you need a referral for that, right? 😕), but until then—everything is strictly private. All the tests, blood type, thyroid stuff... I'm actually heading in this Monday for my glucose test. There is just no way I'm spending my time dragging myself from one clinic to another; I managed to get everything done all in one convenient spot!

Must be nice
because I am absolutely broke
Last time, even my uncle at the hematology clinic gave me grief because my doctor wrote "blood typing" on the referral when I only needed sensitization testing. I already had my blood type checked at the start, and that test is expensive as hell

Honestly, I just don't have the patience for those endless waits at the local community clinics, so I usually just book everything through private doctors instead.
I’m certainly no Rockefeller, but I really don't have the energy or the desire to spend hours camped out in cramped, crowded waiting rooms.
It feels like enough already, dealing with how people never seem to respect the line at the grocery store or bother to give up their seats on the bus.
I suppose all I'm missing now is having mobile medical vans roaming the neighborhoods.🙄

My husband’s grandma... she calls or texts every single morning or night just to grill me about whether I've had my milk...🙂
The thing is, I’m lactose intolerant, so obviously I don't touch the stuff. She knows that, too. But her favorite move? Dropping that guilt trip about how the baby won't grow properly if I don't drink it.

Then there's my dad... every time he sees me, he’s all over my stomach, kissing it and rubbing it... and I’m only at 13 weeks. Look, Dad, I get it, you're stoked, but maybe tone down the public displays of affection while we're walking down the street?

And the questions! "What is the baby doing right now?" Like, what am I supposed to say? I have no idea what's going on in there...🙂

Then there’s this other lady who insists I'm totally faking it because I've been throwing up.
Her logic? Well, she had two kids and never once dealt with morning sickness, so clearly, I'm just acting.

It honestly drives me crazy—no matter what I say I’m planning to buy, the response is always some variation of, "Why on earth would you need that???"

Like, I told my mother-in-law that I was getting a dresser to use as a changing station—not one of those bulky plastic ones, just a regular dresser where I can put a changing pad on top—and she was just like, "Why can't you just change him on the bed?" Honestly, it's her way of being right... my back is going to be absolutely wrecked if I don't do this. Plus, a dresser is just so much more practical for keeping all his stuff organized—so yeah, we actually went out and bought it yesterday. 😁

Then there's the crib. I really want one with a side that slides down because it seems so much easier for me, but no, apparently that's unnecessary. "Oh, they're more expensive," or "It's all the same thing..." blah blah blah.

Or my clueless sister, who had the nerve to tell me today that I shouldn't even bother worrying about baby gear yet since I can just buy everything in two months. As if! My due date is in two and a half months, and I definitely am not planning on wandering around Target during my final forty-eight hours...

And don't even get me started on the unsolicited advice about chamomile tea or other herbal remedies for newborns, or people suggesting I give a newborn a tiny bit of salt and sugar in water... seriously...

On top of all that, I'm just so frustrated with this constant heartburn and the discharge I've been dealing with since the very beginning of the pregnancy. And the sleep... I haven't slept properly in nights because I just CANNOT find a comfortable position...

And yeah, it's just exhausting how rude everyone is lately. No one would ever let me cut in line; instead, people are literally shoving and rushing past me just to get to the checkout first. It's ridiculous... I'm always the one letting pregnant women or moms with strollers go ahead of me... ugh...

Honestly, the thing that caught me most off guard was getting hit with those pregnancy contractions... plus there’s this constant, nagging pain—it isn’t exactly excruciating, but it feels like I'm getting these little sharp stabs every few minutes.

Rebecca Murphy5 said:Honestly, the thing that caught me most off guard was getting hit with those pregnancy contractions... plus there’s this constant, nagging pain—it isn’t exactly excruciating, but it feels like I'm getting these little sharp stabs every few minutes.

See, I never dreamed pregnancy would be this painful. It’s actually pretty brutal for me. I have a fibroid, so that’s adding another layer of misery to the mix.
I honestly thought it would just be some light nausea, then your belly grows, you deal with labor, but at least that's over quickly.
I never imagined I'd be dealing with this kind of non-stop, awful pain.

Rebecca Murphy5 said:Honestly, the thing that caught me most off guard was getting hit with those pregnancy contractions... plus there’s this constant, nagging pain—it isn’t exactly excruciating, but it feels like I'm getting these little sharp stabs every few minutes.

That is precisely the point. Even though I am currently in my 26th week, I find myself constantly surprised by these pains; there is just no getting used to them, no matter how much time passes.

~~~Stay positive~~~

People leaving comments like, "Wow, look at that belly!!!??!!!"... Seriously, what am I even supposed to say to that? Give me a break! Honestly, maybe I should just head straight to a weight loss clinic right now so I can finally meet your ridiculous standards...🙂

I know this might seem to contradict everything I’ve ever posted about pregnancy, but honestly, I’m pretty shocked by how easy this has actually been. No joke. If I hadn't dealt with that bleeding from a hematoma—which forced me to stay on bed rest for a while—I probably wouldn't have even realized I was pregnant. I always went into this assuming it would be an exhausting, grueling experience, but I haven't had any nausea or anything else bothering me at all. Of course, my anxiety over the complications is a whole different story, but physically speaking, I feel fine. I mean, I’m only in my 24th week, so there's plenty of time left for things to go sideways, but so far, the entire pregnancy has been physically easier than just one hour of a heavy period. 😁

George Davis6 said:People leaving comments like, "Wow, look at that belly!!!??!!!"... Seriously, what am I even supposed to say to that? Give me a break! Honestly, maybe I should just head straight to a weight loss clinic right now so I can finally meet your ridiculous standards...🙂

In my experience, it seems like people who are naturally more athletic or fit are always the ones making those kinds of remarks. I suppose they just want me to gain weight too, maybe.
The other day, this girl told me I was starting to get some extra padding on my back 🙄 (I happened to be wearing a very tight shirt and a snug bra), to which her boyfriend piped up and noted that she had some extra tissue under her arms herself (even though she’d actually lost 25 pounds), and she snapped back, "Well, at least I'm not pregnant." 😂 So, there's a glimpse into her intellect and her boundless goodwill.

Everyone else seems to agree that it's just my stomach that's growing. And honestly, I can see it too, and I’m perfectly fine with it. I'm currently in my 31st week and up about 20 pounds.

And yeah, regarding the whole thing about letting pregnant women cut in line—well, the other day some girl actually pushed past me when I was the first one at a register that finally opened, plus there were another four or five people behind her because her husband couldn't get the shopping cart to the checkout fast enough. I really hope I don't forget this little moment when I see another pregnant woman later on, and remember to let her go ahead of me 🙂

dustymaker642 said:I know this might seem to contradict everything I’ve ever posted about pregnancy, but honestly, I’m pretty shocked by how easy this has actually been. No joke. If I hadn't dealt with that bleeding from a hematoma—which forced me to stay on bed rest for a while—I probably wouldn't have even realized I was pregnant. I always went into this assuming it would be an exhausting, grueling experience, but I haven't had any nausea or anything else bothering me at all. Of course, my anxiety over the complications is a whole different story, but physically speaking, I feel fine. I mean, I’m only in my 24th week, so there's plenty of time left for things to go sideways, but so far, the entire pregnancy has been physically easier than just one hour of a heavy period. 😁

Same here so far!🙂
My PMS used to be brutal. I'd be on painkillers, hitting up the ER, just losing it... and I was a total wreck before this.
Now, during pregnancy, I'm calm and nausea-free. Granted, I'm only 22 weeks along. 🙂
The only thing getting under my skin is people asking how we're going to handle twins once they find out.
And it drives me crazy when people at work pat my stomach.
I don't think I've ever just reached out and patted someone else's belly for no reason. 🤣

The whole "all women have given birth before, so just get on with it" argument😁 🙂
Look, I clearly understand the biological mechanics of reproduction, but that doesn't mean the fears and risks aren't very real issues.

You just reminded me of something, because I constantly get people commenting on me: "Oh, you haven't even gained any weight."
I guess they assume that since I’m on strict bed rest and pregnant, I should have already put on like 90 pounds, yet I’m actually still 10 pounds lighter than when I first found out.

It seems like they aren't happy whether we gain weight or stay thin.

And honestly, I never used to deal with any menstrual cramps; I genuinely have no idea what that feels like. No PMS, nothing—just normal days. I suppose that’s why all this pain is hitting me so hard now.

Ethan Mitchell4 said:You just reminded me of something, because I constantly get people commenting on me: "Oh, you haven't even gained any weight."
I guess they assume that since I’m on strict bed rest and pregnant, I should have already put on like 90 pounds, yet I’m actually still 10 pounds lighter than when I first found out.

It seems like they aren't happy whether we gain weight or stay thin.

And honestly, I never used to deal with any menstrual cramps; I genuinely have no idea what that feels like. No PMS, nothing—just normal days. I suppose that’s why all this pain is hitting me so hard now.

Maybe... but just maybe, people take that as a compliment. 😉
Look, don't get me wrong—you're doing an incredible job with this pregnancy, really. But let's be real here: you didn't just get a little bump, you went full-on heavy-duty. It’s like someone swapped out your midsection for a literal beach ball overnight. 🤷

Hannah Lewis2 said:Maybe... but just maybe, people take that as a compliment. 😉
Look, don't get me wrong—you're doing an incredible job with this pregnancy, really. But let's be real here: you didn't just get a little bump, you went full-on heavy-duty. It’s like someone swapped out your midsection for a literal beach ball overnight. 🤷

I'd say some people definitely see it that way too.

It actually caught me off guard when someone just stared straight at my stomach, practically measuring it with their eyes—zero discretion. I can tell from across a room if someone is looking at me while I'm chatting with a guy or whoever else, but honestly? I've looked at pregnant women before, but never like *that*. Not like I'd never seen a human body before.🤷

Jeremy Kern said:I'd say some people definitely see it that way too.

It actually caught me off guard when someone just stared straight at my stomach, practically measuring it with their eyes—zero discretion. I can tell from across a room if someone is looking at me while I'm chatting with a guy or whoever else, but honestly? I've looked at pregnant women before, but never like *that*. Not like I'd never seen a human body before.🤷

Oh man... I remember having to deal with that constant scrutiny from my own family, especially my mom, way before I even started showing. 🙄 Seriously, stop staring!! 🙂

Rebecca Thomas27 said:Oh man... I remember having to deal with that constant scrutiny from my own family, especially my mom, way before I even started showing. 🙄 Seriously, stop staring!! 🙂

Honestly, it actually made me kind of sad when my sister didn't show any interest in my bump. I spend most of my time lying down, so it's not like it's obvious when you're just lounging around. Everyone who comes over to visit the twins expects me to sit up just so they can get a good look at how big I am. I actually sat up once after I finished cleaning up after them, and she didn't even glance my way.
My niece, on the other hand, makes sure to take pictures of me every single time, and then she goes and tells her friends how cute it all is and stuff.

But nobody cares about the actual belly itself. Personally, I hate being touched there—I've never liked it. My mom occasionally gives me a little rub, but since I only see her once a month, it doesn't bother me too much. Even my husband won't touch it.
I guess if someone actually tried to grab me, I'd probably snap at them just to make it stop.
It has never once crossed my mind to reach out and grab a pregnant woman's stomach.

It honestly bugs me how people talk about this stuff... I’m reading all these comments about Penny, saying she’s just "loving her pregnancy" because she only gained a single pound. (And if I’m not mistaken, she’s due any day now, maybe in a month or two?) People act like that’s some huge achievement or something beautiful. To be honest, I have no clue how she could gain so little when she's already thin to begin with. I mean, the baby has to weigh something, right? 🤔 Is that even physically possible?

Then you have all these other women who gain a little more than average or get flagged with some medical diagnosis, and suddenly everyone is telling them they have to watch everything they eat and follow strict rules, and all that nonsense.

Ugh, tell me about it. It’s like everyone just wants a piece of you. I’ve only been at this for 18 weeks and honestly—I already feel like some target everyone's constantly poking at 🙈. It was wild how people thought they were suddenly invited to weigh in on my life. And get this—the "nicest" comment I got was someone telling me, "Well, you look great!" Like... okay? And how exactly am I supposed to look?! 🙂 I haven't quite figured out how to jump back and tell everyone to hands off 🙄 and stop stressing me out about my weight—I'm actually up 4 pounds. If there's any silver lining, it's probably all in my stomach and chest, because I don't feel any heavier to myself 🤷