What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Sarah Morris57 said:So, you think everyone hates my guts now? 😬

Nah, just so it doesn't seem like I'm just being cranky about stuff—it's actually pretty fascinating how much our little pack's behavior has shifted...
I mean, we've always been cat people, obviously, but now I can't even sit down without someone latching onto me! They'll go way out of their way just to nap next to me—even when I'm curled up on the couch feeling crappy, they'll squeeze into these super awkward, uncomfortable positions just to stay close. They just won't leave me alone!
The dog is being extra clingy too, like seriously... He follows me straight into the bathroom and just hangs out by the tub while I'm showering. Doesn't care at all if the water splashes him or anything, he just keeps nudging me for pets like he's a tiny puppy again.
My crazy little crew. 😍

I knew I was taking a gamble when I hit publish on that post. 😬

Anyway, here’s what’s actually getting under my skin... though I still haven't figured out if I'm having a girl or a boy yet. 🙂

I have an ultrasound scheduled in two weeks, so hopefully I'll finally know then. I'll be 25 weeks and 5 days along.

I’ve officially hit the nine-week mark—knock on wood—and honestly, I haven't had any of those classic symptoms people drone on about. No morning sickness, no weird food cravings, no sudden revulsion toward anything on my plate; nothing hurts, and my mood hasn't shifted much—certainly nothing more dramatic than usual, if I take what 😁 was saying earlier to heart. My breasts are still tiny—praying to the heavens they actually grow at some point 🤣—and the only real thing I’ve noticed is that I’m hitting the bathroom a bit more often, though it's hardly a crisis. What really gets under my skin, though, is that specific cycle of frustration: I’ll go, wash my hands, apply my lotion, and then realize just a second too late that I actually needed to go again 😵
. My bump isn't visible yet, but by the evening, I feel like I'm bloating out like I'm already halfway through the pregnancy... everything looks fine in the morning or during the day, but once night rolls around, I'm totally swollen

The last thing that actually floored me was hearing some lady claim you’re supposed to lick a baby's eyes if they won't stop crying.

Dana Fox5 said:What surprised me most was how much my chest grew while my weight actually went down, especially considering what I've been eating. It’s also wild how "normal" everything feels. Aside from a brief moment at the start, I haven't dealt with any nausea, weird stomach issues, crazy cravings, or being repulsed by certain smells or foods. No aches, no constant exhaustion, and I'm not nearly as moody or hormonally unstable (well, not more than usual, right 😬). I don't have to run to the bathroom every five minutes, and I can move around just fine... if you ignore the belly (and the 😁) and that occasional little flutter 😍, I’d probably forget I was even pregnant. 🤷

Bill Clinton said:If I add a signature to this, are you guys going to hate me? 🤣

The chest might be a bit larger, sure, but most of the weight seems to have settled in my stomach—I’ve probably only put on maybe 1 or 2 pounds total.

Come on, you two models, head up to the gallery and share those photos.😁

Paul Campbell8 said:The last thing that actually floored me was hearing some lady claim you’re supposed to lick a baby's eyes if they won't stop crying.

🤣

All the restrictions I ran into while browsing American pregnancy forums really set me off—don't do this, don't forget that, whatever you do, don't... 🙂 Honestly, forget it—maybe I should just go find a glassblower to make me a custom glass bell jar so they can stuff me inside, induce a coma, and just feed me through an IV until I give birth! 🙂

My OB-GYN actually looked stunned yesterday... he told me he's honestly never seen a baby positioned quite like this before 🤣
It’s getting harder and harder to actually catch some sleep lately 😢

Maybe I’m a little out of line here, but I just wanted to chime in on all that talk you guys are hearing about how you won't be able to handle this or that—honestly, just soak up every single second while you can. I truly believe that once you get your head in the right space and convince yourself that you *can* do it, you absolutely will, and man, nothing used to bug me more than hearing people doubt that possibility. Now that I’ve got three kids running around, I can tell you firsthand: I still manage to get everything done that I want to and stay on top of my game just fine.

Sarah Morris57 said:So, you think everyone hates my guts now? 😬

Nah, just so it doesn't seem like I'm just being cranky about stuff—it's actually pretty fascinating how much our little pack's behavior has shifted...
I mean, we've always been cat people, obviously, but now I can't even sit down without someone latching onto me! They'll go way out of their way just to nap next to me—even when I'm curled up on the couch feeling crappy, they'll squeeze into these super awkward, uncomfortable positions just to stay close. They just won't leave me alone!
The dog is being extra clingy too, like seriously... He follows me straight into the bathroom and just hangs out by the tub while I'm showering. Doesn't care at all if the water splashes him or anything, he just keeps nudging me for pets like he's a tiny puppy again.
My crazy little crew. 😍

Yeah, my girl won't leave my side—she's gotten so protective lately. She's way more on edge than usual, just watching everything while she snoozes next to me. It's not like she's just passed out and oblivious, either. 🤣 Honestly caught me off guard; I didn't think she'd pick up on things this quickly. Such a huge heart for a dog that isn't even 10 pounds. Pretty wild.

Ashley Bailey75 said:Yeah, my girl won't leave my side—she's gotten so protective lately. She's way more on edge than usual, just watching everything while she snoozes next to me. It's not like she's just passed out and oblivious, either. 🤣 Honestly caught me off guard; I didn't think she'd pick up on things this quickly. Such a huge heart for a dog that isn't even 10 pounds. Pretty wild.

I was actually just reading about how dogs become super sensitive and attentive toward pregnant women.

The dog I'm staying with right now (not mine) is clearly clueless on this front—he probably thinks my belly is just a beer keg and keeps jumping all over me like a maniac. And he isn't even a small guy.

It’s honestly driving me a little crazy. I have exactly five days left at the office before I finally kick off my maternity leave, which leads right into 45 days of pre-baby downtime... but just a few days ago, the back pain and pelvic pressure started hitting me hard. It feels like everything is aching all at once. Part of me thought, "Hey, at least I'll have plenty of time to rest," but now I'm worried I won't even be able to manage a simple walk around the block 😢

And don't even get me started on my coworkers. They keep making these incredibly condescending comments about how I'm "definitely" going to be so swollen with water retention that I won't even be able to walk. They act like they're being sympathetic, but it just feels patronizing and annoying 🤔

Just five more days. Only five more days. I can do this 😢

Don't pay any mind to what people say, because they always have something to say. Suddenly, everyone thinks they’re some kind of expert😳

It irritates me, for instance, that I'm not allowed to eat fresh greens, even though that's my absolute favorite salad😢

I don't usually let comments get under my skin too much, but now that my belly is starting to pop out on its own—because, you know, the little one is growing—🎉, my chest has gotten so huge 🙂 (and let's be honest, they weren't exactly small before either). It’s making me feel a bit self-conscious, so those comments just hit harder than usual... plus, I'm just exhausted... I tried to save up all my vacation days from last year to tack them onto this year's leave, hoping to have one big, uninterrupted stretch of free time... just five more days to go...

As for food, I'm having a really hard time finding anything I can actually stomach. I'll cook this absolutely magnificent lunch... a beautiful meal... but then I get hungry, take a bite, and suddenly I feel like I'm going to throw up... and I'm already six months along...

I had some nausea earlier on, but I managed to figure things out through trial and error 😁 by finding a few things that were decent enough to keep me full... but now 🕺

I’m literally sitting here inhaling a mushroom pizza right now—and I mean JUST mushrooms. Like, that's it!
Since I’m vegan, cheese and ham were already out of the question, but honestly, my diet has just been shrinking lately... I can't stand tomato sauce, and don't even get me started on oregano—it's a total no-go for me. I’d kill for some olives, but I'm too scared to try them...
Luckily, the folks at this local pizza joint totally get me, so they whipped this up with a few sympathetic looks tossed my way.

I’ve finally reached that point where nothing gets under my skin anymore. I’m zen. It’s not like I’ve suddenly become some Buddhist monk or anything, but I’m feeling pretty centered. My only mantra at this point: common sense, common sense... ommmmmmmmm :-)

Honestly, women my age—regardless of whether they’ve had kids or not—are really starting to grate on my nerves with all these side-eye comments about me getting an epidural. Like, why does anyone actually care how I choose to handle labor? It’s none of their business. To be honest, I can't decide which type is more exhausting: the ones who have given birth and admit it was terrifying but survived, yet still act like they're too "tough" for an epidural.

Or the ones who haven't even been pregnant and try to "comfort" me by saying, "Oh, labor starts so fast and ends so quickly, you won't even have time for the epidural!" I don't even know how to respond to that. Honestly, I just want to ask if they happen to have Lev Yashin’s phone number handy, because if this baby is flying out of me that fast, I’m gonna need a pro to catch it.

I constantly try to stay non-judgmental and avoid mocking other people's choices, but then comments like these just completely blow it for me. Just yesterday, I actually texted a close friend of mine at 3 p.m. telling her we seriously have nothing to discuss regarding this topic. First off, I’m the one having the baby, not her. Second, she isn't pregnant—she never was. And third, I have always been pro-epidural. I’ve never had the slightest interest in going "natural." If someone else wants to do that, fine, go for it.

It’s the exact same headache when it comes to the fact that I didn't take my husband's last name—I just added it. What is wrong with women these days?! What is driving them crazy? You're dealing with your own stuff, leave me to mine. I don't judge you, so who gives you the right to roll your eyes at my decision?

*** Oh, and get this: my husband's cousin asked him when we were moving in with his family. I was speechless. When I asked him why, he just said, "To help us out, obviously."
If we ever actually need help, trust me, they'll find a way to "help" us. It’s not even about the money or the house; it's just the mindset of a thirty-year-old acting like that.

Justin Rivera17 said:I’ve finally reached that point where nothing gets under my skin anymore. I’m zen. It’s not like I’ve suddenly become some Buddhist monk or anything, but I’m feeling pretty centered. My only mantra at this point: common sense, common sense... ommmmmmmmm :-)

Honestly, women my age—regardless of whether they’ve had kids or not—are really starting to grate on my nerves with all these side-eye comments about me getting an epidural. Like, why does anyone actually care how I choose to handle labor? It’s none of their business. To be honest, I can't decide which type is more exhausting: the ones who have given birth and admit it was terrifying but survived, yet still act like they're too "tough" for an epidural.

Or the ones who haven't even been pregnant and try to "comfort" me by saying, "Oh, labor starts so fast and ends so quickly, you won't even have time for the epidural!" I don't even know how to respond to that. Honestly, I just want to ask if they happen to have Lev Yashin’s phone number handy, because if this baby is flying out of me that fast, I’m gonna need a pro to catch it.

I constantly try to stay non-judgmental and avoid mocking other people's choices, but then comments like these just completely blow it for me. Just yesterday, I actually texted a close friend of mine at 3 p.m. telling her we seriously have nothing to discuss regarding this topic. First off, I’m the one having the baby, not her. Second, she isn't pregnant—she never was. And third, I have always been pro-epidural. I’ve never had the slightest interest in going "natural." If someone else wants to do that, fine, go for it.

It’s the exact same headache when it comes to the fact that I didn't take my husband's last name—I just added it. What is wrong with women these days?! What is driving them crazy? You're dealing with your own stuff, leave me to mine. I don't judge you, so who gives you the right to roll your eyes at my decision?

*** Oh, and get this: my husband's cousin asked him when we were moving in with his family. I was speechless. When I asked him why, he just said, "To help us out, obviously."
If we ever actually need help, trust me, they'll find a way to "help" us. It’s not even about the money or the house; it's just the mindset of a thirty-year-old acting like that.

Then I guess I'm even worse 😂
We actually sat down and talked about this before we ever considered marriage (because it's not like I'm getting married just because I'm pregnant), and we agreed that I would keep my own name. I wouldn't just add his to mine; I'd stick strictly to my own.😁

Yeah, all that unsolicited advice is honestly so grating. I’m really not the type to lecture people on how to live their lives. Like—if you need a changing table for the baby, you need one. It’s just practical. You’ll get so much use out of it later on, too. I used mine constantly and I still use it today...

Honestly, I couldn't care less what you use when I don't even have the room for it in my apartment🤦

It’s like people don't grasp that I'm not them, and they aren't me, which is just bizarre. Just let me be. Anyway, today's workday is officially wrapped up... only three more to go🎉

I actually decided to call myself Bradley Stewart Jambrišec because I'm always rambling😁 even though that's not usually my thing... but lately, I've been feeling a lot like Jambrišec😛

Give it a rest, lady. If you aren't going to complain now, when will you? 😁

Jonathan Cox4 said:Then I guess I'm even worse 😂
We actually sat down and talked about this before we ever considered marriage (because it's not like I'm getting married just because I'm pregnant), and we agreed that I would keep my own name. I wouldn't just add his to mine; I'd stick strictly to my own.😁

In my case, I ended up taking my husband's name, and people started giving me grief about why I didn't just hang onto my maiden name. They argued that in this modern era, where I'm a woman with my own established career, how are people supposed to know who I am? 😁 Plus, they claimed they'd have a hard enough time remembering my new last name anyway 😉

Well... I guess I just picked a new one so nobody would recognize me, and to make it extra difficult for them to memorize > hahahahahah Jambrišec 🤣

There really is something to be said about finally being able to catch your breath... 😁

The mere thought of hair removal was driving me absolutely insane... easily the most tedious, draining chore I've ever faced. I was actually looking forward to my checkup, but then the reality of the waxing hits me... ugh... especially since I became quite large quite early on in my 😁

And what else was getting under my skin? Honestly, I can't even wrap my head around it because ever since giving birth, everything people do just feels incredibly grating!

Good grief, everyone thinks they’re such an expert

Strep throat and a positive cervical swab. Here we go again 🙄

Pregnancy felt so much simpler five years ago... everything has changed so much since then. It's wild how much life shifts

I don't even stress about hair removal—I’ve got this amazing esthetician who uses sugar paste for everything intimate. :-) Honestly, one of the few perks of being pregnant is that my hair grows way slower and thinner now. Otherwise, I'm basically an orangutan.

I was lucky enough that people around me didn't try to lecture me too much, though they were still low-key terrified (just behind my back, obviously :-) ) because I was riding my bike until almost my eighth month, and I still go for walks every single day.

One thing that constantly drives me absolutely insane... OB-GYNs and those questions that always seem to hinge on the word "Normal."

- Are you feeling the baby normally?
- Are your bowels moving normally?
- Can you move around normally?

Especially when she asks about the baby—because of that irritating little question, I actually agreed to stay in the hospital for a couple of days totally unnecessarily, just because I freaked out thinking I wasn't feeling the baby "normally." So there I was, spending three days staring like an idiot at other pregnant women, counting how many times they felt kicks, and hovering outside the room where they do fetal monitoring just analyzing the sounds. It was pathetic.

How am I supposed to know what's "normal" during my first pregnancy?! Some women in my circle felt the baby getting stronger and stronger, others felt it less, and most of them just stayed in bed all day. I don't know any other pregnant women in my neighborhood who move as much as I do or have a similar build. I'm not exactly tiny, so the bump doesn't really bother me.
In the end, I just told the doctor that as far as I'm concerned, I feel the baby normally, and if she sees an issue on the ultrasound, she can let me know.

I kind of even miss being bothered by strangers :-( (okay, maybe I'm lying :-) ). I'm due to give birth next week, and so far, only one crazy lady has tried to rub my belly, and maybe two or three women asked if I was having twins. Which, honestly, annoyed me a bit until I caught my reflection in a store window. I live in this delusion where I think I'm petite, completely ignoring the fact that right before delivery (I'm 5'10" and currently about 210 lbs), I'm actually pretty big. In my head, I'm perfectly normal and petite—at least until I hit a reflective surface.

I definitely notice that I kill people's urge to comment. Like, if I leave my dog in front of a bakery (not right in the doorway, but a little distance away) and old ladies start whispering about what someone's gonna do to a dog like that... then I walk out, grab the leash, and just stare at them... nothing... I just get a minute of dead silence. :-/