What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

That’s true! Mine was exactly the same way. I think I finally had that moment after the ultrasound where it truly clicked that there was actually a baby growing inside her. And once we started feeling those little kicks, it became even more real.
I honestly think it just takes some people a bit longer to process because, at the end of the day, they aren't the ones physically carrying the baby—it’s more of a mental shift for them.

I felt the exact same way after every ultrasound—just totally frazzled and overwhelmed...

But honestly, we can't really skip them...

I guess he just needs that visual connection, you know? Like he can't quite wrap his head around the fact that there's actually a baby in there without seeing it on the screen.😂

Steven Harris16 said:We are beyond happy about the baby, 😍 and everything else will eventually fall into place...
Thank you for those kind words 😍
And I am genuinely thrilled that everything worked out so beautifully with your pregnancies—it really is wonderful 😍(though I realize you're all much more mature than I am, so I won't overstep by acting like some obnoxious kid, haha 😁)

And hey, please just call me by my first name, okay? If you keep using "ma'am" or being all formal, I'm actually gonna get mad at you 😍

Man, I guess until he actually saw the baby on the ultrasound, he didn't even realize he was gonna be a dad... though, honestly, looking at how protective he’s been with me lately, maybe he knew deep down. It’s kind of funny because what really set him off was everyone constantly chiming in whenever they saw me, trying to guess if we were having a boy or a girl. It drove him absolutely nuts—like, if someone would insist it's a boy just because my bump isn't showing much yet, he’d just snap back with, "Well, at least let her be a girl then!" or something to shut them up. Anyway, in the mornings when I'm all uncovered and rubbing my belly, he loves to just rest his hand there and wait for a kick. But I swear, the baby already knows exactly who the dad is because as soon as he touches me, the little one just freezes up and doesn't move an inch.

It’s starting to really get under my skin that my partner isn't taking this pregnancy seriously, and I’m already seven months along. He’s still out on field assignments—working way outside the States—and he just doesn't seem to have any desire to come home and be here for us. He claims he wishes he could, but honestly, it feels like a lie because he has a choice. I know he does, since he can pick between being out in the field or working at the corporate office back home (it's all about the paycheck, obviously). He asks how the baby is doing every single day, but that's where it ends. It’s pretty clear he doesn't plan on being here for the birth unless he absolutely has to be. I just don't get him... he’s never been cold like this before, and I never expected this kind of behavior from him. He even told me once that when we finally have a kid, he'll be there every single second. I really expected so much more... 🙂
I just don't get what the fucking problem is
I'm so frustrated and angry at him. If he was able to make a baby, then he should step up and be by my side, at least now at the end! Such an idiot!
Just needed to vent a little...
And I'm worried that my mood might be affecting the baby, because I tend to get really down, and that’s actually scaring me 😢 (this belongs in the fears thread)

But he really needs to hear it from you. This is way too big of an issue to just ignore; if you let it sit, things could spiral and everything might just fall apart.
Maybe he thinks he can't afford to take any time off because of the baby expenses.
Who knows what's actually going through his head.
Either way, you should probably just be honest with him about how you're feeling.

It looks like we’re all dealing with similar struggles regarding how our partners handle pregnancy 🙄 Honestly, I thought I was the only one getting so frustrated by this. It used to drive me absolutely crazy because whenever I tried to talk to my husband about what the baby and I needed, it felt like it was just going in one ear and out the other. I have to give him credit, though—he’s actually started showing more interest lately, and I can tell he’s genuinely excited about the little one, so I’m willing to overlook that initial lack of engagement. Still, it really gets under my skin when he doesn't seem to care at all during ultrasounds. When he tells me he finds them boring, I practically lose it! I mean, how can he be bored? This is his child too, right? 😕😕 Then he starts trying to explain that he can't see anything or understand what's happening, and it honestly makes my blood boil!!!🙂👎

He’s actually great—he helps out, cleans up, and even goes to all my doctor appointments with me... but today, he sent my blood pressure through the roof.
I was so livid I almost lost it on him and my father-in-law.

The heat is killing me lately, and I feel absolutely miserable. Instead of just staying quiet and showing a little empathy, those two decided today was the day to start lecturing me. Like, seriously? They started questioning why I had a glass of Coke with lunch, implying that's why I'm feeling unwell. As if I haven't been sipping water all day. It's insulting, honestly. To act like I'm some idiot who doesn't know how to hydrate, or like I can't have a single sweet thing without it being a medical crisis. I don't even remember the last time I had much sugar. Honestly, I think a group of a hundred grandmothers at a local farmers market would have more common sense than these two.
I just love it when they team up to deliver their "pearls of wisdom."
And then there's my father-in-law, acting like I'm personally responsible for providing them with a grandchild. Like I'm nothing more than an incubator designed to produce their granddaughter on demand.

rowdypanther12 said:But he really needs to hear it from you. This is way too big of an issue to just ignore; if you let it sit, things could spiral and everything might just fall apart.
Maybe he thinks he can't afford to take any time off because of the baby expenses.
Who knows what's actually going through his head.
Either way, you should probably just be honest with him about how you're feeling.

But he knows 😢
Every few days I vent (of course, even though it feels like not enough since these pregnancy hormones are hitting me hard 😉), and I bring it up again, but all he says is: "just hang in there, it'll be fine, just a little longer..." But I just want him here. I’m definitely not staying quiet, I think that would just destroy us. As far as money goes, we're okay, our income is enough to live a normal life. Obviously, it's different when he's away, but it's not like being gone for a month or two is going to change our whole lives right now.
That's what's eating at me, I just can't figure out what he's thinking. If I wasn't so pregnant, I'd drive over to see him and handle it, but I really don't want to travel this late in the game—especially with the risk of going into labor early or needing a doctor. I honestly just want to get inside his head and give him a piece of my mind 😵. I just don't get him.
I've got an idea... maybe I should post his number or email on this forum so we can all jump in and mess with him together 😁

Morgan Barnes3, I'm so glad things are looking up for you. I can barely make sense of anything on an ultrasound, even after the doctor explains it, but seeing that everything is okay and the baby is moving is definitely my favorite part 🙂 (yeah, I can actually feel the kicks now that they're bigger). Small steps are good ones.

Thanks for the support 🙂

Next time I'm pregnant, I'm joining a lesbian group... women just seem to get it more 😉

Ronald Williams9 said:He’s actually great—he helps out, cleans up, and even goes to all my doctor appointments with me... but today, he sent my blood pressure through the roof.
I was so livid I almost lost it on him and my father-in-law.

The heat is killing me lately, and I feel absolutely miserable. Instead of just staying quiet and showing a little empathy, those two decided today was the day to start lecturing me. Like, seriously? They started questioning why I had a glass of Coke with lunch, implying that's why I'm feeling unwell. As if I haven't been sipping water all day. It's insulting, honestly. To act like I'm some idiot who doesn't know how to hydrate, or like I can't have a single sweet thing without it being a medical crisis. I don't even remember the last time I had much sugar. Honestly, I think a group of a hundred grandmothers at a local farmers market would have more common sense than these two.
I just love it when they team up to deliver their "pearls of wisdom."
And then there's my father-in-law, acting like I'm personally responsible for providing them with a grandchild. Like I'm nothing more than an incubator designed to produce their granddaughter on demand.

Ugh, I hate it when they start acting like experts, it drives me crazy. Plus, you can't just chug water all day—you sweat, you lose electrolytes, and then that's exactly why you feel nauseous. To get them back in balance, maybe grab a little cup of miso soup every other day, or something like Gatorade or Powerade to put those electrolytes back in your system.

ironrider20 said:Ugh, I hate it when they start acting like experts, it drives me crazy. Plus, you can't just chug water all day—you sweat, you lose electrolytes, and then that's exactly why you feel nauseous. To get them back in balance, maybe grab a little cup of miso soup every other day, or something like Gatorade or Powerade to put those electrolytes back in your system.

Look, I eat plenty of good soups... and thanks for the tip about Gatorade or Powerade... 🙂

Honestly, the condescension is what gets to me. The logic they use is so incredibly flawed it's actually embarrassing to listen to. They claim my blood pressure will drop because I had something sweet, or whatever nonsense else they come up with...

There is zero reasoning behind it. They are completely obsessed with the baby and the pregnancy. We were down at the beach in Florida, and they were hounding me with phone calls every single day, telling me not to go in the water so I wouldn't catch a cold...

As if I don't have a single brain cell left.

The kicker? My husband smokes and lives on salty, greasy food—he’s already dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and gout. 👍

Honestly, what drives me absolutely nuts is all that constant back-seat parenting—you know, people constantly lecturing you about what to do or what not to do. Like, oh, when I was pregnant, it was always "it’s going to be this" or "it’ll act just like their uncle," it’s just exhausting, really. I don't care about all that. This kid is mine and my partner's, and we’re going to raise them the best way we know how. 😠

Since Ronald Williams9 already brought up the heat, I just have to chime in—this weather is seriously getting on my nerves. How are you all handling this stifling humidity? There were days when I honestly felt like I was going to burst; I had these pounding headaches that drove me absolutely crazy, and I was desperate for just a breath of fresh air. I even tried going for a walk to clear my head, but nothing seemed to help. I ended up being as cranky as a total old lady, just snapping at myself for no reason at all..

It didn't really surprise me, but man, it’s getting old... having to run to the bathroom constantly. My little one clearly thinks my bladder is a jungle gym or something. I'm practically sprinting to the restroom every few minutes. It’s especially annoying when I'm out and about, just like those commercials where they're scanning the room for the nearest restroom. And now with this heat, I'm drinking three times as much water as usual.
Then at night... I finally make it to the bathroom, lay back down, and suddenly feel the baby kicking and doing full-on gymnastics, and five seconds later, there's that pressure on my bladder again. Even though I know it's empty, it still feels like... uh...
I can't even imagine how it'll be by the end of the pregnancy 😢
Honestly, I might just have to start wearing adult diapers; it'd probably be easier than this constant running back and forth 🤣

I honestly don't get what's so mind-blowing about a pregnant belly that everyone feels the need to stare like they've never seen one before. Especially women—you'd think they’d be the ones to actually understand boundaries here. Sometimes I just want to let them have it with every curse word in the book and give them a much-needed reality check for being so rude. Just completely undisciplined. 😠

It wasn't so much the reaction from my female coworkers that caught me off guard, it was how incredibly frustrating it was. 👎 My male colleagues were actually super supportive and understanding, but the women? They acted like I’d personally insulted their entire lineage or something. It was unreal. One guy even told me the other day that he walked into the breakroom and was just stunned—he actually overheard them talking about my pregnancy in such an awful, nasty way. Honestly, I'm just relieved to be working from home now so I don't have to deal with their attitudes anymore. 🤣

Why is it that pregnant women everywhere still have to wait in line just like everyone else? 😠

And what is with those elderly ladies who, the second they spot someone expecting, try everything in their power to cut in front of them? Honestly, sometimes I feel like they’d gladly plow right into me with their shopping carts if it meant getting to the register first. 😠 😠

Also, why is it so hard for people to stay clean, especially during this kind of heatwave? 😠 😠

Why on earth would anyone charge $300 a month plus utilities for a fifth-floor apartment that lacks AC, is filled with old, musty furniture, is crawling with cockroaches, and doesn't even have a kitchen installed?

I just wanted to offer a little sympathy to you ladies—honestly, things get even tougher after you give birth. There’s nothing worse than standing in a long line or sitting in a doctor's waiting room, knowing you have a tiny baby waiting for you at home. 😍 I would trade every single maternity leave perk just to have people let me skip the line right now. 😍

Richard Jones28 said:Why is it that pregnant women everywhere still have to wait in line just like everyone else? 😠

And what is with those elderly ladies who, the second they spot someone expecting, try everything in their power to cut in front of them? Honestly, sometimes I feel like they’d gladly plow right into me with their shopping carts if it meant getting to the register first. 😠 😠

Also, why is it so hard for people to stay clean, especially during this kind of heatwave? 😠 😠

That’s not how I roll.
I just walk right ahead. If someone wants to start a war about it, they can go vent on their toilet at home or just sue me. See if I care.

Richard Jones28 said:Why on earth would anyone charge $300 a month plus utilities for a fifth-floor apartment that lacks AC, is filled with old, musty furniture, is crawling with cockroaches, and doesn't even have a kitchen installed?

Because some people are completely delusional... and thieves, obviously. 😍