What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Honestly, I’m starting to get on my own nerves!!! 🙂
I swear, I can go from tears to total rage over the smallest, most trivial things in a heartbeat. When you add all that up, I feel like I spend more than half my time just unable to actually enjoy being pregnant.
And then, during those brief windows where I actually feel somewhat stable, I still find it hard to just settle into the whole experience.
Just when I finally start feeling okay about my changing body, the bump grows again, and I have to deal with the adjustment all over again.
Or just as I’m getting used to those gentle little kicks, suddenly there’s this sudden, sharp movement that actually makes me jump and feel startled.

I know, I know—everyone says these mood swings and physical shifts are totally normal during pregnancy. But I’m having such a hard time accepting them, which just leads to this endless cycle of guilt because I feel like I’m failing at "enjoying" this supposed beautiful journey.
But how am I supposed to be enjoying anything when I'm constantly either an emotional wreck or completely on edge? Plus, I can barely get any decent sleep at all.

Hormones... I'm feeling like total mush right now. Just zero motivation for anything whatsoever 👎😢

Some people I know keep joking about setting up their daughters with my son—and he isn't even born yet. At this rate, I’ll be the jealous mom. 😁

Edward Rodriguez4 said:Man, I am seriously losing my mind today because my little one is just sleeping. This morning she was practically doing gymnastics in my stomach, and now all afternoon it’s just these tiny little flutters here and there!!! Nothing else! But over the last few days? It’s been like having a freaking trampoline in my gut! 😠
I honestly wish she’d just keep jumping constantly!! Forget about sleep... she can sleep once she’s actually born... ☕At least I'm hoping... 😬

Mine is pretty chill, so whenever the kicking gets intense, I immediately worry something's wrong. At least from what I've read, they tend to get really restless when things aren't okay.

placidwalker6 said:So I walk into Walmart today, right? They’ve got those priority lanes for pregnant women and people with disabilities. Naturally, there are ten people standing in front of me. 🙄 Look, I’m not about to start shoving my way through the crowd—I’m not that kind of idiot—so I just stand there. This woman in front of me clearly notices both me and my bump, but she goes into full-on ignore mode. 🙄 Then, out of nowhere, she turns around and asks, "Are you behind me?" I’m standing there all confused, like, "Yeah..." thinking maybe she’ll let me cut ahead since she saw the sign for General Electric above the register, but instead she goes, "Could you please watch my cart? I just need to grab one more thing." 😲
Honestly, I didn't know whether to burst out laughing or just lose it on her. 😲
The blessed North America, man. 🙄

It's pathetic...

The other day, nobody would even let me through because the priority lane wasn't open yet...

And there I am, visibly pregnant, with a 14-month-old jumping around in a stroller. Hahaha.
Honestly, I hope people like that get hit by bad luck on both sides at once.

My sleep is basically non-existent right now... I can't even leave the house, the crib I actually wanted isn't an option anymore (some nightmare ordering issues), and honestly, between lying around all day and these hormones, none of my sleep feels real 😢

I am just exhausted from constantly explaining what I want, and fighting about how I don't like this color or that shade when I've already said: just get the damn crib 🙂
I'm pissed at myself for letting people talk me into thinking they’d handle things for me, and I'm mad that I didn't just buy everything back when I was five months pregnant 😵
At least I managed to stock up on baby clothes that I actually like...

Everything about the stroller and the crib terrifies me... though, truth be told, I don't even care anymore. Let them bring whatever they want, as long as my kid has a place to sleep once they're born 🙂

I honestly find myself wondering where this sudden surge of interest is coming from. It’s quite strange, really—all these people who didn't bother to check in on me once during my entire pregnancy, who didn't even seem to notice or ask how I was holding up, are suddenly flooding my inbox now. It’s just a constant stream of messages asking things like, "Are you still doing okay?" or "How much longer do we have?" or "When should we come by?" and so on...
I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, though; if I actually expected them to care, we probably would have had much better relationships than we do right now. I guess I just have such a distaste for people who act like performers, creating these hollow connections or performing these little social duties just because they feel obligated. It feels a bit insincere when someone talks about dropping by for the postpartum visit, yet we haven't even seen each other once throughout the whole pregnancy 🙄

So I just got back from my checkup and I am absolutely livid. First off, that doctor was digging around with that damn spatula so aggressively I thought she was actually trying to scrape my throat out. Seriously, give it a rest.
Second, I’m hitting week 33 tomorrow, and she has the nerve to tell me I don't need to head into the hospital for an exam until week 37! 😕
I was like, excuse me? Why wouldn't I want another checkup with you guys before I'm sent off to the hospital? Aren't appointments supposed to get more frequent after the 29th week anyway??? 🤷
But nooo!! Now I’m just stuck waiting until week 37 to go to the hospital, and then I have to deal with weekly visits right up until I go into labor... 😢
I mean, look, I'm glad everything is fine with the baby, but now I’m just sitting here completely thrown by this whole thing..

Oh, and get this—she actually tells me, "You should probably hold off on having sex." 😂😂😂
Like, seriously? What does that even mean? What am I supposed to do about that? ☕

Sophia Taylor872 said:I honestly find myself wondering where this sudden surge of interest is coming from. It’s quite strange, really—all these people who didn't bother to check in on me once during my entire pregnancy, who didn't even seem to notice or ask how I was holding up, are suddenly flooding my inbox now. It’s just a constant stream of messages asking things like, "Are you still doing okay?" or "How much longer do we have?" or "When should we come by?" and so on...
I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, though; if I actually expected them to care, we probably would have had much better relationships than we do right now. I guess I just have such a distaste for people who act like performers, creating these hollow connections or performing these little social duties just because they feel obligated. It feels a bit insincere when someone talks about dropping by for the postpartum visit, yet we haven't even seen each other once throughout the whole pregnancy 🙄

That’s exactly how it is with my husband’s side of the family. For basically the whole pregnancy, they didn't even ask how I was feeling, then out of nowhere it's "so when's the due date?" 🙄 We're planning on taking some time off work just so we can focus on the baby.
And I told them straight up: the only person helping us with the baby is going to be my mom—since she’s an educator, she knows her stuff and can help whenever we need it—besides me and my husband. So, as for you guys coming over for coffee, chatting, and staring at the baby? No thanks. It's flu season right now, which is the perfect excuse for you to just stay away from our little one. Seriously, just back off. I swear, I won't be letting anyone near her... 👍

Let’s get one thing straight: I have never had much patience for people who carry themselves with that fragile, "handle with care" sort of ego, but what happened recently wasn't just irritating—it actually stung. It truly hurt. I have a colleague, someone I’ve considered a close friend for what feels like an eternity, and when everyone else in our circle decided to distance themselves from her, I was the one who stepped up and brought her into my inner circle. And please, don't think I'm sitting here fishing for a commendation or waiting for some corporate award for my altruism 😁, because I'm not. But in these nearly thirty-five years of navigating life, not once—not a single time—has she bothered to ask how I am doing, or how my baby is faring, or even sent a simple, fleeting text message just to check in. What makes this whole situation feel even more pathetic and disheartening is that she works at the same firm as my mother, yet even she hasn't had the decency to jokingly ask after me... 😢

Sophia Taylor872 said:I honestly find myself wondering where this sudden surge of interest is coming from. It’s quite strange, really—all these people who didn't bother to check in on me once during my entire pregnancy, who didn't even seem to notice or ask how I was holding up, are suddenly flooding my inbox now. It’s just a constant stream of messages asking things like, "Are you still doing okay?" or "How much longer do we have?" or "When should we come by?" and so on...
I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, though; if I actually expected them to care, we probably would have had much better relationships than we do right now. I guess I just have such a distaste for people who act like performers, creating these hollow connections or performing these little social duties just because they feel obligated. It feels a bit insincere when someone talks about dropping by for the postpartum visit, yet we haven't even seen each other once throughout the whole pregnancy 🙄

My experience has been the exact opposite 👎

A few of my closest friends—the ones I used to hang out with and talk to all the time—haven't called once in a month to ask how I am or how the baby is doing... but then, every couple of months when we finally see each other, they'll drop a line like, "We're going to be there to babysit constantly once the baby arrives!" and stuff like that. 🙄 Honestly, thanks, but I don't need it. Thank God I'm doing well and can handle almost everything on my own... whatever I can't manage, my partner helps me with, which feels pretty normal to me... I don't see the point in bugging my friends with stuff unless I truly need them. But man, it would mean so much if they just remembered I exist even when I can't go out like I used to... just knowing I still matter in their lives. Instead, they can't even send a simple text, yet they talk big about being there to babysit "just because"... as if... 🙄👎

Edward Rodriguez4 said:So I just got back from my checkup and I am absolutely livid. First off, that doctor was digging around with that damn spatula so aggressively I thought she was actually trying to scrape my throat out. Seriously, give it a rest.
Second, I’m hitting week 33 tomorrow, and she has the nerve to tell me I don't need to head into the hospital for an exam until week 37! 😕
I was like, excuse me? Why wouldn't I want another checkup with you guys before I'm sent off to the hospital? Aren't appointments supposed to get more frequent after the 29th week anyway??? 🤷
But nooo!! Now I’m just stuck waiting until week 37 to go to the hospital, and then I have to deal with weekly visits right up until I go into labor... 😢
I mean, look, I'm glad everything is fine with the baby, but now I’m just sitting here completely thrown by this whole thing..

Oh, and get this—she actually tells me, "You should probably hold off on having sex." 😂😂😂
Like, seriously? What does that even mean? What am I supposed to do about that? ☕

Hmm, maybe your doctor isn't being entirely forthcoming... I remember when I saw my physician around week 33, she scheduled me for another visit at week 36 and that's when she gave me the referral for the hospital where you go after week 37. It doesn't necessarily have to be exactly at week 37, either; she could have easily squeezed you in for one more visit. And if there aren't any complications and you're still feeling the baby move every day, I guess you shouldn't worry too much.🙂

So, some lady from my neighborhood totally lost her mind on me yesterday. I know her, or well, I see her around—she’s one of those people who might give you a nod once in a blue moon, but usually just looks right through you like you're invisible. Anyway, I’m standing in line at Target, she’s right in front of me, and I didn't even realize it was her until she spins around. And man, talk about zero boundaries. This woman—and she’s not even old, maybe mid-40s—just stares straight at my stomach and then, out of nowhere, starts grabbing and slapping my belly like we're best friends. My blood pressure shot through the roof. Like, excuse me? Who do you think you are, touching me there? It’s not like she’s family or someone I actually care about; she’s just some random neighbor who probably won't even say hi to me on the street tomorrow. But no, she just had to go and be invasive, acting like she has a right to know when I'm due or what's going on with my body... 😛😛😛

Well, I just received yet another one of those messages filled with overly concerned questions and those hollow "we're thinking of you" sentiments. It’s true, I suppose they are... 🙄 I should probably mention, though, that these aren't even coming from the people I actually talk to on a regular basis or see every day.... ☕

Edward Rodriguez4 said:So I just got back from my checkup and I am absolutely livid. First off, that doctor was digging around with that damn spatula so aggressively I thought she was actually trying to scrape my throat out. Seriously, give it a rest.
Second, I’m hitting week 33 tomorrow, and she has the nerve to tell me I don't need to head into the hospital for an exam until week 37! 😕
I was like, excuse me? Why wouldn't I want another checkup with you guys before I'm sent off to the hospital? Aren't appointments supposed to get more frequent after the 29th week anyway??? 🤷
But nooo!! Now I’m just stuck waiting until week 37 to go to the hospital, and then I have to deal with weekly visits right up until I go into labor... 😢
I mean, look, I'm glad everything is fine with the baby, but now I’m just sitting here completely thrown by this whole thing..

Oh, and get this—she actually tells me, "You should probably hold off on having sex." 😂😂😂
Like, seriously? What does that even mean? What am I supposed to do about that? ☕

Refrain? Are you kidding me! If everything is going fine, I say go for it—it might actually make labor easier! My sister-in-law was way past her due date and wasn't dilating at all, and her OB-GYN actually told her she should be having more sex. 👍Poor thing was already way overdue and could barely even move by the fifth month... She said she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Apparently, the sperm helps soften things up. And hey, keeping those muscles toned isn't the worst thing in the world, haha...😍

As for that spatula business, my doctor hasn't even done a vaginal exam twice during this whole pregnancy. It's probably better if they don't poke around too much anyway. Last time was about two months ago, around week 27. Now that I'm at week 37, he hasn't felt the need for another one since everything is progressing perfectly. It's funny how everyone has their own "style"...🤷

Sorry if I'm being a little blunt...

With Dukakis over at Holy Spirit, you won't even feel the exam 🙏

I figured I’d vent a little about some of the things driving me crazy during this pregnancy... I’m already at 37 weeks, so consider this an open heart dump for any other moms-to-be dealing with the same nonsense...🙄

1. That constant trickle after I pee... My bladder has basically turned traitor on me. Every single pair of panties gets stained within minutes. I know it’s "normal," but man, it’s irritating. I feel like an old lady dealing with incontinence! There’s always at least one rogue drop running down my leg the second I stand up from the toilet!

2. Groin pain... Yeah, yeah, I know it'll all be worth it once the little guy pops out, but do I really need to feel like I'm being kicked in the pelvis constantly? 😕 Things aren't exactly perfect with my husband as it is, and this just doesn't help the mood...

3. Gas? Honestly, I could probably fuel a whole city's power grid with this stuff... It's been happening since the very beginning. I’ve actually had moments of genuine panic before my prenatal checkups, terrified I might have an accident right in front of a room full of kids while I'm trying to write on the chalkboard...

4. And one more tiny thing... My capillaries burst if you even look at them wrong. I’ve had this bruise on my thigh for two months now, and it just won't fade...

Anyway, I hope all you lovely pregnant ladies are having better luck than I am!😍

Sophia Taylor872 said:Hmm, maybe your doctor isn't being entirely forthcoming... I remember when I saw my physician around week 33, she scheduled me for another visit at week 36 and that's when she gave me the referral for the hospital where you go after week 37. It doesn't necessarily have to be exactly at week 37, either; she could have easily squeezed you in for one more visit. And if there aren't any complications and you're still feeling the baby move every day, I guess you shouldn't worry too much.🙂

Yeah, everything seems fine... I can feel the baby moving, so all good there. And yeah, I'm thinking the same thing—my doctor probably could've squeezed me in for one more visit without any issue, which is why I was so caught off guard... 🤷

Austin Cox10 said:Refrain? Are you kidding me! If everything is going fine, I say go for it—it might actually make labor easier! My sister-in-law was way past her due date and wasn't dilating at all, and her OB-GYN actually told her she should be having more sex. 👍Poor thing was already way overdue and could barely even move by the fifth month... She said she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Apparently, the sperm helps soften things up. And hey, keeping those muscles toned isn't the worst thing in the world, haha...😍

As for that spatula business, my doctor hasn't even done a vaginal exam twice during this whole pregnancy. It's probably better if they don't poke around too much anyway. Last time was about two months ago, around week 27. Now that I'm at week 37, he hasn't felt the need for another one since everything is progressing perfectly. It's funny how everyone has their own "style"...🤷

Sorry if I'm being a little blunt...

🤣
I love people who are direct! 😉

My doctor did a little vaginal exam every single time, so I guess I got used to it, but damn... it hurts, even if it doesn't take forever.
And as for sex, she actually told me no, since apparently sperm helps things open up, so we should hold off until at least week 37... plus, I'm heading in for a swab to check for that damn ureaplasma anyway, so we shouldn't even be touching... 👍
To be honest, the "ban" on sex doesn't even bother me that much, mostly because between the pelvic pain and bladder pressure, I'm really not in a romantic mood anyway... 😁

I heard some "well-meaning" advice today that honestly left me speechless: "Don't wash your hands after giving birth!" My immediate reaction was 😕, because if you're forty-five days postpartum, you're basically walking on eggshells trying to recover, so you have to be careful. I wouldn't even let my daughter wash her hair for forty-five days! Me: 😲 wtf???