What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

Jeremy Thomas5 said:On another note: I was riding the light rail yesterday. It’s getting harder for me to stand for long periods, so I sat down. (This was later in the evening after finishing up at work, running some errands downtown, and hitting the grocery store for a few things for the house).
I deal with low blood pressure, so cramped spaces and standing for too long really take a toll on me.

So, I hop on the train. It wasn't packed, but there was only one open seat—and it happened to be one of those priority seats reserved for people with disabilities. Naturally, I took it.
There was an older gentleman sitting directly across from me using a cane, but he was already seated. (He had been there before I boarded, so I wasn't taking a spot away from him.)
Then, a woman in her 50s comes on and stands right next to us.
Suddenly, the old man with the cane turns to her and asks, "Ma'am, would you perhaps like to sit down?" Honestly, I was thinking, *WTF? Is he picking on me?*
The woman just says, "No, thank you."
Then he goes, "Well, I suppose I have to be the one to ask when the younger generation won't... I can certainly take the priority seat while you stand there." 😠
I just stared at him in total shock and disbelief. 😲
My mind started racing: first of all, why wouldn't he just take the priority seat himself if he's making such a big deal about the right to use it? I looked him straight in the eye and asked, "Would you like to sit here?" He told me, "No." 😕
I then asked the woman if she wanted to sit, and she said no.
Look, I needed to sit. I couldn't stand, and since I was wearing a heavy coat, nobody could even tell I was pregnant. But that old man completely blindsided me.
Later on, he even muttered to the woman, "It seems the young lady is unwell..."
The sheer audacity of that man! 😠 😠

You should've just snapped back immediately without overthinking it
I AM PREGNANT AND MY LOW BLOOD PRESSURE IS MESSING WITH ME SO I CAN'T STAND FOR LONG
Let them turn red and feel awkward, not you.

Back when I was a student, I always hated that attitude from older people, like they're the only ones entitled to a seat.
And they'd often make such a scene if someone younger was sitting while, God forbid, someone older was standing.
I mean, sure, it's fine if young people stand so seniors can sit, but you never know if someone is actually sick or feeling unwell, so they should just shut it.

Jeremy Thomas5 said:signature 🙏

I'm not entirely sure why, but it does.
Up until now, I've read people complaining about it here, but I hadn't really felt it myself until recently.
And since I've experienced it firsthand, I can tell you, it's a total joke.

Hey Nata, maybe your little guy is just too small, so you haven't quite felt the urge to nitpick yet...?! 🤷

He's not that small, we're 24 weeks along, and he's already showing pretty well

Honestly, I was just completely overwhelmed; I felt more like breaking down in tears than getting into an argument. 🙂

Honestly, when I zip up my jacket, you can't even tell I'm pregnant... and I've definitely caught people giving me those weird looks. It’s usually that judgmental vibe, like they're thinking, "Look at her sitting there like a little kid," mostly because I tend to look way younger than I actually am. But honestly? I really don't let it get to me.

Look, I’m young, and I certainly look the part. And yeah, there’s no way anyone could have seen anything under my jacket, but that’s not even the point... That woman had absolutely no intention of sitting down; she hopped off the bus after just two stops. The real issue here is that some random person—literally anyone else—decided to stand right next to us just so they’d have something to comment on. She wasn't being subtle, either. She didn't target me specifically; it was just some old geezer looking for trouble.

Sean Long4 said:Honestly, when I zip up my jacket, you can't even tell I'm pregnant... and I've definitely caught people giving me those weird looks. It’s usually that judgmental vibe, like they're thinking, "Look at her sitting there like a little kid," mostly because I tend to look way younger than I actually am. But honestly? I really don't let it get to me.

I remember being at my doctor's office once (I wasn't really showing much) and they told me to take my coat off since it was freezing outside, basically implying that pregnant women get priority seating and I should just smile about it.
But... I wasn't actually pregnant. And it pissed me off so much seeing all these people cutting in line while I’m standing there like an idiot, waiting my turn patiently even though I technically had the right to go first.
Next time, I'm wearing a tight t-shirt so the bump is impossible to miss (and yeah, the jacket is coming off).

Seriously, you can't tell if a woman is pregnant unless she tells you. Sometimes she's just built a bit sturdier or has a little extra weight in her midsection, and other times, you wouldn't know it by looking at them at all.

I'm telling you, I hate how people act when someone younger does something like "taking a seat on the subway"—suddenly everyone thinks it's the rudest thing ever.

Sean Long4 said:Why does this bother anyone? I honestly don't get it...

I mean, it's not like I'm walking down the street and letting just any random stranger come up and hug me... It’s usually people who actually matter to me in the grand scheme of things. I really don't see why that would be an issue for me.

🤷 Doesn't bother me either. It's not like I'm letting just anybody touch me. In fact, hardly anyone even gets close.

Since we're already talking about giving up priority to pregnant women...

I popped into the grocery store this morning just to grab a few essentials—bread, milk, the usual stuff. I was standing there at the checkout, coat unbuttoned and wearing a tight shirt (there’s really no hiding the pregnancy), and only one lady was ahead of me. As soon as she finished, this girl, maybe twenty or so, just swooped in right in front of me with nothing but two donuts. She didn't ask, didn't say excuse me, she just stood there like it was her spot. 🙄 It wasn't like I had a massive cart full of groceries, but still... then, while the cashier was ringing her up, another woman, probably in her thirties, just cut in to grab a magazine from the rack right next to them. Again, no polite question, she just moved in. 🙄
Luckily, I was in such a good mood that I didn't say anything, and honestly, I wasn't in any rush. But now that I've had a moment to sit down and think about it, it's actually pretty annoying. 🤣

I can't stand people like that... honestly, I'd love to give them a piece of my mind... even now while I'm pregnant, it's hard not to feel frustrated. They just have zero class.

Sean Long4 said:I can't stand people like that... honestly, I'd love to give them a piece of my mind... even now while I'm pregnant, it's hard not to feel frustrated. They just have zero class.

As for me, I usually run into those types right when I'm having a great day and feeling totally unbothered. Then later on, once I actually think about it, I start coming up with all these perfect comebacks I should have used.

John Baker5 said:As for me, I usually run into those types right when I'm having a great day and feeling totally unbothered. Then later on, once I actually think about it, I start coming up with all these perfect comebacks I should have used.

So you're just like me,
you'd probably snap back if you felt like it
but we're either too "nice" or way too "chill" to actually react

But man, I've told myself a thousand times already (completely separate from any pregnancy stuff) that I seriously need to change this for my own sake.

John Baker5 said:As for me, I usually run into those types right when I'm having a great day and feeling totally unbothered. Then later on, once I actually think about it, I start coming up with all these perfect comebacks I should have used.

Steven Barrett6 said:So you're just like me,
you'd probably snap back if you felt like it
but we're either too "nice" or way too "chill" to actually react

But man, I've told myself a thousand times already (completely separate from any pregnancy stuff) that I seriously need to change this for my own sake.

Jeremy Thomas5 said:I caught myself wondering if I should have just said something, 🤔 but honestly, I completely froze up in the moment,
and if she had actually acted like a lady and offered her seat, things would have been different.
I can't help but think he’s an absolute idiot—isn't it true there's some kind of bad karma for being rude to a pregnant woman?

My mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts; he's a man, so of course he doesn't get it, but did he even stop to consider what his own mother went through during her pregnancy? God...
And then there's the nerve of him suggesting that even if I wasn't pregnant, I'm just some irresponsible kid. Why is he even sticking his nose in my business? He just sits there.

Jeremy Thomas5 said:Honestly, I was just completely overwhelmed; I felt more like breaking down in tears than getting into an argument. 🙂

I'm exactly the same way. Afterward, my mind just starts racing with all the things I could have said. But in that moment?
I was just standing there in total disbelief. At least I didn't burst into tears.👍

Steven Barrett6 said:So you're just like me,
you'd probably snap back if you felt like it
but we're either too "nice" or way too "chill" to actually react

But man, I've told myself a thousand times already (completely separate from any pregnancy stuff) that I seriously need to change this for my own sake.

It’s not really that I’m shy, though—sometimes I do react. It just feels like those things always happen at the worst times. Either I'm having such a great day that I don't care, or I'm feeling so down that I just can't be bothered with stupid stuff like that.

Jeremy Thomas5 said:I'm exactly the same way. Afterward, my mind just starts racing with all the things I could have said. But in that moment?
I was just standing there in total disbelief. At least I didn't burst into tears.👍

🙂
I actually did cry once, just because half of my pear fell on the floor.😂

Jeremy Thomas5 said:I'm exactly the same way. Afterward, my mind just starts racing with all the things I could have said. But in that moment?
I was just standing there in total disbelief. At least I didn't burst into tears.👍

We seriously have to speak up, otherwise people are just gonna walk all over you—whether it's at work, in daily life, or when it comes to the big stuff.

I absolutely hate that I get passive sometimes. It drives me crazy because I end up letting things slide when I should've stood my ground.

Good grief, how many pages have been added since yesterday...
I’m sitting here reading through all this and I can't help but laugh because it reminds me of that one grumpy little Smurf from the old cartoons.

It’s driving me crazy because, honestly, my mother-in-law is a total sweetheart. She wants to come visit us for a few days, but she won't pick a time that actually works for our schedule—she just picks when it suits *her*. Since I'm currently on leave, I really don't have the energy to be playing hostess and cooking up feasts, even though she isn't even expecting it.
But let's be real: I feel terrible about it. I know deep down I’ll end up doing it anyway, even though I shouldn't, simply because she only visits twice a year and she's such a wonderful guest.
I told my husband quite clearly that he needs to handle the logistics and coordinate with her for a time that fits our lives. I definitely don't want it to look like I'm the one being difficult or refusing to see her.
It feels like a constant game of tactical maneuvering just to make sure nobody gets their feelings hurt or thinks the wrong thing. Honestly, it’s exhausting dealing with everyone's sensitivities!

It’s like everyone is trying to "help" me by making decisions for me, but no thanks, people—just let me live my life!
And what am I supposed to do? This woman grew up in a small rural town where you're up at the crack of dawn; she isn't going to spend her whole trip rummaging through my kitchen cabinets. Should I set my alarm for 6:00 AM just to brew coffee? Grrrr!
The thing is, she is incredibly low-maintenance and doesn't ask for a single thing. But once you have a guest in the house, you feel that weight of obligation. When I try to explain all of this to my husband, I end up feeling like a complete villain.

Sean Long4 said:Why does this bother anyone? I honestly don't get it...

I mean, it's not like I'm walking down the street and letting just any random stranger come up and hug me... It’s usually people who actually matter to me in the grand scheme of things. I really don't see why that would be an issue for me.

I gotta admit, I feel the exact same way... even if there are a few guys out there who think they're better than they actually are. I just distance myself from people like that—if they reach out, I'm already three steps back. 🤣

John Baker5 said:Since we're already talking about giving up priority to pregnant women...

I popped into the grocery store this morning just to grab a few essentials—bread, milk, the usual stuff. I was standing there at the checkout, coat unbuttoned and wearing a tight shirt (there’s really no hiding the pregnancy), and only one lady was ahead of me. As soon as she finished, this girl, maybe twenty or so, just swooped in right in front of me with nothing but two donuts. She didn't ask, didn't say excuse me, she just stood there like it was her spot. 🙄 It wasn't like I had a massive cart full of groceries, but still... then, while the cashier was ringing her up, another woman, probably in her thirties, just cut in to grab a magazine from the rack right next to them. Again, no polite question, she just moved in. 🙄
Luckily, I was in such a good mood that I didn't say anything, and honestly, I wasn't in any rush. But now that I've had a moment to sit down and think about it, it's actually pretty annoying. 🤣

Man, this really gets under my skin. I’ll be the first to admit it—I’m that grumpy person who’s always complaining. It’s honestly never an issue if someone just asks me; I’ll let them pass, even if I see they only have one or two things in their cart. But those people who try to shove past me? I shut them down every single time. I do it out of pure spite, really. I'm not letting them go until they learn some basic manners!

Steven Barrett6 said:We seriously have to speak up, otherwise people are just gonna walk all over you—whether it's at work, in daily life, or when it comes to the big stuff.

I absolutely hate that I get passive sometimes. It drives me crazy because I end up letting things slide when I should've stood my ground.

Look, don't waste your energy getting worked up over stuff like this. You’ve gotta decide if it’s even worth the headache before you show someone they've crossed a line. I usually just gauge whether the person is actually capable of taking feedback. If they can handle being told they went too far, cool. If not? Don't even bother wasting your breath on them. There are way bigger things in life than this, and once you start looking at it that way, the small stuff stops bothering you so much.

Taylor Perez said:Good grief, how many pages have been added since yesterday...
I’m sitting here reading through all this and I can't help but laugh because it reminds me of that one grumpy little Smurf from the old cartoons.

It’s driving me crazy because, honestly, my mother-in-law is a total sweetheart. She wants to come visit us for a few days, but she won't pick a time that actually works for our schedule—she just picks when it suits *her*. Since I'm currently on leave, I really don't have the energy to be playing hostess and cooking up feasts, even though she isn't even expecting it.
But let's be real: I feel terrible about it. I know deep down I’ll end up doing it anyway, even though I shouldn't, simply because she only visits twice a year and she's such a wonderful guest.
I told my husband quite clearly that he needs to handle the logistics and coordinate with her for a time that fits our lives. I definitely don't want it to look like I'm the one being difficult or refusing to see her.
It feels like a constant game of tactical maneuvering just to make sure nobody gets their feelings hurt or thinks the wrong thing. Honestly, it’s exhausting dealing with everyone's sensitivities!

It’s like everyone is trying to "help" me by making decisions for me, but no thanks, people—just let me live my life!
And what am I supposed to do? This woman grew up in a small rural town where you're up at the crack of dawn; she isn't going to spend her whole trip rummaging through my kitchen cabinets. Should I set my alarm for 6:00 AM just to brew coffee? Grrrr!
The thing is, she is incredibly low-maintenance and doesn't ask for a single thing. But once you have a guest in the house, you feel that weight of obligation. When I try to explain all of this to my husband, I end up feeling like a complete villain.

🤣 🤣 😂 😂

Steven Barrett6 said:So you're just like me,
you'd probably snap back if you felt like it
but we're either too "nice" or way too "chill" to actually react

But man, I've told myself a thousand times already (completely separate from any pregnancy stuff) that I seriously need to change this for my own sake.

Same boat here 😢
And honestly, even when I'm not expecting 😢
I'll end up getting home and just playing the whole situation over and over in my head, totally unable to sleep... I feel like such an idiot sometimes 😠

Oh my god, public transit 😠
So, some day I’m heading to work (where I spend 80% of my time STANDING, btw) and I hop on the bus. Ffs, wearing my jacket, you couldn't see anything anyway (okay, let's be real, you can barely see anything even without the jacket).
And of course, some old guy rolls up—not even ancient, maybe mid-50s—and literally almost drops her bag in my lap:
- You could stand up for me.
Not even a question. Just a statement. And "you"? Look, I know I look young, but I'm 30 damn years old, give me a break!!!
Usually, I'd freeze up, but this time I just fired back:
- I won't be standing up, I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant, walking to a job where I have to stand all day, and I really don't feel like standing right now either.
Then I just stared out the window. Who cares what they think? Not me.
Honestly, I don't get why all these retirees who have the WHOLE day to themselves decide to swarm the buses and subways EXACTLY when everyone else is commuting to work or school. 😠

Man, this just reminded me of something that happened a few years back..
It was another one of those situations involving a subway car and a pregnant woman.
There was this lady with a massive baby bump who stepped onto a train where every single seat was taken.
She asked someone to give up their spot, but she unfortunately picked the wrong person. Instead of being helpful, he actually started yelling at her, acting like it was her fault for even being out in the city if she couldn't manage.
Luckily, five other people jumped up right away to offer her a seat..
I can still picture exactly where it happened, too.🙂
It was over by El Paso, near MIT.🙂
At that time, I wasn't really as sympathetic toward pregnant women as I am now—my own pregnancy wasn't even on my radar yet—so seeing that guy act like such a jerk just felt absolutely terrible.

Austin Ramirez3 said:A few people actually asked me: "So... was that... uh... an accident?"
Even if it was—since when do people think they have the right to grill someone about their pregnancy? 😵

WTF?!?!??! Seriously, what is wrong with people? Did they not ask if I had video footage too? Like, is that just what everyone needs to binge after the nightly news? God, some people are just something else... 🤦

Anthony Watson35 said:WTF?!?!??! Seriously, what is wrong with people? Did they not ask if I had video footage too? Like, is that just what everyone needs to binge after the nightly news? God, some people are just something else... 🤦

Honestly, I'm one of those rare people at work who doesn't spill their private business, so the office gossips got all worried thinking I'd suddenly "stumble" into having a baby at 35 🤣 😬

Sorry if everyone here usually keeps it formal, but I just had to jump right in and say this to 🤷