What were your biggest pregnancy surprises and pet peeves?

My apologies, did I say something terribly offensive?
...and I didn't even offer a greeting, so my mistake, really.
I’m just saying that I stumbled upon this forum by pure chance, as I don't typically follow these kinds of threads... so what exactly is the problem with that? If someone here feels personally slighted or irritated by my presence, there isn't much I can do about it. I happened to glance at some comments a few pages back, and honestly, there was an overwhelming amount of talk about alcohol... which is something that deeply irritates me. It’s simply disheartening to see people either unaware of the reality or choosing to ignore it entirely.
I fail to understand why there is such intense resistance to something that is an undeniable fact; why not just ask an expert or consult a reliable source of information?
Best regards,

Thalidomide syndrome—and you’re telling me it isn't even a syndrome? A syndrome is defined by something else entirely.
The list you provided makes sense enough, I suppose... but please, allow me to express my sheer irritation at seeing someone post on a forum about drinking while pregnant! I have every right to be annoyed by that, don't I? Period.
My only intention was to flag the issue, because I am certain there are plenty of people out there who clearly haven't a clue... how can anyone sit there and claim that just one drink won't cause harm, when we all know that simply isn't true? The consequences aren't guaranteed, but they are certainly possible. If someone happens to have had one or two drinks by accident and is now feeling unwell, well, sorry... I'm not pointing fingers at anyone, I just wanted to offer a warning!
Besides, this is just an online forum; I haven't gone around telling anyone to their face. If I were explaining this to someone in person, I would do so with as much grace as possible because I believe that's the right way to behave. Honestly, I couldn't care less... yet here you all are, obsessing over my phrasing and the fact that I didn't offer a greeting or whatever else...
And believe me, you would be shocked by the sheer volume of things pregnant women consume without even realizing they shouldn't... so, perhaps I'd suggest doing a little research. My goal isn't to lecture anyone on how to live their lives or to incite a panic; this was truly meant to be nothing more than well-intentioned advice. If anyone has been hurt by it, I am sincerely sorry... but if it prompted even one person to pause and think for a moment, then I suppose it was worth it.

Thanks for looking out for us and for the advice, Ryan Nguyen4. 😉

Trust me when I say this. Every pregnant woman in America is educated enough and informed enough to know better. They know the risks of drinking, smoking, or any other vices. And yeah, that includes sex too. 😁Dangerous during pregnancy!

Good grief. If we actually know how to post on a forum, we’re more than capable of using Google to look up anything regarding pregnancy. 🙄

At the end of the day, everyone has the right to make their own choices about their body and their pregnancy. If someone thinks having a glass of wine or a beer and smoking a cigarette isn't an issue, who are you or anyone else to lecture them? Life is a risk. 🤷

P.S. Are you actually pregnant, or did you just swoop in here like some Good Samaritan to stir up drama for no reason?

On topic:
Some idiot walking his dog today really pushed my buttons. Some uneducated jerk let his dog jump all over my girl and try to hump her. Total lack of control. Unbelievable.
Owner's all the way on the other side of the field. I'm yelling at him to get his dog under control and he won't even budge. Nothing. Just ignores me.
I started pushing her away from me and eventually just started kicking her because she wouldn't get off. Then he started jumping all over me.
Took a direct hit right to the gut and slammed hard onto the floor.😲
Then my little pup lunged at him and started snarling like crazy, attacking him. My girl's got heart, I'll give her that. 😍Then the idiot owner just runs over, shoves the dog on the grass, and walks off like nothing even happened. 😠 Asshole.
Lucky for me, nothing actually happened.

Adam Evans62 I’m just glad you’re doing okay... honestly, I think I’d be losing my mind right about now 😠

Lately, I’ve just been getting in my own way, dwelling on these silly dreams of mine 🙄
and if I actually had any self-control, I’d just shut down my curiosity and stop reading all these heavy threads on the forum 😢

Look, if you’re looking for discussions on alcohol during pregnancy, just search the forums—there are actually some incredibly insightful threads in there. I honestly can't wrap my head around why she hasn't posted since 2009, though; is it because she clearly doesn't want to engage with any actual facts?
If you’re having such a hard time grasping my point, just consider this: everything you consume flows directly into your baby's developing system. If you were to take a newborn and offer them a little sip of Martini, beer, or wine from a bottle, what then? Would you assume nothing happens? Or what if someone else decided to do it? How would you react to that? Or better yet, imagine putting a cigarette in their mouth... what a lovely thought, isn't it?
Besides, pre-conception clinics and prenatal counseling centers don't just exist for fun or to give people something to lecture others about; they exist because the science is real.
At the end of the day, everyone can make their own choices, but we aren't just talking about ourselves here; we're talking about another living being that didn't get a vote in the matter.
And frankly, I suspect your reactions would be identical if anyone pointed this out to you in any other way... after all, when people get this defensive, it usually suggests they already know exactly why they're doing it. I can't see any other explanation for it.

Mary, glad to hear everything went okay with the dog... 🙂

I honestly don't get why everyone's getting worked up over the skydivers... we're all just a bunch of heavy drinkers here anyway....if someone can't handle it, they can go grab a drink... and if someone's looking for a wedding, let them find one online. There's plenty of space out there. Can't we just put them on mute?

Ryan Nguyen4 said:Look, if you’re looking for discussions on alcohol during pregnancy, just search the forums—there are actually some incredibly insightful threads in there. I honestly can't wrap my head around why she hasn't posted since 2009, though; is it because she clearly doesn't want to engage with any actual facts?
If you’re having such a hard time grasping my point, just consider this: everything you consume flows directly into your baby's developing system. If you were to take a newborn and offer them a little sip of Martini, beer, or wine from a bottle, what then? Would you assume nothing happens? Or what if someone else decided to do it? How would you react to that? Or better yet, imagine putting a cigarette in their mouth... what a lovely thought, isn't it?
Besides, pre-conception clinics and prenatal counseling centers don't just exist for fun or to give people something to lecture others about; they exist because the science is real.
At the end of the day, everyone can make their own choices, but we aren't just talking about ourselves here; we're talking about another living being that didn't get a vote in the matter.
And frankly, I suspect your reactions would be identical if anyone pointed this out to you in any other way... after all, when people get this defensive, it usually suggests they already know exactly why they're doing it. I can't see any other explanation for it.

Okay, so you're here because you want to help us out...
But if that's the case, and if you actually want to be part of this community, then please read the rules first and follow them!

What that means is, if you want to talk about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, find an existing thread and post there!!! The fact that the thread hasn't been touched since 2009 doesn't matter; by posting, you'd be bringing it back to life!!!

Don't just clutter up our thread—where we're all just venting our pregnancy frustrations—with unnecessary posts!!!

And staying on topic—you're really getting on my nerves!!! 👋

It seems like Maria is the only one here with any sense; everyone else acting as a doctor is just clueless... especially when the gynecologists themselves say a small glass of wine won't hurt... particularly for pregnant women dealing with anemia.

Paperclip, excellent choice of emoji there. 😬
Mary, fingers crossed everything went smoothly! I’d love to give him a piece of my mind myself! 🙂

Now, onto you. mara40
Honestly, give me a break!
Look, thanks for the "vital" info. It's not like any of us knew a single thing about how alcohol, cigarettes, meds, or drugs affect pregnancy until you graced us with your wisdom—since, as you can clearly tell, none of us are particularly tech-savvy (one wonders if we even know how to read) and, of course, none of us bother seeing an OB-GYN who actually graduated from medical school. No, we all just consult shamans who actively encourage us to consume those incredibly harmful substances instead.

And thank the heavens you were sent here to enlighten us. But now? It's time to move on. 👋

Off-topic—it really grinds my gears when I wake up in a great mood, feeling relatively well-rested, brew myself some COFFEE, pour a shot of BITTERS, grab a BEER from the fridge, light up a CIGARETTE, and then stumble upon... this. 🙂

And to all my non-pregnant friends—shame on us!! 🙂 and 🙂 😁

Good grief, she is exhausting. You can tell she’s a total literalist—one of those people who follows the rulebook to a fault. I dealt with plenty of types like her back in my day. It’s honestly draining; all she does is nitpick and try to catch everyone on every single word they say.
She probably means well and has good intentions deep down, but she clearly lacks any semblance of social skills.

[ It’s driving me absolutely insane—my "best friend in the whole world." Don't get me wrong, I know her intentions are pure, but she just cannot seem to grasp that medical school is not exactly at the top of my priority list right now. Every single time we talk about it, I end up worked up, and frankly, the stress of dealing with all these academic hurdles falls squarely on *my* shoulders, not hers. But I also don't want to dump all that frustration onto my baby, because I truly, honestly, deeply lose my cool whenever this topic comes up.
Then, I wake up to a Facebook message asking if I could just send her an email or a DM detailing EVERYTHING I need to handle and everyone I need to speak with—just so SHE can stay "in the loop."
For heaven's sake, why? Just... why?!!?! 😕 😕 😠

Shouldn't we be venting our frustrations here instead of letting this whole thread just drive us crazy?
Mary, there’s already a dedicated discussion about what foods to avoid during pregnancy, and I think that's a much better fit for this conversation than what we're doing now.

Even though it’s beside the point right now, I personally didn't touch a single drop of alcohol—not even before I knew I was pregnant, simply because I knew the risk was there. That said, at the end of the day, it's an individual choice, and everyone has the right to make their own decisions regarding their body.
I personally believe that having a tiny glass of wine once a month isn't going to do any harm. Honestly, I'm way more concerned about pesticides, herbicides, harsh chemicals in our skincare, smog, and all those various types of electromagnetic radiation (not to mention the fallout from nuclear issues overseas that could reach us soon).
Look, we live in the real world. If I tried to live by some impossible, utopian standard where everything has to be perfectly pure, I shouldn't have even gotten pregnant in the first place, and I might as well just give up entirely.

It honestly catches me off guard how these "morning sickness" bouts aren't even limited to the morning—they pretty much last all day long, usually hitting hardest in the evening! 😢

:friskatrudnica:

I feel pretty pathetic, if I’m being honest.
I’m not going to go into the reasons why, nor am I going to explain exactly what happened or why I feel this way. I just want to say that I deeply regret certain things, and honestly, I’m embarrassed by how much those regrets weigh on me.

I don't ask for much, and I really don't expect a lot out of life—truly, I don't. But when I feel like even the absolute bare minimum is being withheld from me, or when I'm treated like I haven't even earned that baseline, and people constantly fixate on my flaws... well, it makes me want to just throw myself off a balcony.

Michael Barrett11 said:I feel pretty pathetic, if I’m being honest.
I’m not going to go into the reasons why, nor am I going to explain exactly what happened or why I feel this way. I just want to say that I deeply regret certain things, and honestly, I’m embarrassed by how much those regrets weigh on me.

I don't ask for much, and I really don't expect a lot out of life—truly, I don't. But when I feel like even the absolute bare minimum is being withheld from me, or when I'm treated like I haven't even earned that baseline, and people constantly fixate on my flaws... well, it makes me want to just throw myself off a balcony.

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way.
Since you didn't give any specifics, I don't really know how to offer more concrete comfort.

God, I hate it when people just fixate on your mistakes and completely ignore all the good stuff you do. It makes you just want to throw in the towel and stop trying altogether. When someone only sees the negatives while taking all your hard work and positive actions for granted, it's infuriating. Nobody appreciates the effort.

I hope this passes quickly. Honestly, I hope you're just being extra sensitive right now—in a good way, meaning things aren't actually as catastrophic as they feel in this moment.

It sucks that you have to deal with this, especially right now while you're pregnant. This is the one time everyone should be looking out for you and treating you like royalty.

Hope this helps even just a little bit...

Anthony Watson35 said:I am actually going to lose my mind. It’s been 19 weeks—full 19—and I still don't feel a single thing. Nothing. I’m losing it. I’m convinced I should’ve felt movement by now; all I can think about is whether something is wrong, and honestly? I just eat everything in sight. My next ultrasound isn't until April 4th, and I'm about ready to jump out of my skin waiting.
Then there’s my husband, who makes it even better by telling me I’m worrying over nothing. 🤦
I was venting about all this today to a friend—she’s only at 7 weeks and has her scan tomorrow. Last time they checked, they could only see the yolk sac, and she’s already spiraling, terrified that tomorrow they won't see anything else, that everything just vanished, and there's no baby... 😢
The bottom line? We’ve both completely lost our minds. 😢

Hey ladies... I’ve been scrolling through these threads, reading everything, and it feels like I'm listening to my own internal monologue. Some parts gave me a good laugh, though..

But when I hit that post from Yehane-t, I felt like she was looking right into my soul!
And the kicker? We're on the exact same timeline—my checkup is scheduled for April 5th.

I really do feel like I’m losing it because I keep obsessing over whether something is actually wrong... though deep down, I suspect it's just because I'm desperately waiting for those first little flutters, or some movement, or even just a weird sensation.

Whatever it is, let it happen already!!😍

Now, let’s talk about Mari40..☕

She’s such a tough act to follow, playing the role of the medical authority who uses a virtual whip to line up all us pregnant women and lecture us on what’s "good" and what’s "bad"!

As if we’re just a bunch of uneducated hens who spend our time drinking, smoking, or occasionally popping a needle in a vein, and suddenly she’s here to enlighten us all!

Oh, how lucky we are that salvation is finally arriving.🤣

Look, I work in healthcare too... and yeah, I might enjoy a glass of red wine once in a while.
Well... if nothing else, at least the little one will probably have much better circulation than their mother.😬

We all know the deal regarding what’s risky during pregnancy; we don't need a special seminar to explain the basics to us.🙂

It’s not like I’m naturally hypersensitive or anything, though I suppose the pregnancy might be playing a part in all this
I just feel stuck in this unhappy headspace, and there isn't much I can do to snap myself out of it.
Sometimes it feels like the bad days outnumber the good ones; even when I am actually happy, it feels like I'm just putting on an act.

On top of that, I feel like nobody really gets why I’m feeling this way, which honestly just makes me feel more pathetic.
So, I’ll be like this for a few days, then things will seem to settle down slightly, but then something else will come along and throw me completely off balance.

And when I think about Dea, it just makes me want to cry even harder, because I know if she were here, I wouldn't be feeling this way or be in this situation at all.
Then the guilt starts setting in, and that just leads to more misery and more tears.

my dear 🙂
I get hit by those waves of sadness every now and then too... and once I start thinking about the baby, that grief just feels even heavier 🤷
So, I truly understand where you're coming from. But deep down, you know this feeling won't last forever—it'll pass this time, too 😘

😠😠😠 This damn phone is driving me insane, I’m about two seconds away from chucking it straight into the drywall!!!! It usually runs lightning fast, but right when my kid decides to show off his backside and I’m trying to snap a quick photo of a bump, NOPE. The freaking zoom kicks in automatically and tries to force me to focus on some kid's face instead. By the time I finally got the settings sorted, the moment was gone and he moved... 😠😠😠 Hey, you know what!!!!

So, I ended up in the ER this morning 😠

All because of that... stupid owner and his dog yesterday.

The baby is fine, but I took a hard fall and slammed my elbow. It's swollen and killing me. Michael Barrett11 basically forced me to go see a doctor.
They checked out my elbow, but they said there's a 99% chance nothing is broken—just a nasty bruise from when I landed on it. No X-rays, obviously.
Once they realized I'm pregnant, they sent me for an ultrasound too. Baby is doing great.

I have to keep my elbow elevated whenever possible, and if I'm heading out, I'll wrap it in a scarf. And obviously, I can't take anything for the pain... 👎

It should clear up in two or three days.

Man, if I ever run into that idiot again... I'd give him a piece of my mind. 🙂
I don't blame the dog. It's not his fault he isn't trained. Luckily, he wasn't aggressive, so I got lucky. He was a big Boxer; I usually think those dogs are adorable, but I wouldn't want to deal with that one again. 😛