It's hard enough being pregnant as it is: the frequent appointments, the many expenses, the physical and emotional stress of the experience, and that's barely getting started.
It's unbelievable to think that so many people have been rude to women who are carrying children, but as these stories attest, some people have absolutely no shame!
[Sources listed at the end of the article.]
"In my first trimester, I brought ziplock bags with me wherever I went and was heaving up on buses and subways frequently. You can't imagine the looks people gave me. Or the snide comments. I've had people tell me that I'm obviously an alcoholic, that I need to get my life together, or that I'm a mess.
Once, I managed to get off the train in time and was vomiting into a snow bank, and these college kids walked by me and went, 'Ohhhhhh! WASTED!' And in between heaves I said, 'No, pregnant!' These jerks had the nerve to respond, 'Ohhhhh got herself accidentally knocked up!'
So I held up my hand to show my wedding rings, while still heaving, and said, 'No, married and trying for a baby after a miscarriage, so how about you mind your own [expletive] business?'"
letsgetdissonant
"'Do you know yet whether you're having a boy or a girl? If not, try to remember what position you were in when you conceived, because that determines the gender.'
Thanks random lady in the grocery store. No, its okay, you didn't have to say hi or introduce yourself, or maybe even just avoid asking me a personal question about my pregnancy. That's cool. And by the way, I think you should cite your sources on that so-called testing method!"
Monsterification
"I'm doing my residency for medical school, and I'm also very much pregnant. A few days ago one of my patients was asking me about training and my schedule, and it came up that I won't be able to travel for away rotations, because I'll have a newborn.
She asked if I had a newborn, and I reiterated that I would have a newborn in a week. She insisted she didn't think I was pregnant, just really heavy. She'd been wondering how I was going to be a good doctor if there were simple things I couldn't do, like bending down to the ground to put her shoes on her feet.
Then she grilled me on my lack of wedding band. I haven't been wearing my rings because they don't fit at this point. Because I am nearly 39 weeks pregnant. I am having a baby in a week, but according to her I don't look pregnant. I don't even know where to start with her."
viciouskicks
"Once, I saw a pregnant girl on the subway ask another girl for a seat. The seated girl answered, 'It is not my fault that you decided to get knocked up by a man without a car.'
Ouch."
Andrei_Vlasov
"The one rude comment I got that stuck with me was from my dad.
It was when I called him to tell him I was pregnant. We had known for a few days already and he was the last person I told. His first reaction was, 'Okay?'
Literally. That's all he said was, 'Okay?' Like he didn't understand why I was telling him.
There's a reason he was the last person I told."
spinachleaves
"My husband and I announced that we were pregnant to the family this Easter. At the time I was 12 weeks along. The previous year, we had lost our first pregnancy at 11 weeks, and it was one of the worst experiences of my life.
My husband's grandmother had the nerve to respond, 'Well, it's not as exciting as the first time you were pregnant, but at least you're farther along than the last.'
I cried in the guest room."
mizrodeo
"I lost a lot of weight after my first child was born. About 110 pounds in total. The store manager where I worked would always comment on my weight loss, saying little things like I was, 'wasting away,' etc.
Anyhow, I get pregnant with my second child, and as soon as I started showing: 'Wow, you just keep packing that weight back on, huh? Must be hard. All that work you did to lose weight was for nothing.'
That stung. I worked really hard to get in shape, and here this jerk was getting a lot of joy out of tearing me down. I'm happy to say that I gave him zero notice when I quit that job and declined several of his offers for me to return. He can run his own store for all I care."
RavencrowNeversmiles
"I didn't find out whether I was having a boy or girl ahead of time, and that was apparently shocking for some people.
So many people were flabbergasted that we weren't painting either a pink or blue nursery. I even had someone who was very concerned about what kind of clothes we would bring the baby home from the hospital in. Hopefully my son wasn't too 'emasculated' in his yellow onesie!"
another_sunnyday
"So I got extremely sick with my second kid. I was heaving up uncontrollably, upwards of 30 times per day.
By the eleventh week, I had been hospitalized 9 times for ketones in my urine, dehydration, an electrolyte imbalance, and malnutrition, at which point I got a permanent IV line and home healthcare so that I could mainline large doses of antiemetic medication. I gave up trying to drink liquids, and just stuck to IV hydration.
Everywhere I went, friends, family, and random strangers had the same solution when they heard of my struggles:
'Oh, have you tried crackers and ginger ale?'
Yeah, because I totally went for a permanent IV line without first trying the easiest and least-invasive treatment!
The runner-up for the best of these comments was, 'Oh yeah, my wife had horrible morning sickness, too. She threw up every day for a month. It was horrible.' Please, tell me again how horrible it was to only throw up in the morning. I never got that lucky and I wish I had it that good!"
[deleted]
"When I was on the operating table having a C-section with my oldest, I kept asking, 'Where's my baby? Where's my baby? Why aren't you talking to me?' Because I'd felt them pull him out but hadn't heard him crying yet, and no one would acknowledge me at all.
Then one of the nurses looked down and said, in this horribly snide voice, 'Hmmm. Guess you aren't the star of the show, anymore, huh?'"
[deleted]
"I had people ask me if I knew who the father was.
Yup, he's standing right here... holding my hand.
'Are you sure?'"
celest3alove
"I'm 37 weeks into my pregnancy and very pregnant-looking, and I actually just left a grocery store bawling because of the couple behind me in line. I used a WIC check (government support for pregnant women with a low income) for milk and juice. I also bought a box of cake mix... I wanted a cake, because today is my birthday.
Well they kept rolling their eyes and while I was digging around my purse for my store card, the guy jabbed me with his cart and said, 'Hurry up! Some of us actually work for our food.'
I was so embarrassed, and on top of that, when he hit me I dropped my wallet, so I squatted down to get it and he jabbed me again. I fell onto the hard floor, and just started crying.
The cashier yelled at the guy to get out of his line, and the bagger helped me up.
The store was nice enough to cover my cake mix. This was a horrible experience, but I don't want people to feel sorry for me. I really think that the guy who has sunk so low in life that he attacks a pregnant woman is the one who we should feel sorry for."
mydgen
"The 'was it planned?' question always gets me. I'm married--and a lot of people who have asked me this know I am married.
I've gotten the same question even more often while pregnant with child number two.
'So was this one planned? They are going to be so close together!' Um, yes I can do math too and what does it matter if my baby is planned or not? The baby is happening, either way! Large egg-shaped stomach provides evidence of this!"
TJ4President
"I'm white, and my husband is Vietnamese.
Once, when picking up my prescription prenatals, the clerk recognized that my last name was Vietnamese because she was also Vietnamese. She asked me, 'You know that's a Vietnamese name, right?'
I said, 'Yes... my husband is Vietnamese.'
She said, 'Oh,' with a long pause. Then, 'Aren't you worried the baby will look, you know, weird with your face and his combined?' I was dumbfounded. She not only just insulted my unborn child, she managed to insult my and my husband's appearance too in one blow!"
Justbecause4567
"My only sibling is a younger brother who is sixteen years my junior. When he was still an infant, my entire family went shopping at a grocery store. I was walking beside my stepdad, and my mum had wandered a few feet away to look at something.
All of a sudden, this elderly lady was in front of me, lecturing me on how appalling it was to have a child at my age, how I should be ashamed of myself, and that my stepdad was disgusting. I was stunned. She left before any of us had could pick our jaws up off the ground.
From then on, I refused to stray more than 2 feet from my mother's side anytime we were with my brother, and would avoid holding him in public."
Taisce
"I was married and pregnant at age 24. I was shopping at a local pharmacy when two elderly ladies started to use that 'shocked' sarcastic tone between each other, making sure I could hear them. The topic was 'Oh, what a shame it is for all these children to be having their own children. Teenagers should just learn how to keep out of trouble!' That kind of exchange.
I realized they were talking about me, assuming I was a pregnant teenager. At the time, I had gained enough wait that I was not able to wear my wedding ring.
I chimed in, 'Yes, it's a shame when teenagers don't plan their pregnancies or use birth control when they're not ready to have children. I'm glad I planned my pregnancy successfully, having waited until I was twenty-four and married, with the financial stability to raise a family.'
I then checked out in a very glorious, but awkward silence."
AwkwardBurritoChick
"'It's not really your baby because you're on Medicaid. It's mine because I paid for it with my taxes.' This was my lovely mother's first reaction when I told her I was pregnant.
By the way, I was working and also pay taxes."
catnamedbear
"While pregnant with my firstborn I was working, selling mobile phones. I was serving an older man one day, who looks at my very pregnant belly and tells me, 'your parents must be so disappointed.'
I had to point out that I was married, and owned my own home."
BowlingForWotsits
"It's amazing how many different people will tell you that, once you've reached full term, you should get it on with your partner constantly to induce labor. Parents, in-laws, siblings, store cashiers, bill collectors, church pastors... Ok, I may be over exaggerating a little, but you get the point!
It's funny at first, then it gets to the point where it's just not ok anymore."
simmeringwithrage
"As a lesbian, I got a lot of 'HOW?!' questions.
Some people could not fathom the process of getting pregnant without a dude in the picture. Many of them assumed that I went out and slept with a bunch of guys. Like, come on people, as if I'm married to a lovely woman and the best plan we could come up with was me sleeping with a bunch of random guys to get pregnant.
They're called sperm banks. Those things... where you get sperm... they've been around a long time."
pang0lin
"The way my doctor told me was kind of rude. She came in and said, 'Well, I'm sorry but we have to talk... you're pregnant.' She said it in a tone and manner that was very apologetic.
When I conveyed excitement, she was surprised and said, 'Wow! You want it? Most 27 year-olds come in here not wanting a baby.' It just really took away from the excitement and made me feel like I was too young to be having a baby. I live in Manhattan, so it's a different lifestyle out here. Still... my partner and I wanted a baby!"
MLE71988
When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
Money Burn GIF by nog
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
Customer Service Waiting GIF by Juno Calypso
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.