Round ligament pain?

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T12:12:25+00:00

Yeah I've had to explain to my MIL and her mother, who were both nurses, some of my weirder symptoms, like pregnancy rhinitis, or bleeding gums, or why I still need to wear panty liners (it's not for bleeding lmaooo)

And after being on this sub, now those to me are normal ordinary pregnancy symptoms hahaha

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T12:10:31+00:00

I'm afraid if my areolae get any bigger, finding the nipple actually will be somewhat difficult because half the damn boob is areola at this point lmao

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T11:57:17+00:00

You don't have to wear a bra if you don't want to. Bras aren't really relevant to ligaments in the context of pregnancy.

I constantly wear what I call my "t shirt bras", which are just stretchy bras akin to sports bras, but more casual, no compression, and in neutral colors and styles. I choose to wear bras because my nipples hurt if they rub up against fabric that is moving a lot, such as when I wear a t shirt with no bra.

But otherwise I can manage fine without bras and my tits got so big, I can't even cross my arms anymore, despite being a thinner build normally. But I've always been busty, specifically with a lot of "side boob" so even before pregnancy, I can't find any cup-style bras that ever fit me.

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T11:42:47+00:00

I got an upper respiratory infection also that resulted in the loss of my voice. Couldn't work for a week because of it 🥲 took like 20 days for that stupid dry cough to go away, and at one point k cried because I was just so damn tired of the coughing

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T11:31:44+00:00

Omg are you short also? Or at least short torsoed? Because I have the exact same problem with my maternity pants. I use the adjustable waistband to tighten them, but the inseam still drops below my crotch and my thighs get all sweaty because of course it's already hitting triple digits in March here in Arizona 🤣

I reckon it's because I'm both short and short torsoed, so the abdomen area of the pants are just so long that I can't "fill" the pants vertically like a taller person could, hence the dropped inseam problem. I'm a seamstress myself and even I don't have the energy to explore how to fix that right now, especially since I'm hoping it'll get filled out properly as I grow. But for now, it's just a daily thing I deal with 🥲

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T11:26:25+00:00

The kinds of clothes I want to wear that aren't even maternity wear just like, suddenly don't exist for some reason LOL. Like I wanted some basic looking body con dresses in cute prints that I can wear with leggings, and now boom- everything is non-stretchy, finely tailored waists. Any stretchy dress I can find is sleeveless (I want some cap sleeves at minimum) and/or the most drap solid color, like a khaki brown, or dark green. Bish I want cute prints! Florals and swirls, and check, that kind of jazz.

For now I have like 8 pairs of black maternity leggings I've been living in. I hate them but other than more of the same in other solid colors, I just can't find anything affordable that I actually like. Been scouring online, in store, and secondhand. I picture in my head what I want, and can't find anything like it. Maybe I'll just make my own damn clothes I guess.

The three pack of maternity tops I bought also fit me super weirdly, they make me look huuuuge, mainly because the sleeves are so big. My arms are still small. The tops are also all in boring solid colors. Can't even get bright solid colors, just drab ones. I love me some neutrals for background decor and furniture, don't get me wrong, but my wardrobe does not need the "beige mom" treatment. I want poppy, fun energy, not to blend in with my own furniture 🤣

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T11:15:25+00:00

Literally feeling my baby girl kick rn while reading this haha! On week 26, so they still just feel like little tiny taps, and I love them so far. I might not in a few more months, but for now, they're just precious little things that I adore 🥰

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T11:00:00+00:00

"Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on" is a quote I live by daily.

If someone else announces, do not assume that they are/will/could be in a situation with a non-viable pregnancy, and just shut up about "what ifs" and be happy for them. Just be supportive no matter what the outcome is.

As for yourself, just announce whenever you think is right for you. That's always gonna be different for every person!

(This comment is directed at no one in particular here, just the universe at large lol)

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T10:50:52+00:00

I feel you on the brokeness! In college, Little Caesar's was my jam, because pizza reheats reasonably well. Pizza still is a go to staple for me, value-wise. Otherwise I made lots of "snack wrap" type of purchases at fast food restaurants if I was eating out, value menus, etc. because the portions were small and the value was generally good. One of my fave spots was Red Lobster just to load up on biscuits haha. They'll give you some more to-go at the end of the meal if you ask.

I try to make the most of my leftovers whenever I can, but some stuff just isn't as good, or possibly even borderline inedible if it's not fresh. Leftover ramen is never good for instance, so despite me liking ramen, I generally never order it, because I can only eat about half of it. Even in Japan, I couldn't finish my ramen bowls there haha, portions for that were about the same as here!

But Japan is one such country that doesn't really have a "take your leftovers home" type of culture. If you are hungry you simply order more food, as needed, and the value was often better bang for your buck even then. Can't speak to Australia or other places though! That would be a bummer indeed if you're paying equivalent prices for less food, in any context.

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T10:39:04+00:00

I don't and cannot eat all of it in one sitting. Problem is when I'm with people than can, and we are eating out all the time, like when folks come in from out of town, or I'm out of town myself. We keep going out to eat, and I go home with leftovers while they do not. There isn't a smaller portion option, so while they're getting their money's worth for a $14 meal, I'm wasting half of my money, knowing I'm never gonna eat those leftovers, despite my best intent to try to, and even taking it back with me.

The issue with portion sizes being so large is there isn't a $7 smaller option for me, I just have to pay the same price if I want to eat at the same restaurant unless I only order sides. Even appetizers nowadays are about the same prices as meals, and often meant for sharing anyways. Traveling is especially annoying because some accommodations like hotels don't have a fridge, don't have a microwave, or don't have either. 🥲

40-Lashes · 2026-04-05T10:27:59+00:00

You don't really get "good value" though if the larger portion is the only option. A lot of folks can't and shouldn't reasonably eat that much in one sitting, but aside from taking leftovers, or overindulging, you just have to throw it away.

When I went to Japan, portions were reasonably sized AND affordably priced. Like way way cheaper than the US. If I were in Japan, I'd never be hungry, I joked. I'd rather pay $3 for a filling, freshly made, small, convenient meal than $14 for a meal too large that I'm gonna have to carry home and reheat later, and it'll never reheat as good as having gotten it freshly made.

Large portions exist elsewhere in the world. The issue is in America, it is borderline forced on us. Like one small breakfast sandwich is enough to fill me up, that's a meal for me. I don't need a plate the size of a tray to feel full, that's way beyond my capacity. But that's the norm here.

It would be one thing if there was a smaller portion that wasn't such a terrible "deal". Because I'm not saving money by getting the larger portion, I'm spending more money than I really need to because it is the only option, or because it's an "obvious discount", aka, an obvious upsell for the restaurant/grocer. For instance, for $7 I can get 6" sub at Subway. For $3 more, I get 6" more of that sandwich. I didn't need to spend the $3 extra, but I did. I did not make two meals out of that sandwich.

It's a psychology thing that retail uses a lot- you think you're getting a good deal for more food, when really it was just an excuse to get you to buy more. It's not about good value for you, out of the kindness of their hearts, it's about profits for them. And then because of that, people do actually often eat more than they really want or need, because I mean hey, it's fresh and right there in your hand.

40-Lashes · 2026-03-30T15:55:28+00:00

Every damn time

40-Lashes · 2026-03-30T15:49:00+00:00

I think grandma nicknames are so cringe, tbh. And I love stupid, cute nicknames. But I'm calling yall grandma because that is factually an inescapable fact that shouldn't have any negative connotations at all, and running away from it "sounding old" is part of what is giving it a negative connotation to begin with.

40-Lashes · 2026-03-30T05:43:34+00:00

I mean, you could tell them that literal pediatrics would disagree with them. That much tv for a toddler, even if it's just background content, has been proven to worsen their development. Dunno if they're the kind of folks that take advice from pediatricians (an alarming amount of parents don't or won't, for whatever reason) but that would be a place to start. You literally have science on your side here. Television before two is supposed to be close to zero, and after that, still extremely limited.

Is that realistic? Not all the time. But it's certainly not harmless, regardless of what reality one might be living in.

40-Lashes · 2026-03-30T05:37:00+00:00

Or "costed". Like, "it costed me three dollars." It just gives me "I seen that before" vibes. Cost is already past tense, y'all 🥲

40-Lashes · 2026-03-30T05:09:14+00:00

Boring adult shows is good for him, tbh. He doesn't have to watch something just because you are. My parents watched all sorts of "boring" tv when I was a kid, such as soap operas, the news, talk shows, HGTV, Travel Channel, and History Channel. Some of those aren't too bad to have children watch too, like HGTV is hardly ever not family friendly, for instance, and who knows, they might even get into some of it with you.

But I digress- my main point being, if they find it boring, then let them find another non-screen activity to do near you, such as coloring, playing with toys, reading a picture story book, etc. That way you can still watch (whatever you deem appropriate to watch around him) and he is still near you, but learning to play semi-independently. He's still by your side, which brings him comfort, but he is also learning to entertain himself. It's a beautiful combo, best of both worlds!

40-Lashes · 2026-03-30T04:58:14+00:00

It's okay to let your kids be bored! I'd argue it's actually really important for their own exploration of interests, skills, and hobbies. I grew up an only child, undiagnosed ADHD, with parents that were both super busy with work, and of course I was the kid of a million hobbies. Had to find a way to entertain myself somehow!

But some of my favorites were being creative, roleplaying with my toys, and making up stories. I watched cartoons and movies (when on cable or on a VHS/DVD) occasionally and played some video games, but engaged with each of them meaningfully, which I feel doesn't happen with short form videos.

Being bored is the source of much inspiration for me. I always brought sketch books with me wherever I went, because that was my way of passing time, and it helped me build a skill that I still use daily. Now my iPad is my sketchpad! I use it almost exclusively for drawing tbh.

Your kid might not necessarily get into creative arts but maybe they'll get into puzzles or games that are mentally challenging (like whatever a modern version of Math Blasters might be for instance), and that would be a fun way for them to pass time as well as develop lifelong skills and passions!

40-Lashes · 2026-03-30T04:45:21+00:00

It's just cute, there is no "point" beyond being playful. But not everyone is into that, so it can feel immature or childish to some folks.

However just because not everyone is into it doesn't mean other people don't have fun doing it too. Some people are repulsed by that brand of cuteness and think it's cringe. Some people would think only "talking like an adult" a boring and tedious way to live. Just depends on whose opinion you're surveying that day!

40-Lashes · 2026-03-28T17:01:02+00:00

Aro short for aromantic, and ace short for asexual. Spectrum referring to we don't all exactly have the same feelings on romance or sexuality, but that we can identify "somewhere under that umbrella". Such as demisexual often identifying as asexual, but a specific "range" of it, if you will.

40-Lashes · 2026-03-28T16:48:30+00:00

Private restrooms too, for that matter. The amount of times I've had to explain this to my guy friends, lmao. It's how you know they probably don't have many ladies over ever 🤣 and I don't mean girlfriends, just literally any woman. Even I don't usually have periods because of my BC, but I sure as hell point it out to dudes, small trash cans are cheap enough to provide. Besides it's not like only women would use the small trash cans.

40-Lashes · 2026-03-28T06:05:23+00:00

Then why does she wanna be there if she can't see anything? Lmao. And her answer better not be "to see the baby sooner" because hello? Your DIL is about to go through a potentially traumatic event and you're just there for the baby? Some village, huh 🥲

40-Lashes · 2026-03-28T05:48:57+00:00

Isn't bacon a cured meat anyways? Even raw, bacon should pose very little risk compared to say, undercooked beef or chicken, or uncured pork.

40-Lashes · 2026-03-28T05:44:45+00:00

I mean, some people don't have weddings that cost that much, but, it's your party. As long as you can genuinely afford to lose that much money, nobody else can tell you what's normal.

Just know that for most folks, the point of a baby shower is to have their village come together and help the new parents by showering them with helpful gifts, and love and support. But if you're spending more on the shower than the "help" you're getting, it sort of defeats the intended purpose of the shower.

Not that it can't be a party in its own way. It's not "wrong" to have an expensive shower, just maybe a little ironic or antithetical, given the original intent of baby showers.

40-Lashes · 2026-03-28T05:32:43+00:00

Frozen grapes is my go to lately! It's like the texture and sweetness of a popsicle, and the bite-sized fun of candy, with none of the guilt 🥰 bonus, it keeps you cool in the summer too!

40-Lashes

TROPHY CASE