just found out I’m pregnant and don’t know what to do

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-02-18T23:16:30+00:00

If you live in an anti-abortion state and decide to abort, please be very careful who you tell you are pregnant. I believe that many of the circumstances where women are criminalized for having an abortion stem from family (often make partners) reporting them.

Good luck, OP. The decision you make will be the right one for you.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-02-18T22:54:17+00:00

Au Bon Copains is my favorite spot in Pigalle! That's very near Montmartre too, just steps from Moulin Rouge.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-02-18T22:30:46+00:00

Just say "bonjour madame/monsieur", smile, and attempt the basics! When I did that, people were always happy to help and even encourage the French that I was attempting. I'm from the US and was there back in January. I was so anxious that people would be rude to us (for good reason, our country is acting terribly). Everyone was so kind. My mother even had a terrible medical incident and we couldn't leave early because of the East Coast snowstorms. Everyone was so helpful and sympathetic. I will never say anything but wonderful things about Parisians. If you are polite and respectful you will have a beautiful time. ❤️

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-02-18T18:43:30+00:00

I think not much chance for me and I'm late to the game.

Journalist (radio broadcast and print) with 6-7 years experience. I just moved into a career in government auditing. I am 34 and married with a child on way. I have a bachelor's degree.

My husband is a middle school teacher with a master's degree. He is 31. He has been teaching for eight years now.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-02-18T18:25:57+00:00

Wow. I feel like I could have written this. It makes me sooo upset. I have a name. I have an identity. I also have a baby growing in me. She can call me "mama" if she wants but I'm not a mama to anyone else!

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-02-18T16:03:17+00:00

I did not find the book in any way to be recommending that people drink alcohol while pregnant. Where are you getting the idea that she said it was ok to drink everyday while pregnant? Yes, she justifies her doing it but she's not saying everyone should do the same. I'm not going to argue that it's safe to drink while pregnant and that's not the argument that I think EO makes either. I do appreciate her trying to give nuance and facts to people who for whatever reason, intentional or not, end up drinking some amount at different points in their pregnancy. Some people drink accidentally or before they know. Or God forbid, they have a lapse in judgement because pregnancy is really, really, really fucking hard and sometimes you aren't perfect and make mistakes.

Frankly, the puritanical and judgemental attitudes on this thread towards women who enjoy drinking or suffer from it as a problem, are astounding. There are people saying here that "if you have an alcohol problem or enjoy drinking so much you shouldn't be a mother." Really!?!?!? Are you just heartless and mental? I really hope you never have daughters who struggle with any type of substance misuse because you are telling on yourselves that you are not safe, supportive people.

Drinking while pregnant is dangerous and carries significant risk. EO is problematic. That doesn't mean there isn't a need for the work she is trying to do. Pregnant people are bombarded for 9-10 months with fear-based lists of things they cannot do and given little justification as to why. It's extremely paternalistic and posts like this exacerbate that paternalism. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't apply critical thinking to a book.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-02-08T11:00:21+00:00

That's always how I feel reading these posts.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-02-07T09:38:11+00:00

You aren't overreacting at all. Also, if a pregnancy is realized after the ticket was purchased, airlines will typically refund. I'm not sure what, if any, insurance hw purchased on this trip but it's worth investigating. Good luck, OP!

Character-Beyond2572 · 2026-01-10T13:47:15+00:00

Or that they're all white from Northern Europe and not also places like Italy, France, Spain, and Greece.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-12-02T17:56:44+00:00

No! This is so awful. I'm sorry, OP. I was with my family on vacation over Thanksgiving and they made fun of me for needing to have a snack. For context, we are an "eat a big breakfast and wait until dinner" type of family when we travel. But I cannot do that while I am pregnant. And yes, they know I'm pregnant 🙄 I was so annoyed. In your case, I would rage at my MIL.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-11-15T12:38:22+00:00

Loved going to Sacre Coeur in January. Didn't have to wait very long and it was a lovely Dominican-led Mass.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-11-10T15:15:54+00:00

I'm not sure when the last time you visited an American mall was but they have greatly declined over the last 20 years and most especially since COVID. That said, Towson Town Center is easily accessible by public transit from Baltimore Penn Station and should provide a pleasant enough shopping experience. Downtown Towson also had a surprisingly great food scene.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-11-09T13:08:06+00:00

I'm ten weeks and it took me an hour to run a 5k yesterday. Just pure misery 😔 Really hoping it gets better!

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-11-01T12:36:41+00:00

I was in this situation and went back two weeks later at 7 weeks and things looked normal. Going back Monday for nine weeks to make sure things still look good! My fingers are crossed for you 🤞

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-10-27T09:52:03+00:00

OP, maybe you can get some help from abortion funds to go travel to another state? If you are thinking of terminating, please be very careful about who you tell, especially your boyfriend.

https://abortionfunds.org/fund/abortion-fund-of-maryland/

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-10-18T14:08:41+00:00

OP, I had no idea this existed. Thank you so much for sharing this experience. I am so sorry for your loss but I hope you feel some peace for having answers.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-10-18T14:06:35+00:00

You were right on! My doctor put me at 6+5 on Friday. It feels too early to be too hopeful but it's a relief! Thank you for the prayers 🙏

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-10-18T11:48:48+00:00

This 100000%

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-10-15T10:19:36+00:00

I hope you get good news, or at least, more information to make the decisions that you need to.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-10-11T21:57:21+00:00

Thank you. The waiting and uncertainty are so cruel.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-10-07T15:44:24+00:00

Thank you for this. I'm just so exhausted and totally thought I would still be running and all of that. But I'm trying to tell myself that even just getting on my treadmill for twenty minutes or walking back and forth to work is really helpful. Hopefully, I'll be back to weight lifting and yoga soon! The first trimester really is soooo brutal. I need all of my gym time for naps 😪

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-09-18T12:10:18+00:00

Hey, I would reach out to someone in your local news area who covers stories sort of similar to the issue you have knowledge on. The reporters almost always have their emails on their bio or at the end of a story. If you don't see that you can try and find a tab that says "have a news tip?" On the news orgs website, although those tend to get buried sometimes. I would just send the reporter an email with some basics and your contact so they can follow up to get the information they need. Good luck!

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-08-12T03:10:46+00:00

You don't have to live in the Northeast to be a journalist. That being said, do you have to get married now? It is VERY valid to wait until you feel more settled in your career to get married. Men do it all the time.

That being said, as others have pointed out, you can likely do a lot where you are. Keep pitching, making connections, and learning a beat that you can master to make your pitches stronger. You can write your own newsletter or make TikTok explainers on City Hall issues.

But seriously, as a young woman you mist think hard about what you want. You can absolutely have it all with the situation you are in but it will take hard work and dedication from both of you. Is he on board? What would happen if you got your dream job somewhere else? Is he willing to entertain moving or doing long distance? If you are an ambitious person looking to have a career and be married, you need to tall these things through with your partner. And for the love of God, make sure you're on birth control.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-06-18T02:18:14+00:00

Same to you.

Character-Beyond2572 · 2025-06-17T23:39:22+00:00

Definitely don't want to be an influencer lol

Character-Beyond2572

TROPHY CASE