Facebook Vent

  WARNING:  This is a venting post.  If you get offended by what I have to say, then I am sorry, but you chose to come to my blog and read it.  However, it is not my intention to hurt anyone, I am just trying to be blunt and honest and 'vent' in what I feel is MY safe place.  
     I am happy to report that for the most part everything is going okay with this pregnancy and we should expect to meet this little boy in 3 short weeks.  I am so grateful to have made it this far and I can see a happy ending in sight. We are still keeping our fingers crossed that everything will be okay.  However, one thing I have learned from my experiences is that anything can happen at any time.
   This brings me to my next point.  Even though I am expecting my little rainbow very soon, I still have a hard time with pregnant women complaining.  I am sorry, but I have been through A LOT with this pregnancy and A LOT in the past 3 years and I try VERY HARD not to complain.  I very rarely talk about all the crazy things going on with me during this pregnancy.  It's not that I don't want to, but I think there is a very fine line between simply venting and sounding ungrateful and I hope I never come across that I am ungrateful in any way.
      I still have a very hard time with Facebook and pregnancy related things.  I think I always will.  I have only made one post about my pregnancy on Facebook announcing that we were having a boy and I made sure to mention that we were very grateful.  But, other than that I haven't said a thing.  The reason why is because I know it can unintentionally hurt people.  I know from my own personal experience as well as that of other sweet angel moms who have been through similar circumstances that it is very difficult and heartbreaking to read all those pregnancy related Facebook statuses. I know you can 'hide' people from your feed if you don't want to see their updates, but it still drives me crazy.  I think the thing that bugs me most is that most of their 'statuses' are completely unnecessary.  I think some people use it as a way to remind all their Facebook friends that they are pregnant on what sometimes feels like a daily basis.  Again, I am not trying to offend anyone, I am trying to be very blunt and honest and let everyone know how they are sometimes being perceived (and I know I am not the only one that feels this way).  I think Facebook can be a great way to update your friends and family about what is going on in your life and in your pregnancy, but we don't need to:
-Hear about what you are craving constantly.
-Hear about how uncomfortable you are all the time.
-Hear about all your doctor appointments.
-See all your ultrasounds and/or belly shots on a regular basis.
-Or view constant baby pictures and updates about milestones.

   I could go on and on, but I won't.  I know most of these things seem innocent, but they really can hurt some of your friends who have lost babies, or who are going through infertility issues etc.  I know that pregnancy can be really hard!  Sometimes you need a place to complain, but Facebook shouldn't always be your 'go to' for it.  I think it's fine to post things every once in a while, but some people post way too much, especially in a 'complaining' way.  I know we all have the right to post what we want when we want to.  I am not trying to tell anyone what to do, but I wanted to open minds to a world of women out there who are hurting for many different reasons and let you know that as their 'Facebook Friend' you could be unintentionally hurting them.  And, I am willing to guarantee there are people you are hurting that you are friends with on Facebook that you don't even know about.  I am not trying to say that people shouldn't be able to post about anything pregnancy or baby related ever.  Just remember your friends who are struggling and try to tone it down a little for their sake.
   Now I can only speak for myself here, but I also wanted to say that I am not 'jealous' or 'mad' at any of these pregnant women in any way.  In fact I really am happy for all of them and wish them the best.  I just wanted to let people know one way they may be viewed when they post on Facebook.  Facebook is such a tricky thing, because when you update your status ALL your friends can see it.  And lets be honest, most of the crap people post is pretty pointless.  But, since EVERYONE can see it you should think of your entire audience before you say anything.  It is different from a blog because someone has to actually go to your blog to read how you feel.  I haven't made anyone come here to my blog and read about how I feel.  But, with Facebook someone has to block you after you have posted.  There are better ways to let people know how you are doing that won't hurt your friends.  You can call, text, blog, or email the important friends and family that actually want to hear about your pregnancy and that way the important people are made aware of how you are doing and you won't hurt anyone.
     SO, for the last time, I am sorry if I offended anyone.  That wasn't my intention.  However, I am glad I can have a place where I can be honest about things like this and no one has to read it unless they want to.  I think it's important for me to let others know about how they may be hurting people and not even knowing. it.  To be fair, I know I probably have said many insensitive things on Facebook or even to people's faces who have been dealing with things similar to or different than what I am going through now and I feel really bad about it now.  I wish I could take it all back.  So, to those who I have unintentionally hurt through my ignorance, I am sorry.  I honestly had no idea how awful it can be until I went through my own experience and my heart breaks for all those sweet mothers out there who are hurting.  I really hope this post will be read with an open mind and people will try to learn from it and not be offended.
     Thank you for letting me vent!