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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

"We're pregnant"

185 replies

IngridBurger · 11/12/2025 20:45

I hate it so much. No he isn't pregnant. Not even a bit. Yes he's going to he a father. He's expecting a baby. His partner is pregnant. How lovely that he's excited about it. What an amazing dad he's sure to be, but he is absolutely not pregnant!

I'm as grumpy as a middle-aged woman can get but this one really pisses me off. Pregnancy is a uniquely female experience. Why the fuck do men need to lay claim to it?

Do they experience morning sickness? Worry about the effects of the pregnancy on their career and earning potential? Be judged by all and sundry if they decide to have a thimbleful of wine or a slice of smoked salmon? Go through the risks and pain of childbirth?

Is it just me? (I expect so!!)

OP posts:
NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 04:01

Cautionsharpblade · 11/12/2025 23:47

I once heard ‘we had an episiotomy’. Oh did we now?!

You. Did. Not. Shut up! Really? I feel violent again! Ohhh, I could not have let that one pass. "So how long did it take you to heal?" 🤬

BootMaker · 12/12/2025 04:01

flaxensunshine · 12/12/2025 01:06

My son has full custody of his child. ( I know custody isn’t thr right term before you come at me!?)
he doesn’t have a biological mother because of the abuse so you have no idea what you are talking about,
this makes me so angry that you assume all women are good and men are not

I'm pleased your son is doing the right thing.

But of course his child has a biological mother.

You can't erase something because you find it distasteful.

XWKD · 12/12/2025 03:58

It makes my skin crawl.

PollyBell · 12/12/2025 03:58

BootMaker · 12/12/2025 03:55

What!!

I could not be married to a man that did that shizzle.

Well she doesnt have great taste is men so not sure her judgement is that great

bizkittt · 12/12/2025 03:57

SammyScrounge · 12/12/2025 03:49

When my friend was taken up to the labour ward, her husband told the nurse , "We.don't want any pain relief" The.nurse put him in his place at once. "Wee weren't thinking of giving YOU any."

Ha glad he was put in his place. Controlling creep.

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 03:56

SammyScrounge · 12/12/2025 03:49

When my friend was taken up to the labour ward, her husband told the nurse , "We.don't want any pain relief" The.nurse put him in his place at once. "Wee weren't thinking of giving YOU any."

Absolutely brilliant.

I wonder how many labour and delivery nurses wish the male partners would just fuck off out of the way!

BootMaker · 12/12/2025 03:55

SammyScrounge · 12/12/2025 03:49

When my friend was taken up to the labour ward, her husband told the nurse , "We.don't want any pain relief" The.nurse put him in his place at once. "Wee weren't thinking of giving YOU any."

What!!

I could not be married to a man that did that shizzle.

bizkittt · 12/12/2025 03:55

Drives me mad. Pregnancy is horrible and hard work for many. I don’t see why the man should be taking half the credit here just for the donation at the start.

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 03:55

BeeHive909 · 11/12/2025 23:15

Actually talking about this. I don’t mind the saying as I said in my post but this reminded me of my brothers old school friend when his girlfriend was pregnant he went to his doctors to see if he could be prescribed something so he could breastfeed also . Never forgotten it and no one talks to him now .

😲 How did his gf ever fancy him again??? What a plank.

SammyScrounge · 12/12/2025 03:49

When my friend was taken up to the labour ward, her husband told the nurse , "We.don't want any pain relief" The.nurse put him in his place at once. "Wee weren't thinking of giving YOU any."

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 03:45

IdaGlossop · 11/12/2025 23:14

I am told that newborns actually do resemble the father so he wants to look after them. Not sure I believe it though as data also suggests plenty of babies are raised by a father not their biological father.

I believe it. When my cousin's son was born he was the absolute spit of his dad. By the time he was two, he looked much more like his mum and still does. He looked like a totally different child after about first six months.

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 03:42

bigboykitty · 11/12/2025 23:08

Am with you 100% @IngridBurger I'm on some FB cancer pages. I bring you "we're in remission". I really don't like it.

Oh yes, I went on a date once with a man who was telling me his ex-wife had had cancer. The way he put it was "We fought cancer." I bet he wasn't the one sitting in the chemo chair with a needle in his arm. Cancer patients often say it's a lonely journey even when surrounded by loved ones. Which I can imagine, since it's only their body which has to endure all the surgery and chemo side-effects. Not that it doesn't affect relatives MASSIVELY, but their bodies are not going through it.

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 03:17

BootMaker · 12/12/2025 02:46

Eh?

I presume both people want the baby.

'Perform on demand'.

FFS. Behave yourself.

But he does! He does have to perform on demand to hit ovulation, and she tells him when that is, so effectively it's her telling him when to assume position!

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 03:16

Scorchio84 · 11/12/2025 22:40

That's not as bad because you're both expecting a baby but only you are pregnant, I'd still roll my eyes though 😄

Oh, I think I'd be OK with that! He is expecting a baby as much as she is. But I suppose there's some overlap since an old-fashioned way of saying you're pregnant is to say you're expecting. Another silly, twee phrase. I'm expecting, too. I'm expecting all the time! I'm expecting tomorrow to be sunny and to enjoy the late-night shopping in my town. I'm also expecting to have a relaxing weekend. You get the gist. 🤣

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 03:10

Wanderdust · 11/12/2025 23:06

Takes two to make a pregnancy so...!

Yes, and they make it in HER body! Once he's had a shag, he can disappear and never see her again and the outcome will be the same! Once conception has happened, the entire process happens one thousand percent independently of him! The woman does ALLLLLLLL the work!!!!

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 02:52

IPM · 11/12/2025 22:59

YANBU, I read it on a thread earlier actually and I find it really jarring.

A male colleague once introduced me to his wife at a function and said "We're pregnant and due in early Spring".

I said "Oh how lovely, and have you decided on which one of you is going to give birth yet?"

His wife burst into fits of laughter 🤣

That's a brilliant response!!

ObelixtheGaul · 12/12/2025 02:52

IdaGlossop · 11/12/2025 23:14

I am told that newborns actually do resemble the father so he wants to look after them. Not sure I believe it though as data also suggests plenty of babies are raised by a father not their biological father.

All newborns look like Winston Churchill to me.

Muffinmam · 12/12/2025 02:47

It annoys me too. But as I get older so much about men annoys me. The fact that men are entering women’s sport when they have a biological advantage really bothers me.

I can understand why women are the ones who most often instigate divorce.

It’s usually women of low intelligence who use the phrase of “we’re pregnant”. Such women also like to go on mumsnet to describe their “birth experience” including such fascinating details as when their labor commenced, what time their waters broke and specific times with dilation of their cervix for everyone to know. I usually avoid such people.

BootMaker · 12/12/2025 02:46

PollyBell · 12/12/2025 02:39

Well when women are TTC men have to do whatever they are told and have to perform on demand

Eh?

I presume both people want the baby.

'Perform on demand'.

FFS. Behave yourself.

BootMaker · 12/12/2025 02:44

I'm embarrassed for anyone who says this.

PollyBell · 12/12/2025 02:39

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 02:29

Conception isn’t equal - the majority of women don’t climax during PIV! And yet apparently we’e supposed to be as up for it as men are all the time! 😡

Well when women are TTC men have to do whatever they are told and have to perform on demand

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 02:36

Rachie1973 · 11/12/2025 22:12

In addition…..

’we’ve decided on gas and air only’.

Noooooo! People say that? I feel violent. ACTUALLY fucking violent.

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 02:32

CherrieTomaties · 11/12/2025 22:04

It’s a nauseating phrase.

Along with couples who call each other “mummy” and “daddy”. If they’re talking to the kids e.g “give this to mummy” that’s fine. But calling each other mummy and daddy when talking to one another - gross and cringe.

Oh yeah, my late paternal grandparents did this. Always thought it was a bit weird even as a kid. And my other ones didn’t do it.

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 02:31

MarbleDrive · 11/12/2025 21:18

I agree. It’s completely nauseating. I know exactly the type that say it.

Ooh, which type? I know a man who says it who’s a type, and I want to see if your vision matches! I’ll be vindicated if so, bc he’s been massively annoying on occasion!

NewNameforThisPost2025 · 12/12/2025 02:29

IngridBurger · 11/12/2025 22:01

Exactly. Conception is fairly equal. Parenting can be (sadly often isn't) equal. Pregnancy is a woman/mother only venture.

Conception isn’t equal - the majority of women don’t climax during PIV! And yet apparently we’e supposed to be as up for it as men are all the time! 😡