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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want DSD to have an abortion?

1002 replies

TessoftheDamned · 25/10/2010 00:16

Heavy going stuff but really doubting myself on this.

DSD is 14 and we thought Hmm was a straight-laced girl, very into her studies, hardly ever goes out, etc. Anyway, has fallen pregnant and just had the nerve to tell us (lives with us full-time, her mother is not in the picture). The guy is 'long gone' as she says, refuses to tell us his name or where she met him. To be honest I'm a bit worried there was some pressure and perhaps even date rape thing going on, but I haven't pushed it as she's very vulnerable at the moment (as one might expect).

She is adamant she is keeping her baby. Although I'm sure it will end up looking to us as parents and her as a sister, we don't want another baby and don't want to look after hers. She's not an adult but it is her body, I'm so torn. I feel like she's doing herself and everyone else a great disservice bringing this heartache, but of course a baby is normally a source of joy...

DH is flabbergasted and shocked, he's still trying to find out who the boy is (she told us 3 days ago). She clams up when we suggest anything other than keeping the baby and refuses to speak to us.

AIBU?

OP posts:
TessoftheDamned · 26/10/2010 17:19

Okay. Lots of information to process here but I'll give you an update - I have read all replies, thank you very much to those who have been supportive and expat please ignore the rude comments directed at you.

Last night the meal went as well as can be expected, I suppose. She was very tense at first but I didn't talk about the pregnancy until well after we'd gotten our food. She'd relaxed by then and I brought out the 'Okay, if you're going to keep this baby, and live under our roof, then what are YOU going to do to make sure it is clean, healthy, and taken care of while you're at school? What are YOU going to do about paying for its nappies, clothes, and childcare as you know we can't pay for it all.'

She blanked me for a minute and said 'Um, I will get a part-time job but then I will have to have childcare and I probably can' pay all the childcare.' I told her there is some help toward childcare costs that we could get. She then said she wouldn't be able to buy things like a cot, pushchair and I said we would help with those as we would if she were having a baby at 30. She asked if I would help her in the night or on weekends and I said no. Not in the nights, ever. And on weekends only if it didn't impact the boys/my plans and we were happy to stay in.

I asked her if she had thought what the baby might mean for the boys/me/her dad and she said 'I think it will be fun for everybody to play with it and love another child, it can stay in my room so won't take up much space and I promise to wake up with it every night and feed it and change it.'

I asked her if she'd thought any more about the other options and she was still very steadfast and said she wanted to keep the baby. I asked if it had anything to do with her Mum leaving her and she started to cry saying she hadn't meant to get pregnant on purpose but she didn't use protection Angry so she knew it might happen. She said she knows that we love her and her brothers love her but it's not the same as loving someone 100% and she wants that for herself.

And breathe. We went home and watched a film, had some ice cream and did our own things before bed. DH came home pissed at 1am apologising and falling over himself, I directed him to the sofa. He left for work as normaland apologised again saying we'd chat tonight when he gets in. DSD is having a friend over so she can be occupied while DH and I talk about everything.

Appointment today at GP - GP repeatedly asked her when her last period was, all she could say was 'awhile ago, I can't remember', he asked if she wasn't sure of the date she got pregnant, she got embarrassed and asked me to leave the room. Which I did. I didn't go back in until she was coming out and GP gave us scan appt info (tomorrow morning) and some leaflets about teen pregnancy, and a few organisations we can speak to who can help.

DSD had obviously been crying but I didn't ask her about the appt. I guess more info to come after scan tomorrow and then maybe she'll want to talk about the boy, when she got pregnant, etc.

So we're still a basketful of emotions here but reading through the thread has not only occupied me, it's made me feel a lot more grounded and relatable to other people, if that makes sense. I still haven't told any RL friends as I think I'd feel very judged and have DSD be judged which we don't want. Please keep your posts coming they honestly hand on heart are helping.

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 26/10/2010 17:22

I think if there's some deal to be made, the expectations of fairness can be held on both sides -- the girl should really have to reveal the identity of the father as part of having a contract wrt baby care and family support. Not just because the father and his family should shoulder some of the burden, but also in case there is more trauma that this girl has gone through here that needs to be dealt with (rape, older man, etc.).

Quattrocento · 26/10/2010 17:22

This has been a truly thought-provoking thread.

My DD turns 13 in 3 weeks, for those who asked.

I truly feel that the repeated suggestions made by others that the DSD needs to spend time with babies and toddlers is the BEST advice.

My DD theoretically likes toddlers and loves her cousin's daughter. But DD cannot bear to have to entertain her for more than half an hour. She gets weary. The reality of children day in and night out is that they are HARD UNREWARDING WORK.

Get her to spend time with some babies (or preferably toddlers) pronto.

I also agree with the posters who have suggested that this wish to have the baby stems from her birth mother's rejection. She needs help with this.

Discowife · 26/10/2010 17:24

Your DH really really really needs to sort himself out...

Pissed off on your behalf. At least you now understand what dsd's motivations are. Sounds like were you to push an aborition she would get herself pregnant again.

abr1de · 26/10/2010 17:24

She is very lucky to have your, tess.

arses · 26/10/2010 17:25

Oh god love you all, and her. My heart breaks when I read of her saying that she wants 100% love, it is to do with her mother, isn't it? And she hasn't a clue. She has done this on purpose, she just doesn't realise it. If there are organisations she can make contact with, could she meet with some teen mums and talk honestly with them about what it's like? What about some of the programmes about pregnant teens where they talk about what they regret etc?

Mind you, some of them make it look like easy work compared to how I, at 31, managed it.

I don't know. The scan may make it more real for her.. but who knows what that will mean?

mathanxiety · 26/10/2010 17:27

And there is no way Tess and the DSD should be paying for the big ticket things like the cot.

Scaredandalone · 26/10/2010 17:27

I agree discowife I am sorry op that you are in this position I really am Sad. It is not a nice position to be in and there is no easy answer Sad Hope your DH is more supportive Smile

Quattrocento · 26/10/2010 17:27

xpost with the OP

Thank you very much for the update. My thoughts and good wishes are with you.

You are very patient and immensely tolerant and your DSD, and for that matter your DH are very lucky to have you

Good luck

holyShmoley · 26/10/2010 17:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

arses · 26/10/2010 17:28

Very good point about the father by mathanxiety - in case it was an older man etc.

TessoftheDamned · 26/10/2010 17:31

That's the thing that's killing me at the minute, I really want to know who the father is. Is it some much older guy that she's found god knows where and made her all these promises and now she's finding that he's dumped her in it? Has she even told him? Is he a boy in her school whose mother really deserves to know never mind he himself. Sad

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 26/10/2010 17:32

(I have four girls, and three of them have babysat for all their pocket money as I don't give them any, can't afford to, since they were 12. DS has babysat too, until he could do odd jobs instead. They have taken care of babies, youngest was 8 weeks. They have taken care of a family of 6 [DD3's regular gig for three years]. They have taken care of twin toddler boys. I really recommend letting your DCs babysit if you can find someone willing to employ them. All of mine know what baby and childcare entails and they respect the work aspect of it because they have been paid.)

TessoftheDamned · 26/10/2010 17:32

Oh, and I do agree it would be great if she could have a weekend/day with a baby or toddler but sadly we don't know any! All of our friends either are childless or have children the age of our DC's.

OP posts:
Discowife · 26/10/2010 17:32

If your dsd genuinely doesn't remeber when her last period is I suspect she is further along than everyone is assuming. Abortion may have never been an option. I do think adoption for this particular girl would be very very damaging.

Lots of luck to all of you and especially your dsd. remember everything you don't have for the baby already can be bought for next to nothing off Ebay or NCt sales. It will be good for her to start learning budgeting now as she will likely not be finacially well off for a long time.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 26/10/2010 17:33

how much sacrifice would you be prepared to make in this situation?

altinkum · 26/10/2010 17:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NothereisnobodylurkingbehindU · 26/10/2010 17:35

I think the most likely scenario is that it's another boy - and yes there is another family who should be involved.
Sounds like you did great Tess - poor little mite - what a horrible hole in her life her mother left Angry.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 26/10/2010 17:35

please ask her to consider she may be in this situation herself in 15 years.

Also ask what she plans to say when her child asks about their father

mathanxiety · 26/10/2010 17:35

Tess, make it part of the deal that you must know the identity of the father. Tell her it's not fair for her to have to take all the financial responsibility of this on herself and that a father needs to contribute. If she's afraid of mobs with pitchforks or him being clubbed to death maybe you could reassure her? She should not be protecting him or feel she needs to.

JenaiMwahHaHaHaaaaah · 26/10/2010 17:37

Oh Tess you poor love. And your dsd. :(

I imagine it will take some time before the father's identity is revealed. probably not worth pushing the matter just yet.

abr1de · 26/10/2010 17:37

And I still think you should talk to your husband about him paying for a nanny, part-time at least, if your step daughter goes ahead. To make it clear that you are NOT going to be the default carer.

JenaiMwahHaHaHaaaaah · 26/10/2010 17:40

Maybe she isn't sure who the father is. I honestly don't think it's worth issuing ultimatums wrt his identity, not now.

electra · 26/10/2010 17:40

Tess, I think you've dealt remarkably well with this and should feel proud of yourself.

Romanarama · 26/10/2010 17:45

Tess she might not want to reveal who the father is because she's embarrassed that other people will know she's been sleeping with that particular person. Or because she will feel embarrassed when he's confronted with her pregnancy. I would say that the child is entitled to know who the father is and to be able to have a relationship with the father, unless he's abusive in some way.

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