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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU? Or is she?? Or are we both???

75 replies

clairefromsteps · 06/01/2011 19:31

I'm pregnant and my DH announced our news on Facebook in his status update. The wife of a friend of ours (who is about to start their first cycle of IVF - they have some serious fertility problems) has taken offence at this and is refusing to see us as it would be too difficult for her to be around someone who was pregnant.

Were we being incredibly insensitive? Or is she being a bit precious? Or is it both? It rankles that she can't find it in herself to be happy for us, if I'm honest, after all there's every chance she'll get pregnant in the near future. I'd really appreciate some responses from the MN jury. I don't know a huge amount about IVF, but I do know she is on suppressants and a bucket load of other hormones.

OP posts:
changeforthebetter · 06/01/2011 20:17

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

As for your friend - on a balance of probabilities, she is facing comparatively low success rates, daily injections of drugs which will make her feel like crap and everywhere she turns will be big pregnant tummies and newborn babies. Really it is a lousy experience (and I am very lucky to have carried an IVF baby to term). Her emotions are probably very raw and maybe she really can't handle your situation right now. It's down to you to be compassionate really.

InspirationalBreadbin · 06/01/2011 20:17

When I was pregnant, we let the friend who had fertility issues know about it by phone before posting the scan pics on Facebook. I do think you were a little insensitive.

sterrryerryoh · 06/01/2011 20:25

I think that you and your DH have every right to announce your lovely news on FB - that's what people do, and that's basically what it's for.
But speaking as someone who is infertile, I have to say it can be incredibly difficult to "hear" such news, and sometimes FB makes it even more difficult, because then you see the scan pictures, the mounds of congratulations, the daily updates etc..

We spent upwards of 10 years TTC and I have an unusually thick skin about it all - always have been very pragmatic and sensible. Always greeted the numerous pregnancy announcements from friends and family with congratulations and joy. But TTC and going through IVF is a terribly lonely and sad time, and I, at one point, couldn't even bear to go to a family party because yet another cousin had given birth to yet another baby, and it was all anyone could go on about.

2 years ago, 9 of my FB friends went through pregnancy (very publicly) at the same time. Believe me, it can get a bit much.

I don't know what the success rates are now, but when I went through my 3 rounds of IVF, for my age group it was about 28%. It didn't work for us, so a big fat 0% for me.

The wording "taken offence and refused to see us" seems quite strong. Is it offence she's taken? Or is she just upset? Has she refued to see you, or is it just too difficult for her? You are NBU, but neither is she - and you can very much afford to be generous with her. She may never have the wonderful feelings and future that you are experiencing, and I'll wager that's exactly what she's finding difficult

mrsscoob · 06/01/2011 20:26

the "wife of a friend of ours" that you aren't close enough to tell in person but has to read it on your husbands fb status? Its not like you are close then? I find it strange she would be upset or you would be rankled that she wouldn't be happy for you, I don't think your "friendship" sounds particularly strong, otherwise I doubt either if you would feel this way.

CrazyChristmasLady · 06/01/2011 20:27

Your friend is NBU at all. We almost had IVF after 3 years of no luck and were told it was our only option to have a baby. The success rate is low and were only allowed 1 cycle on the NHS then would never have been able to afford private. Your comment about "after all there's every chance she'll get pregnant in the near future" is pretty ignorant really. There is much more chance that she won't be pregnant.

I was very very lucky and found out I was pregnant 3 weeks before I was due to start the IVF. I do know though that I couldn't bear the seeing pregnant women and people with newborns. I would congratulate friends but inwardly be wondering if it would ever happen for me.

However you are also not BU for wanting to share your happy news, maybe you should have told her first before announcing it on FB though, given that you know what she is going through. Thinking that you will never have children is a horrible horrible thing to go throught, particularly when there are people bragging about how easy it is for them (and thats not at you at all OP, thinking of an ex friend of mine who was like that).

Congratulations. Smile

Send her a message letting her know you are sorry and didn't mean to upset her and let her come around in her own time.

ilythia · 06/01/2011 20:31

I would say neither of you are BU tbh.
You havea right to announce your news however you see fit, but if she really woudl find it hard to be around you, at least she had the courage to tell you. My closest friend at work had been trying to conceive for 10 years when I got pregnant and I told her the same time as everyone else, but made sure never to bring it up in coversation unless she did first, soemtimes it can hurt that badly.
Plese, don't take it personally, it sounds like a knee jerk reaction from someone hurting badly.

Lara2 · 06/01/2011 20:32

I don't think either of you are BU. It's a very sensitive time for all concerned. As other people have said - kind and gentle is the way to go. One of the most difficult things I have ever had to do was tell a very close friend who had just failed in her third GIFT attempt that I was pregnant. I knew that I had to tell her personally ( this was before social networking even existed) rather than she hear it from someone else and after anyone else. It must have been so painful for her, and I'm sure she went home and wept buckets - I know I did. But our friendship has stayed true and strong.

Limelight · 06/01/2011 21:30

This is a really difficult one and it probably takes a huge leap of understanding and empathy on both your parts. It's also worth clearing things up with her sooner rather than later to stop this in it's tracks. It's amazing how much hurt this sort of stuff can cause.

It's not exactly the same but here's what happened to me. I miscarried twins in January last year (it was missed and so I found out at a scan, had to have ERPC etc). It was very traumatic and DH and I were devastated but tried very hard to be a bit stiff upper lip about it - probably stupid of us but we have a 3yo DS etc.

Five weeks later, friends of ours arranged for us (plus other friends) to meet for Sunday lunch where they surprised us all with the news that they were pregnant. I had to excuse myself in order to sit and weep in the toilets. I couldn't get out of there quickly enough. It was genuinely the most excruciating experience of my life. I was shocked by my own reaction, and completely mortified, as well as confused that they hadn't forewarned us.

That evening, DH rang them because we thought it would be better to face it head on, apologise for ruining their moment, and frankly allowing them the chance to apologise for not realising how difficult it would be for us. As far as we were concerned, the whole situation was just unfortunate. It wasn't anyone's fault I don't think. Just an embarrassing mishandling of a situation on both sides which needed responding to and putting to one side quickly. Unfortunately they were watching a film that evening and didn't want to speak to us. I was gutted and felt that they didn't care at all.

A little later, DH met with the guy from the couple, and they talked and sorted things out. The message from his partner was essentially that she was waiting for me to be ok, and to come and 'talk' to her about it. I felt that I had made an effort to sort it out and that it had been rejected.

To be honest, it all gets petty and silly from here. We were just no longer in contact. I was I suspect, still grieving, and angry with her for not recognising what was going on. I was happy not to have anything to do with her until she got in touch with me (told you it got petty). That didn't happen and there was also an unfortunate facebook misunderstanding (social networking has a lot to answer for). DH wanted me to resolve the situation though and so at his request, I emailed them both explaining how I felt and saying that I wanted to put it behind us and mend the relationship.

I received an email from her by return requesting that I never get in contact with her again. I responded saying that this was a ridiculous situation to be in and that I was offering an olive branch which wouldn't be offered again. And that was that.

Six months later, they've had their child. I'm days off having DC2. Our relationship has completely broken down and it haunts me and makes me rumble with anger. It's very difficult for DH and has impacted on our wider friendship group. We never see them now and have never (or are indeed ever likely) to meet their child, and they have no contact with ours. It's all a massive shame.

I hear things on the grapevine occasionally. She is apparently angry that I wasn't more involved in her pregnancy, and feels that I had some sort of agenda in emailing them just before my 12 week scan. I'm not sure what that would be other than to use my dead children as a means of getting some attention, but anyway!

This really isn't me trying to justify anything. I'm sure I haven't behaved perfectly in all of this. But the point of me telling this story is to say that if the friendship is important to you, mend it now. Be empathetic, and allow her the space to do the same. I've lost a friendship and have had a really terrible experience made much worse. Fertility, pregnancy, parenting, are all massively emotive issues. Who's to say who's right or wrong. This is not something either you or her can be objective about. You just need to put it to one side and move forward.

celticlassie · 06/01/2011 21:33

Not read all the posts yet, so I imagine I'm duplicating but a very good friend of mine has fertility issues and, although she doesn't want to react this way, she finds it very hard to be around pregnant people. She doesn't want to feel that way, but you can't help how you feel.

alicet · 06/01/2011 21:51

One of my best friends had a miscarriage when I was expecting ds1 (her baby would have been about 6 months younger than him).

She knew I was pregnant and we had been chatting a lot about it and she had told me about being pregnant too at about 8 weeks (she told me early as we are so close although we live at opposite ends of the country now).

Just before her 12 weeks scan she started bleeding and the scan revealed that she had in fact miscarried her baby at about 8 weeks. From there on in she couldn't talk to me about my son. She could talk by email but was unable to talk in person (phone) and didn't want to talk much about my son. She said several times that she was really happy for me but that she just couldn't face pregnant people / new babies etc at all without breaking down. My greatest sadness was the fact that this meant I couldn't support her through such a terrible time (having my onwn new baby I was only too aware of what she had lost) rather than being sad that she couldn't be happy for me.

My reason for telling you this isn't to say 'aren't I so wonderful and selfless that I get this and aren't you unreasonable to not'. I am just trying to point out that you can't always control how you feel - her upset isn't necessarily fair or rational anymore than your upset that she can't be happy for your fantastic news. You are both just being honest about how you feel.

Try and cut her some slack - actually it may have been difficult for her to be honest and could have been easier to just keep quiet and cry on her dh's shoulder.

If I was you I would write her an email saying you are really sorry that your news upset her and that you totally understand why it did given her circumstances. That you love her and are there for her when she needs you but that you will give her the sapce she needs and wait for her to come to you when she is able to. Or something along those lines. This isn't saying YABU and she isn't - I actually think neither of you are being unreasonable but that it is probably easier for you to be the bigger person here given that you are happily pregnant. Don't let what happened to limelight happen toyou as itreally would be very easy to get into this situation if you are not a bit proactive about it I think.

Congratulations on your pregnancy

Goldenbear · 06/01/2011 21:55

Congratulations. I think Buzz is right though you can afford to be charitable and look it with some objectivity. In her situation how would you honestly feel? I am currently 30 weeks pregnant but was anxious about telling a couple of friends as my suspicion is one really wants a second child but her husband does not and the other is an ex work colleague who I know has fertility problems. I thankfully have never had such problems and therefore know that is only right to show compassion in all such cases as I can't begin to imagine the heartache. I still have no told most people eg facebook 'friends' as I am very superstitious.

Silver1 · 06/01/2011 22:05

It isn't that the OP isn't being sensitive, it is that the "friend" went out of her way to let her know she wasn't happy for her. It didn't crop up at lunch, she didn't as happened to me phone up to say "I hear you have had a miscarriage and bad health news well to cheer you up I am pregnant" she just announced to the world something that would be available for all to see soon enough, she is pregnant.
Her friend- didn't avoid her whilst she got her head around it, she went out of her way to contact her and say "I am not happy for you so I don't want to see you anymore because I am not pregnant" That is selfish, of course she hurts, but her hurting cannot be transposed onto the OP because she doesn't want anyone else to be happy if she isn't.

hairyfairylights · 06/01/2011 22:06

Quite right that we can't help hiw we feel. I am fine around babies and pregnant people. I fall apart when people ask me how I feel about being around babies . Not logical but uncontrollable.

NeedMenInWhiteCoats · 06/01/2011 22:07

Congratulation on your pregnancy, it feels the most wonderful thing to finally be able to tell people, and I know all to well how carried away it is possible to get with it all. Unfortunatly, you now represent everything that your friend can't have and is desperate for. I am sure she is happy for you really - she is desperate to be in the same situation so can't fail to see the positive in it, no one goes through the trials of IVF without wanting what you now have so much. Right now she is crazy with envy and hormones, you can't expect a normal reaction so you are being unreasonable. You wouldn't waft a cake infront of a starving person after all.

FabbyChic · 06/01/2011 22:08

Personally I don't see anything wrong with the proud father announcing on FB, but surely you would have told close family and friends before doing so.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

porcamiseria · 06/01/2011 22:12

i agree that she is directing anger at you, its misplaced anger

I dont think those of us easily blessed can imagine the pain of infertility

be the bigger person, send kind message, then leave her to it

mamatomany · 06/01/2011 22:19

I don't think you are unreasonable actually, we had IVF and during that time we had people turn up in the waiting room of the clinics with their baby/babies, we had medical staff tell us that losing our 16 week old twin wasn't too bad because we still had the other one, we had DM and MIL say oh well at least it's not your only child when we thought we'd lost DS.
A pregnancy on facebook, the least of your worries when having IVF.

LittleMissHissyFit · 06/01/2011 22:21

Your DH has every right, as long as you are happy with the announcement timing etc, to tell whoever the hell he likes, however he likes.

She has no right to make you curtail your life because of issues she is having.

TBH, if she is as nasty as this, she isn't a good friend.

I've lost 3 btw and will now not be able to have any more DC, it'd never have occurred to be anything other than delighted for my best friend when she said she was pg with her 2nd.

Silver1 · 06/01/2011 22:23

mamatomany I am sorry people were so insensitive to you- I absolutely agree with you.

Limelight · 06/01/2011 22:47

Just want to clarify something. I am in no way suggesting that OP is BU, and think it's fine that her DH announced on facebook - that's their right. Neither, in my own situation, was I anything other than really chuffed that my friends were pregnant. I am absolutely sure that they're fantastic parents and they deserve to be happy.

My point really is that life is too short to apportion blame in a situation like this. OP's friend may well have handled this really badly but not everyone acts rationally and in the right way all the time, particularly when you're going through tough times (with added hormones!). Sometimes you have to take a deep breath and decide not to make a judgement about who's acted worse. I really wish I'd done that - my friend made a judgement about me, I made one about her, and where has it got us?

SkyBluePearl · 06/01/2011 23:52

You need to be gentle,understanding and supportive with her. Don't rub it in that you are pregnant. Infertility is a very emotional/depressing/utterly draining/all consuming thing. All the hormones she is on will be making her feel even more vile and at the end of the day she is desperate for a baby. You maybe one of a few people who have announced their pregnancy recently and so you may just have been the straw that broke the camels back. I'm sure she would never wish infertility upon you or anyone. Hearing about other peoples pregnancies though highlights how rubbish your own body is

spidookly · 07/01/2011 11:54

Limelight

Those people sounds like assholes. They organised a lunch to announce their pregnancy that left a woman who had just had a miscarriage in tears and then refused to speak to that couple later the same day because they were watching a film?

Some people are better off out of your life.

starfishmummy · 07/01/2011 12:03

YANBU
I think she is going a bit OTT! Unless she plans to stay in her house so that she never has to encounter anyone who is pregnant or has a baby, ever, she is being ridiculous.

sterrryerryoh · 07/01/2011 12:34

starfishmummy - maybe she feels exactly like staying in her house and not encountering pregnant women. Obviously in real life, you can't do that, but when you have fertility problems, it can consume you, and if you know an acquaintance is pregnant, sometimes it's easier to step back.
Not always, but for some people.

She may well be overreacting a little, but she is not being unreasonable - and certainly not "ridiculous" - but then, neither is the OP!

Lambzig · 07/01/2011 12:51

Obviously its a tricky one and I dont think your are being unreasonable as obviously you want to share your exciting news. However, not sure she is being unreasonable either.

I ttc for 10 years before my 7th IVF attempt working. Its hard when a friend 'appears' to get pregnant easily when its not working for you and you might be pleased for them, but find it very difficult to deal with. Sometimes, some people getting pregnant upset you more than others (when my younger sister announced she was pregnant, I couldnt bear to see her, selfish maybe, but I had just had a failed attempt and just couldnt cope and luckily she completely understood.) You try and put a brave face on it and congratulate them but sometimes its just difficult.

Sometimes while going through IVF, it gets much harder as your hormones are all over the place, you are trying to juggle work and normal life with endless appointments and its just so stressful. I know that I felt that if someone else got pregnant during my attempt that they might have 'stolen' my luck. Not exactly rational and obviously completely unreasonable, but thats how I felt.

Your friend is dealing with so much that maybe you can cut her a little slack for the next month or so, its not personal. Congratulations on your baby.

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