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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this woman's attitude to childbirth was a bit odd?

30 replies

esmeee · 17/03/2014 22:54

I went out for lunch today with a group of 3 friends, one of which has just had a baby. Another of the friends brought along a woman that none of us had met before. She seemed pleasant enough, maybe a bit scatty. She's mid thirties with one child.

Anyway, because one of our friends has recently had a baby we ended up talking about her birth experience, and other birth related things (after we'd finished eating!!). Each time anything about birth was mentioned, the new woman that had joined us kept screwing up her face like a child that is eating something they don't like, and saying "Ewwwwwwww" in a squealy baby doll voice. She must have done it 10 times or more.

AIBU to think this was slightly odd behaviour? Especially from someone of her age, who has already had a child.

OP posts:
deakymom · 17/03/2014 22:59

sounds a bit weird i would think she was on drugs childish or perhaps she hates birth stories so was deliberately trying to annoy you all?

Forgettable · 17/03/2014 23:03

Ugh. Poor you. Yeeeeeeeeeeew maybe?

Ghastly! Try to Wendy her out of the group #meanie

drnoitall · 17/03/2014 23:06

Attention seeking??
Maybe she wanted you to ask her about her own "ghastly" experience.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/03/2014 23:06

I hate hearing birth stories as they bring back awful memories. Especially wouldn't want to re live it round the dinner table!

DaleyBump · 17/03/2014 23:07

That is quite odd, especially as she's been through it herself.

Chloerose75 · 17/03/2014 23:08

Sounds weird and I would have found her annoying.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/03/2014 23:10

If someone was so visibly repelled by a subject, I'd take it as a hint it was making then uncomfortable and change the subject.

NigellasDealer · 17/03/2014 23:13

birth stories are vile though tbh - esp from people you do not know that well and when the stories are so polished word for word you can just tell that they practice and practice on anyone who will listen Grin
sounds annoying though.

kirbygrip · 17/03/2014 23:13

I would assume she is embarrassed or feels sad about her own birth experience. Maybe 'ewww!' was her way of trying to bring the conversation to a close.

I don't like talking about birth experiences much as I am often the only person there who has never given birth vaginally or even laboured. Which I don't have a problem with as such but I feel I sit there like a spare part while everyone discusses how long their labour was.
And since DC2 was born not breathing and rushed to NICU , someone will always want me to recount that and gasp at the drama and I don't really want to talk about it at all as it is not a happy memory for me.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/03/2014 23:13

They are vile!Grin

kirbygrip · 17/03/2014 23:14

I don't sit there going 'ewww!' though!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/03/2014 23:14

Repelled by a subject or repulsed? RevoltedGrin

OpalQuartz · 17/03/2014 23:19

Maybe she is squeamish about childbirth or has a phobia of it or something.

greenbananas · 17/03/2014 23:19

Maybe she had a really bad birth experience and/our w is generally squeamish.

Think I would have changed the subject.

One of the things I love about baby and toddler groups is the way that women endlessly listen and sympathise with each others birth, breastfeeding and parenting experiences. It is so supportive! But not everybody is able to do this.

OpalQuartz · 17/03/2014 23:20

Tokophobia

OpalQuartz · 17/03/2014 23:23

Although I suppose she could have said she has a fear of it if so

Pigletin · 17/03/2014 23:23

Maybe she didn't want to gear the gory details over lunch?

RevoltingPeasant · 17/03/2014 23:56

I dunno OP from reading MN I gather that many women do not like sharing birth stories or think it is bad taste. Maybe she was cackhandedly trying to steer the conversation away?

BurntPancake · 18/03/2014 00:08

Yes she does sound a bit odd with all the ewwwwing but she clearly didn't want to talk about it. I'm terrified of childbirth so can understand that. I haven't shared my birth stories with anyone. Maybe she thinks it's odd to talk about it at a meal!
I haven't ever said ewww though, I always listen if others want to talk abour birth, I just don't share my experience.

ZingSweetCoconut · 18/03/2014 00:20

eeeewwwww!

Caitlin17 · 18/03/2014 00:53

I don't recall ever having a conversation about my birth experience or any of my friends. Admittedly I have more friends who don't have children who do but honestly this is not a topic I've discussed.

Caitlin17 · 18/03/2014 00:56

Wouldn't it be a really boring topic over lunch? It's a long time ago since I gave birth but honestly what a dull subject.

Balaboosta · 18/03/2014 06:57

Er, maybe she just doesn't want to talk about birth. There are all sorts of reasons why not. Maybe her child is adopted. Maybe there was a competitive edge to the conversation. YABU and insensitive.

Only1scoop · 18/03/2014 07:03

Perhaps she fancied a nice lunch out with friends and didn't wish to sit listening to childbirth stories. My friends and I mostly have young dc now, we all had them late, other than a quick ask how they are we like to talk about other < interesting> stuff.

MrsKCastle · 18/03/2014 07:06

I can understand not wanting to hear about childbirth- but she's supposed to be an adult. A simple- 'Could we change the subject please?' would have done the job. She sounds very childish.