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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to apologise for being pregnant? *Sensitive*

157 replies

WelshieInIreland · 25/03/2018 10:51

There’s a bit of a long backstory to this.
From reading up about it, I come from a ‘classic’ toxic family environment, with my mum having narcissistic tendencies.
Mum had me, then had an affair with my dads brother and was pregnant by him a few weeks later, which resulted in my sister. (Mum and ‘uncle/stepdad’ are still together, my dad emigrated when I was 4 and I’ve not seen him since)
I’ve always been second best to my sister, who is younger by just less one year.
An example I can give is, my sisters birthday is 2 weeks before mine. She always had lots of presents, a big party and an outing, whereas when it came to my birthday I got a token present as ‘there’s no money left in my purse’
There are many more instances over the years but I won’t bore you with them as I’ll end up being here all day.

I have 2 children from my first marriage which broke down when the dc were 2 and 3. I met and married my now dh 4 years ago. We are very happy.

My sister, (following in my mums footsteps?) had an affair with her best friends husband. They are now married and have a dc who is 9 (her dh also has a 10yr old dc)

Sister and her dh have secondary infertility. They have been trying for another baby for 7 years, have had 2 miscarriages and 1 ectopic pregnancy.
They are saving for for ivf, I have put £1000 in their pot as a gift.

I fell pregnant in 2016 and now have a 9 month old ds. When I told my sister I had nothing but abuse for a whole year. screaming and shouting at me in the street calling me all the names you can think of. She said I was dead to her. I had phone calls telling me I was ruining her life, phone calls saying she was reporting me to SS for being a drug addict(?!?)so the baby would get taken off of me, begging calls asking if she could adopt the baby. My mum took her side and said I was only pregnant to spite my sister (me and dh had been trying for a year) and I was having the baby to ‘get back at her’ as I’d always been jealous of her as she’s prettier/cleverer/her dh has a better job than mine etc. It’s only since xmas when my ds was 6 months that we have started to build our relationship back up. I never received an apology for the way she acted but I was willing to just move on so we could be sisters again.

I’ve just found that I am pregnant. Early days but all going well I’ll be due at the end of October.

I’m absolutely petrified of telling my mum and sister.

I understand that infertility is an absolute bastard to go through, Not on the level of someone who is experiencing it of course, and have always tried my best to be supportive.

I’m absolutely over the moon to be pregnant again but I feel like I’m not allowed to be happy or celebrate it.
I’m tempted to not say anything and just avoid her but we work for the same NHS trust and it will be obvious soon.

I’m stressing out so much about this. I don’t know what to do.
DH said basically it’s her problem and not ours, and that she can’t expect us to not get on with our lives because she isn’t pregnant yet, comparing it to if someone won the lottery you would expect them to not spend the money just because someone else didn’t have any money, but I know it’s more deep rooted than this.

I want to add that she doesn’t treat anyone else who is pregnant like this, only me. Our cousin was pregnant the same time as me, and my sister was out shopping with her all the time for baby things, and organised her a baby shower (that I wasn’t invited to)

Does anyone have any advice? I just don’t know what to do anymore other than move away and never look back.

OP posts:
TheGruffalosArse · 25/03/2018 10:55

They sounds truly awful and tbh I would probably go NC which I have never said before. How dare she ruin your first pregnancy with her behaviour! Don't let her ruin another one.

Booboobooboo84 · 25/03/2018 10:58

I feel you can’t do anything right in this situation so it’s another vote for going nc here I’m afraid.

shakeyourcaboose · 25/03/2018 10:59

What happiness do they give you? Are they EVER kind? They sound like shits and I cannot believe the behaviour given that you have contributed to their ivf fund.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 25/03/2018 10:59

My god, after everything they’ve done to you I’m surprised you’re even in contact with them? If you must tell them I would say something along the lines of, “I’m pregnant and we’re incredibly happy about it. I appreciate your/DSis’s situation may make this difficult news but unless its positive I am not interested in what you have to say, and any repeat performance of the behaviour from last time and I will be immediately cutting contact with you.”

I appreciate that this is quite confrontational but, bloody hell, they've treated you like absolute shit!

coffeecow · 25/03/2018 10:59

Blimey how awful for you. They sound horrendous. I agree with PP that I would probably be prepared to go NC.
Congratulations on your pregnancy, what a lovely exciting time for you, don't let anyone ruin it.

Userplusnumbers · 25/03/2018 11:01

What are these people adding to your life OP? Why not just cut them out?

AtrociousCircumstance · 25/03/2018 11:02

You have them £1000?!

They do not deserve you. Selfish arseholes. Make your announcement and expect nothing - block her and don’t respond if there is abuse.

Moving away sounds like an option. Your mother and sister sound utterly poisonous.

FaithEverPresent · 25/03/2018 11:03

Gosh I’m usually sympathetic to infertility struggles (it was 2 years 8 months before I got pregnant with DD and now we have. Secondary infertility) but honestly, your family sounds toxic! I can’t see how you have any positives from maintaining a relationship with them?

WelshieInIreland · 25/03/2018 11:04

Thank you.

This is my dh’s advice too. He said he’s sick of the way they treat me and that I should have called the police last time for harassment, but they’re my only family and I do love them.

OP posts:
WonkyDonk87 · 25/03/2018 11:07

Infertility is an absolute bitch, but that is no excuse for their behaviour. Surround yourself with people who care about you and your family OP.

TooGood2BeFalse · 25/03/2018 11:08

They don't deserve you.You sound lovely.

Keep it quiet as early days and you don't need the stress.Then let them know when you feel ready.If kick off AGAIN, consider if it would be helpful to to NC.

AsAProfessionalFekko · 25/03/2018 11:08

Why do you still speak to them? They sound as I'd the stress they cause just isn't worth it.

Leave them to each other - they deserve it. Focus on your family. As another poster said today (paraphrased) - don't try to fix the mum that is broken and concentrate on being a great mum yourself.

Your kids need you sane!

ichifanny · 25/03/2018 11:09

Your Mum sounds like she has mistreated you terribly and your sister follows her example they are both abusive to you and treat you like shit , you don’t need her permission to have a family , secondary infertility is hard I’ve been there but I didn’t and wouldn’t have tried to treat anyone this way . She sounds vile , I’d tell them and any shit I’d tell them you are disgusted with how they treat you and cut them off. Start to enjoy your life and children without walking on eggshells .

ItsAllABitStrangeReally · 25/03/2018 11:09

Don't tell them.

Don't tell them anything, ever again. They sound fucking crackers. Do you really want to subject your dc to people like that and hold them up as an example of how to behave ?? 🤔

Babdoc · 25/03/2018 11:10

You can never change them or their behaviour, but you can change how you deal with it. You certainly don’t need to “apologise” for being pregnant again. I agree with the PP’s that going nc is the simplest option, but if you don’t want to do that, then simply give them your news and stay calm. If your sister starts her screaming nonsense, just walk away and tell her you’ll only speak with her when she can behave like a civilised adult. If she’s abusive on the phone, simply hang up.
You can take control of this, and dictate the terms for any future interaction with your family.
It will be hard work, and may take ages to train them to realise that their power games won’t work any more.
Only you can decide whether it’s even worth bothering with all that, or just dump them! I can’t see that they’d be any great loss to your life, tbh. Do you get any joy out of their presence at all?

AsAProfessionalFekko · 25/03/2018 11:10

Congrats on the baby BTW!

Rewn7 · 25/03/2018 11:11

Firstly huge congratulations on your news! Flowers

Secondly, perhaps this will tell you what you truly need to know about your DM and DSis.

If they have learnt from their mistakes and feel remorse, they won’t act the same way again and all will be well.

If they haven’t learnt from it and still think it’s ok to treat you that way, then history will repeat itself and in this scenario I think it would be telling you to go full NC with them.

Truly, to treat you that way once is unforgivable, yet you managed to somehow forgive. If they behave the same again, it’s an easy way to confirm that they are truly vile people and should be cut out of not only your life but your children’s too for the children’s well-being.

Sometimes there are massive red flags that pop up to tell you what you need to do. In this case their behaviour when you tell them may or may not be the red flag you should take notice of.

ijustwannadance · 25/03/2018 11:11

Your mother and sis are a massive pair of gobshites.
I'm shocked you still bother speaking to them after the way you have been treated.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 25/03/2018 11:12

They're a lost cause, you're in the depths of FOG and your best bet is to take many steps away from them.

You have done absolutely nothing wrong, but you will never do anything right in their eyes - why would you put yourself and your children through this shit?
Your mum is always going to favour your sister's children over yours as well as your sister over you - and trust me, children can tell that.
So save your whole family the pain now and distance yourself from the drama - they are NOT your monkeys, and this is NOT your circus.

Congratulations on your pregnancy Thanks

expatinscotland · 25/03/2018 11:12

They are toxic. Get over to the Stately Homes thread. Lots of good advice there about FOG, fear, obligation, guilt, and how to break free from these negative relatives.

diddl · 25/03/2018 11:12

" but they’re my only family and I do love them."

But do they love you?

BigPinkBall · 25/03/2018 11:12

You can’t change the way they feel and you’re not responsible for their feelings.

I know it’s difficult but I would try to act indifferent in front of them, they’re probably enjoying being horrible to you so don’t give them the satisfaction.

You can still see them and keep in touch but if they start acting up don’t hesitate to walk away or put the phone down.

StealthPolarBear · 25/03/2018 11:13

"? I just don’t know what to do anymore other than move away and never look back."
That! Move away (physically or metaphorically) and don't look back.

birdsnotbees · 25/03/2018 11:13

Why would you love people who treat you so badly? Not just over the pregnancy, but treating you badly your whole life? They sound abusive. You sound like you deserve a wonderful, loving family - but they will never be that wonderful, loving family. You perhaps need to accept that they will never change, that you can't have the love and the relationship you'd like from them. But that you can have your own, amazing family - away from the toxic one you grew up in. Your pregnancy is a red herring, OP. The problem is that your mum and sister are toxic. Stay away from them. Congratulations on pregnancy number 2, I hope you get to enjoy it as you deserve x

diddl · 25/03/2018 11:14

Is moving away actually an option?

You shouldn't have to of course, but it might be worth looking into for a new start?