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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be angry that someone came to my birth when I didn't want them to?

999 replies

Seline · 28/02/2019 16:50

Had an emergency cesarean under very traumatic circumstances during which I nearly died and so did my twins. The whole night was horrendous. When I woke up from my cesarean, my mother in law was there. I felt hurt and confused and didn't know what was going on.

She didn't stay long but she also had my brother and sister in law (adults not children or teens) in the waiting room. As soon as DH had text her to say "She's been rushed to theatre" she just decided to turn up with them.

Four months later I'm still angry about this. Am I being unfair?

OP posts:
ILoveBray · 01/03/2019 10:32

However since she did this those things give me the rage. They never did before

If it's only since your traumatic birth that these minor things give you rage, is that surely not a clear sign that the traumatic birth was a catalyst for this? Otherwise you would still not care about them.

Seline · 01/03/2019 10:32

It's not a drip feed. People keep pressing me and asking questions. It's barely relevant as the main issue that caused the anger is this one.

OP posts:
callmeadoctor · 01/03/2019 10:32

As you have already said, your DH and your mum were quiet and submissive while you were rushed into surgery, maybe your MIL was your advocate during all this? Maybe you need to find out from your DH, if she was just looking after you whilst they stood by? (Only suggesting that this is a possibility before you go asking her for an apology.

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 01/03/2019 10:32

Why do you start your threads seline? It's a genuine question as you aren't looking for other opinions and won't take them on board. What do you want from all these threads where people take the time to reply and you just want to argue?

Seline · 01/03/2019 10:33

If it's only since your traumatic birth that these minor things give you rage, is that surely not a clear sign that the traumatic birth was a catalyst

It's more that it's put her in the cold light of day and I can see how selfish she is.

OP posts:
GabriellaMontez · 01/03/2019 10:33

Have you spoken to your mum about this? Does she know how you feel?

I agree with others who have suggested a debrief with midwives. It could make things clearer.

I think what you really want (and deserve ) is a massive apology. It doesn't sound like it's going to happen though... i hope the rage will fade in time. Flowers And perhaps talking in real life to midwives would help.

callmeadoctor · 01/03/2019 10:33

And to all those things that she "told" you to do, just ignore, surely?

Howyoualldoworkme · 01/03/2019 10:33

That's interesting OP because on your thread about visitors not smoking for 24 hours before visiting your babies you said this about your MIL
It's not MIL either, she's fantastic and has been great with hand washing and disinfecting things. It's extended family I'm worrying about

What's changed?

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 01/03/2019 10:35

I am in awe with the amount of time you have to keep on these threads with small twins though. I take my hat off to you.

ScarletBitch · 01/03/2019 10:35

Yabu, get over it OP. She clearly was concerned.

Seline · 01/03/2019 10:36

call my mum and DH stayed with me while I was in hospital prior (I was admitted for PPROM) and advocated the entire time. It was only while I was actually in theatre that they didn't do much because they were really worried.

My mum is also angry about MIL. She says she felt her private thoughts and space was invaded and she just wanted to be with her thoughts and be able to be there for me and she feels that MIL just burst in and took over and she's incredibly angry that someone else attempted to do that when I'm HER daughter

OP posts:
ILoveBray · 01/03/2019 10:37

It's more that it's put her in the cold light of day and I can see how selfish she is.

I'm at a loss that you cannot see that the birth is responsible for the way you feel rather than your MIL. It's the one changing factor in all of this, otherwise you would brush this off like you have with the other things.

I truly hope you get help to move past this. None of this obsessing is healthy and your babies first months are being overshadowed by this. It's really sad. Please enjoy your children, you don't get this time back.

Seline · 01/03/2019 10:37

What's changed?

She became more and more pushy and then these issues that were minor annoyances festered and the combination has made me furious.

OP posts:
Seline · 01/03/2019 10:38

I'm at a loss that you cannot see that the birth is responsible for the way you feel rather than your MIL

I'm at peace with the birth. It doesn't bother me now. It's her reaction to it.

I'm also mad because I feel she is tainting my time with my last babies by taking up headspace with her selfish need to be the centre of attention at MY birth.

OP posts:
Confusedbeetle · 01/03/2019 10:39

PoorMIL

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 01/03/2019 10:39

And a toddler with SN too. Surely you must have help at home to spend this amount of time with your threads, is someone supporting you?

I see you didn't answer my question as to what you want from these threads. It may help you get the help you need.

Seline · 01/03/2019 10:39

It was mine. I can't control the medical aspects but everything else should have been for me to decide. She stole that away.

OP posts:
Seline · 01/03/2019 10:40

I don't know what I want from it. Venting perhaps.

My twins sleep a lot and I'm always a passenger in the car to various appointments hence why I can vent on here.

OP posts:
LunafortJest · 01/03/2019 10:41

"My mum and DH shouldn't have had to play security guard."

That is a very strange take on it. Your mum and DH are supposed to be your biggest advocates. They folded when you needed them the most. Your mother just stared at the floor, for goodness sake. No your MIL should not have gone in the recovery room, but a husband or mother should at least attempt to persuade the unwanted visitor out of the room. My god, they didn't even try!!! If that were me in that hospital room, my mother would go right in my room and grab the MIL by the ear and DRAG her out, or frog-march her out. My mum would not do eff all but stare at the floor!!! She march in there so fast, the MIL's head would spin! Same with my husband.

You know what this is? And advocate. A mother protecting her child. A spouse caring about his wife and mother of his children. THAT is how it is done. When push came to shove, you mother did eff all, and your DH did eff all. They FAILED you. And your analogy reads like an apologist for their inactions. Let's re-word it. Some man gropes you or tries to abduct you. Your DH watches, like a stunned mullet and does eff all because he's useless in a traumatic situation (as you've proven). In your mind, you say don't get angry at the guard (your DH) get angry at the person who is assaulting you/abducting you, as they were the one committing the crime.

So, you wouldn't be angry at DH for being absolutely useless and doing nothing to stop the attack or prevent you from being dragged off? Yeah right. I don't think so.

Your nearest and dearest are supposed to have your back when you cannot advocate for yourself. I am sure you would advocate and be there for your husband if he were in your situation, right? So why is it so hard for him, and your own mother, for goodess sake, to do the same thing? I've completely changed my take on this. You don't want to tell your mother or your DH how upset you are they abandoned you in their hour of need, so you hit out at the person furtherest from you. Your own mother failed you and couldn't be less interested in you if you were the floor. Your own DH was in his own self-indulgent dazed state. They both stood by, and did NOTHING. Hell would freeze over before either my protective mother and my protective DH acted like that. But then they both know that it would not be time for them to slip into a self-indulgent daze, they would snap out of it! For me. They would know I was vulnerable and needed them, and it was no time for them to be feeling sorry for themselves or dazed, or cracking up, unable to handle the pressure. I guess I am just lucky.

Seline · 01/03/2019 10:41

Not knowing what I want is likely what s irritating me too. I like being in control and knowing what is happening. I have plans upon plans and backups.

I hate uncertainty and unfamiliarity. She has put me in an unfamiliar situation. And I am angry.

OP posts:
ILoveBray · 01/03/2019 10:41

I'm also mad because I feel she is tainting my time with my last babies by taking up headspace with her selfish need to be the centre of attention at MY birth.

You control your thoughts OP, not her. You're MIL can't control whether you think about her or not.

There comes a time where you have to start taking responsibility for your reaction to situations, you're not passive in all this.

Seline · 01/03/2019 10:43

Luna because they obviously aren't thinking straight if they think I'm dead?! Have you never been in a situation where you're so confused you just stand still? I have.

And believe me I have no problem telling them when I'm not happy. They know me well enough to not pull crap like this because they know I will never ever let it go.

OP posts:
ILoveBray · 01/03/2019 10:43

Your not you're

Seline · 01/03/2019 10:43

Bray but she did this to me. I was fine. I shouldn't have to have to deal with this at all. Its not fair.

OP posts:
Cherim90 · 01/03/2019 10:44

I know exactly how you feel! Same thing happened to me after I specifically told everyone I wanted my mum to be there first (because his family weren't around and just decided to pay a visit when baby was due) i woke up upset and confused to them stood there in the room I had no bra on and I hadn't even met some of these people, I was so angry because they could have waited a couple of hours xx

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