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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

MIL and Early Pregnancy

57 replies

Lemon27 · 25/07/2019 12:19

Hi all

I’m currently 7 weeks pregnant. I’m being really cautious as I had an early loss back in April which was tough. So not telling anyone about this pregnancy until we at least get an early scan in week 8/9 to confirm heartbeat etc. My sisters only know as I’m really close to them and they are my support. I’ve had some cramping which is making me very wary but fingers crossed all good.

Anyway we are away for a few days with my PIL’s for a family wedding. I obviously haven’t been drinking but am running around after DS so not that surprising and my attitude was the PIL can suspect all they want but we won’t be sharing anything until we know all ok.

For background, on DS we told them when I was 9 weeks because we weren’t going to see them for 3-4 weeks with holidays etc and we would be telling other family members. They proceeded to call my DH brother and tell him (without clearing it with us first) then told all DH aunts / uncles despite us saying DONT TELL ANYONE. MIL actually told one of DH cousins right in front of me before I could get a chance to, and when I pulled her up on it after, she tried to say the cousin already knew etc etc but did apologise. I was so upset with it all I had to get DH to have a word with her as it was getting out of hand (an uncle living abroad was phoned from the dinner table with us and told, again before we could say NO!) and I was so upset that random uncles and aunts on his side knew before I could even tell the rest of my family and my own friends. It was their first DGS but I still think out of order.

So this time I was like no f*cking way are they being told before 12 weeks (even if I wasn’t worried about MC). Cue last night and MIL had a few drinks (gets quite cocky when she drinks). We were back home and I’d just put DS to bed and came back to living room. MIL appears over and almost sits on me and asks ‘can I ask you a very personal question? Are you expecting #2’? I was caught totally off guard and threw a look at DH who put his hands up and said I didn’t say anything, I just mumbled ‘Maybe but not fully confirmed’. She jumped up delighted and said ‘I won’t tell ANYONE’ and ‘I hope this time won’t be as stressful’ (which is rubbish as first time round was not stressful at all). She doesn’t know about MC. I said ‘please don’t tell anyone as we can’t until we know everything is ok’. She was just so smug looking and then didn’t mention it again as my DH changed the subject and I left and went to bed.

It’s so pointless as now she knows, but we can’t and won’t be talking about it (I certainly won’t be talking about it to her) but I’m just so pissed off with her. She cornered me and forced me to confirm something I clearly didn’t want to tell her yet or else I would have been forced to tell a lie. I could barely sleep last night as I was so annoyed and also was getting cramps which has me worrying again now. This morning I’m not actively speaking to her as I’m so annoyed she put me in that position just to satisfy her own smug curiosity. She’s really close with her sisters and tells them everything so I’ve asked DH to reiterate to her that she needs to keep her trap shut.

DH brother and SIL recently had a baby and told PIL when they were 4/5 weeks (myself and DH joked that they must have literally did the test in PIL house) so maybe that’s why she feels she has a right to know early.

Am I over reacting? I feel she’s taken the good out of how we would have her and FIL and now when we do it’ll just be a ‘yep confirmed’ convo and I won’t be engaging with her any further on it. I’m so sleep deprived with DS not sleeping at the moment and also weepy over any little thing (presume hormones) so not sure if I’m irrationally angry.

OP posts:
HJWT · 25/07/2019 12:25

I think you ABU slightly, you could of just turned around and said "Not yet MIL" thats what I would say, in my head I meant not telling you yet and in their head they thought we were trying but not pregnant yet so not technically a lie!

I can understand it pisses you of though! MIL told my SIL before we could also 🤔 I think they do it to feel involved when its not their place to! Im lucky though don't speak to my psycho MIL anymore 😁

Lemon27 · 25/07/2019 12:32

@HJWT I know, I thought of so many retorts I could have said afterwards 😤🙈 she just caught me so off guard leaping at me when I sat down that I didn’t know what to say.

I’ve been there with friends, if you suspect fine don’t say anything as all going well you’ll be told the good news soon enough so just wait until you are?

OP posts:
Mintypea5 · 25/07/2019 12:33

It was rude of her to ask and corner you like that but honestly I would have said not yet.

My SIL asked my DH if I was pregnant when I was only about 6 weeks because I didn't come for Sunday lunch but I didn't want to tell anyone until 12 weeks because we've had a few loses so he just said no 🤷🏻‍♀️

StCharlotte · 25/07/2019 12:36

How did she know? Or was it just a lucky guess?

I kind of miss the days when no one - not even the mother - knew for two or three months. Pregnancies seem to last an eternity these days!

QuickThinkOfAName · 25/07/2019 12:36

So sorry for your loss Thanks

I found being pregnant after a mc so stressful. It never feels like you can relax.

I think you are being a tiny weeny bit unreasonable just because I would have said no to her when she asked. Or some other vague nothing to report here breezy comment but I get how she put you on the spot.

But also how did your dh react last time when she was openly telling people in front of you? I'd be more concerned about getting him on side to have your back.

Sorry. I know how stressful it all is. I'd get your dh to tell her in no uncertain terms to keep her trap shut.

QuickThinkOfAName · 25/07/2019 12:38

Oh yeah how did she know?! Was it a lucky guess?

Lemon27 · 25/07/2019 12:42

Thanks for the responses. I know I should’ve told her not yet but I don’t lie well and was so surprised at her forward question as it’s not really like her.

The no drinking for one, as I’d always usually have a beer when away with dinner (we are sharing a house for the time away so she knows I’m not drinking at all not just while out).

Secondly I feel like I’m so bloated I have a little belly, maybe it’s my imagination.

I also think she’s been watching us like a hawk the past few months so coupled with the above she took a guess.

Maybe I am being too harsh, just annoyed to be put in that position and it feels good to even get it out in a rant!

OP posts:
Lemon27 · 25/07/2019 12:46

@QuickThinkOfAName thanks Flowers

DH wasn’t as bothered last time (he’s so laid back he’s almost horizontal) but he was bothered when I was upset and went bananas at him so he had a word with her.

He has a good relationship with his mother but would find it tough to pull her up on things but would if he has to.

Will absolutely be getting him to say it wasn’t fair to corner me like that and there is no news for anyone until we say so

OP posts:
NoSauce · 25/07/2019 12:48

You didn’t have to tell her. You could have told her you weren’t.

You sound like you like a bit of drama yourself tbh OP.

Loopytiles · 25/07/2019 12:51

She was out of order in the past telling others when you’d asked her not to. And she was v rude to ask you if you’re pregnant now.

But your reaction seems a tad passive/aggressive.

Loopytiles · 25/07/2019 12:51

Yes, DH should have another word with her.

Alsohuman · 25/07/2019 12:53

Thing is @Lemon27 pregnant women tend to have a particular “look” which some people are very good at spotting. My mum suspected before I did! But she shouldn’t have cornered you, it was very unfair.

Congratulations, by the way.

NoSauce · 25/07/2019 12:54

I think some DILs like to keep their pregnancy a secret as some kind of control or power over their MILs from different threads I’ve read on MN.

ChihuahuaMummy1 · 25/07/2019 12:55

With her saying she hopes this pregnancy won't be stressful makes me think she knows about your miscarriage.If she does then you have a dh problem if he cant hold his own piss around her.

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 25/07/2019 13:00

I know how you feel lemon my mil was the same. Close family and everyone knows everything (whether they want to or not).
When we told cousins about dd1 we were met with 'that's great as I know you were having treatment' which we had expressly told her not to share Angry
I try to put it down to excitement with pregnancy but it hurts that she can't respect your feelings.
Now if my mil asks why she wasn't told something dh will sometimes say 'because you can't be trusted and we don't want everyone to know'

Cocoloco2019 · 25/07/2019 13:04

What a cheeky cow. This rings all too familiar. I’d be making my feelings quite clear and putting my foot down to prevent anything of the sort in future. Why can’t people just respect the wishes of others?

QuickThinkOfAName · 25/07/2019 13:09

Hang on. So she knew from last time you were upset but still pressed you this time putting you in an awkward position?

Also I'm sadly agreeing with pp who suggested her comment about this pregnancy not being stressful suggests she might know about the mc. Is this a possibility? I would be livid if dh had spilled that

TequilaMockingbird0 · 25/07/2019 13:11

I'd react the same as you.

Beyond rude to ask someone that, the cheeky woman. Its obvious to any socially aware person that if someone is pregnant and wants you to know, they'd have told you. Therefore by putting you on the spot she knows that if you are, she's pressuring you to go against what you've decided is right in telling her.

Your husband should have helped you respond given he knew you wouldn't want her to find out.

My MIL asked us if our second was planned, luckily DH straight away said 'that's a rude question to ask' but I was cross with her for being so nosey. I'd have been a lot more cross if she asked if I was pregnant before being told!

I'd see it as she has form for being nosey and not following instructions on how you want information about your body shared, and keep any details shared with her to the bare minimum.

NoSauce · 25/07/2019 13:11

How did she know OP? How many weeks are you?

Zaphodsotherhead · 25/07/2019 13:12

Maybe they won't be quite so 'over the top' excited this time round? Was your DS first grandchild on that side? IME people tend to be a bit more laid back around the second.

Bexss · 25/07/2019 13:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lemon27 · 25/07/2019 13:13

@NoSauce if id been prepared I would have but at the same time I don’t want to have to lie, I feel I shouldn’t have been asked as I would have thought if we weren’t telling anything it should be obvious we weren’t ready. I honestly don’t want drama but things like this annoy me as my family as quite private and it’s not something that would happen in mine.

The only reasons I would be keeping it a secret from her was because of her previous history of blabbing, plus the risk of having nothing to tell if we had another MC. Absolutely not a power thing, more a respect when you’re asked not to share some personal information thing which she couldn’t do previously.

@Loopytiles agree I probably am being passive aggressive. I just needed time to blow off steam. I know she means well, she is a nice person and not intentionally mean or anything but she does need to understand boundaries.

@ChihuahuaMummy1 that did cross my mind too - will be asking DH later when I get him on my own did he tell her about the MC. I honestly don’t think he did though I think she just said that to have something to say after hearing her suspicions were right.

@Needcoffeecoffeecoffee that’s awful, especially about treatment as it’s such a personal thing. This is why I didn’t want to tell them before we had to, the trip together was unavoidable though but I had just hoped she’d quietly suspect until we confirmed in our own time.

OP posts:
mrsmuddlepies · 25/07/2019 13:18

There is another current thread about a similar situation, a pregnancy following a miscarriage. the husband would like it kept quiet until 12 weeks. The wife wants to tell her family. Cue lots of posts saying it is her decision who to tell and accusing her husband of being controlling.

Tavannach · 25/07/2019 13:18

I think you're overreacting. She's guessed and you've told her. She doesn't know about the mc.
She's bound to be excited. She's got a different approach to you. In your position I'd ask my DH to have a quiet word telling her it must be totally secret, and that you'll make the announcement when you're ready.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

hellsbellsmelons · 25/07/2019 13:18

I would have been forced to tell a lie
So lie!
You owe her nothing after what she did the first time.
You should have just lied.
But what's done is done.
Let's hope this time, she sticks her word of not telling anyone.
But I think that's highly unlikely given her history.

Congrats OP - do NOT let this woman ruin this for you!