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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Friend being too full on with baby

133 replies

Ohlookitsbackfatbetty · 16/01/2020 23:48

So I'm a first time mum so please don't be too harsh if I'm being precious!

I have a good friend I see probably once or twice a fortnight. She currently works as a healthcare in maternity recovery (I think basically helping mums who have had c sections etc when they come out of theatre). Because of this she comes across as being very knowing of babies etc but I find her a bit too over confident with my daughter and I'm not sure how to deal with that? Maybe I'm being a worrier!

When I first had dd she would come over and give me a lot of advice (some which completely contradicted what my midwife said), she was a bit over bearing but I bit my tongue as I know she means well. She also used to pick dd up when she was sleeping etc so I had to ask her not to. Now dd is 8 months old and is happy sitting on the floor playing with her toys or whatever, but my friend will always come straight in and pick her up. I find that annoying but I could ignore it however I find my friend to be a bit over confident when she is holding dd too. She's been over for tea tonight and these are my examples so please tell me if I'm being an ott mother !

  • dd was sat playing in her highchair with her food (we do baby led weaning basically dd throws food around and maybe some of it makes it to her mouth!). Friend was sat at the table next to dd and I got up to make us both a drink, when I turned round friend had got dd out of her highchair saying she had finished her tea and was making a mess so no more tea for her ? She definitely hadn't and I wanted her to try and have a bit more, mess is part of the course for babies eating! I didn't say anything at that point because it was already done so what was the point!
  • later we were sitting and dd was on friends knee (dd had been crawling round the floor but friend picked her up) she then started tipping her upside down to make her laugh. I said oo don't do that she's just had tea so she will be sick. Friend said 'don't worry she won't' and kept doing it ? I feel like if I ask her not to do something with my child she shouldn't? I was so worried she'd drop her on her head because she really didn't seem to be holding her very well and dd is like a wriggly worm! I took her back at that point pretending she needed a bum change.
  • dd was then sat right on the edge of friends knee holding friends fingers for support. I said please be careful as dd has a habit of launching herself off of people, friend laughed and said 'ohhh mummy is being silly I've got you!'. Two minutes later dd launched herself off friend and luckily my friend managed to sort of twist so she landed on the sofa. She could have easily have landed flat on her face on the floor though. At this point I picked up dd and held onto her for the rest of the visit.

I feel like I'm letting things annoy me more than they should as she has made a few comments about dd birth and how she wouldn't do things we chose (epidural, forceps etc). I feel a lot of guilt about dd birth (wrongly I know!) and her comments don't help. I know I'm going to have to have an awkward conversation with my friend. She just thinks she knows best because of her job but I'm with dd all the time and I'm her mum! Am I being completely precious? Dd is teething atm so I'm getting very little sleep and I just feel out of my mind 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 17/01/2020 01:35

You should reconsider this friendship because it sounds like she just enjoys lording it over you and being a fucking know-all, when she has no direct experience and doesn't actually know what she's talking about.

And yeah, keep her away from your baby before something happens that you'll all regret.

calmama · 17/01/2020 01:47

@PapayaCoconut I came to a weird realisation when I had babies, that many people take an almost sadistic pleasure in doing slightly risky things with them in front of a new mother, presumably so they can tut at how highly strung she is.

I’ve noticed this! It’s so odd. Really, really odd. A friend of mine did this a lot when my son was a baby. One day she shoved the end of the beer bottle she’d been sucking on into my son’s mouth saying it would help his teething. Then rolled her eyes at me and tutted for taking him off her. So wrong on so many levels.

calmama · 17/01/2020 01:50

So you are not being unreasonable, OP. I’d cool the friendship off as I’m sure your anxiety and frustration at the thought of her being around now outweighs any good feelings. Friendships aren’t supposed to make you feel that way. She’ll get her dose of reality when she gives birth and has her own kids.

1forAll74 · 17/01/2020 02:17

Well,you have now got your thinking onto the right track regarding this friend, so that's good..And I think you have decided not to take her up for any baby sitting, which would be a big worry for you. !

Durgasarrow · 17/01/2020 02:21

She is not respectful of your experience or your boundaries. I think PapayaCoconut is rightthere are certain people who seem to delight in doing slightly risky things with babies in front of new mothers. That and making cutting or superior/judgmental remarks. There's something deep and earnest about new mothers that seems to invite abuse by some peoplemy blood is boiling with certain memories I have of how I was treated when I had my precious newborn. There's nothing wrong with you for being concerned about your child, and there's nothing wrong with how you had your baby. For fuck's sake. This woman needs to get a grip and back way the hell off.

Buggedandconfused · 17/01/2020 07:53

Morning OP, hope you feel less stressed now and can start a new day fully enjoying your DD without fear of your friend anymore. Bat her off now for a while until you feel like seeing her for a coffee (not in your home!).

ethelfleda · 17/01/2020 07:56

OP YADNBU
Your friend is totally overstepping.

beautifulstranger101 · 17/01/2020 08:01

Your friend is a know it all twat and I would be distancing myself from her from now on. She being unbelievably disrespectful not just of you as a human being, but as a mother. It sounds like she's doing all of this to reinforce some overinflated ego in her head that tells her she is a childcare "expert" when actually the things she is doing are dangerous and stupid.

Next time she does anything like this you need to be clam but firm "No- dont do that, she doesnt like that" and then just take the baby from her. Fell no guilt whatsoever- she is hugely overstepping the boundaries and she is the one being rude, not you. Be firm- you have every fcking right to stand up for yourself and your child. Tell her NO.

beautifulstranger101 · 17/01/2020 08:02

calm but firm not clam lol

CakeandCustard28 · 17/01/2020 08:06

I’d just stop inviting her round, she sounds like a bloody nightmare. She’s your child, not hers she lacks any respect for that.

malificent7 · 17/01/2020 08:23

Just dump her op...

olivertwistwantsmore · 17/01/2020 08:41

I called out "you will just need to wait a minute, I am feeding DD" In response she stood at my door making 'mooo' noises.

Shock And she is a midwife? Jesus wept. No wonder you were upset, @StoppinBy.

OP, sounds like your friend is no friend at all. Breathtakingly rude, overstepping boundaries, downright dismissive and hurtful. What doi you get out of seeing her that's positive? I'd be phasing her right out of my life.

MatildaTheCat · 17/01/2020 08:53

I was a midwife for a long time and there are some bloody amazing maternity assistants. There are also some who may do their job well enough but seem to think that spending time in the environment gives them the right to claim far more expertise than is the case.

MAs rarely attend births so she won’t have a great deal of experience in forceps, bodily functions or the exact function of a syntocinon infusion. Sure, she’s been around these things but she’s formed opinions which are not necessarily facts.

She clearly believes that she does have superior knowledge which is nonsense because her remit and contact with new babies finishes a very long time before eight months - or five weeks for that matter.

I’d keep things pleasant if she’s an old friend. Stick to neutral territory and be firm about your rules. When she’s with you she’s not an HCP she’s a friend. Have a few stock phrases to keep her in check. I would wager that quite soon she will lose interest.

Firecarrier · 17/01/2020 08:57

Not rtt. She sounds really, really unpleasant. Controlling and getting enjoyment from your distress. Don't doubt yourself, withdraw from contact it's not good for your mental health. Enjoy your lovely baby!

Traffy · 17/01/2020 08:59

She makes me feel so crappy about the whole thing and people are right she doesn't really respect my decisions as a mum.

So she makes you feel crap, she ignores your decisions and causes you more stress/anxiety than anything else.

This isn't you being precious, she sounds over bearing and I wouldn't want a friend like that. I wouldn't blame you if you distanced yourself! Keep being too busy to see her.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 17/01/2020 09:03

You sound very nice and patient, OP, but it’s time for some polite but plain speaking with her. If she gets the hump, so be it. If she’s a real friend, she’ll get over it.

Heaven preserve us from friends who’ve never had a baby but know better than you how to do everything!

I had one of those - she knew it all, including how to make a toddler do as it’s told at once, ALL the time.

When her first turned out to be an absolute little sod of a toddler I thoroughly enjoyed wallowing in Schadenfreude.😈

hauntedvagina · 17/01/2020 09:04

She'd have pissed me off calling me mummy, patronising witch. I had a friend much like this, we're no longer in contact.

beautifulstranger101 · 17/01/2020 09:08

The other thing I DESPISE is the passive aggressive comments to the baby that are clearly directed at the mum.

Eg looking at baby "mummy is being very silly isn't she?- mummy is being a silly billy and very overprotective"

I'd be tempted to also look at the baby and say in a sing song voice "mummy's friend is being a huge giant twat isn't she?"

Urgh.

ppeatfruit · 17/01/2020 09:09

Maybe she's jealous, I don't reckon she should be anywhere near ANY pregnant or birthing woman. Especially you and your baby.

I found that I grew much more confident when I had my babies, come on betty You know you want to say exactly what you think to this person !!!! Say it!!!!!

FiveFarthings · 17/01/2020 09:12

She can have all the ‘opinions’ of what she does and does not want to happen during birth but trust me it will likely end up out of her hands anyway! I’m sure lots of women would like a natural birth with little or no intervention but for a lot of mothers it doesn’t happen like that- nature has other ideas!

And it is absolutely ridiculous for your friend to be criticizing you for having an epidural when she’s never experienced a contraction! My days! I was induced with a drip and went from no softening/0 dilation to 4 cm in 8 hours- they couldn’t get the epidural in me fast enough! What a blessed relief it was!

You either need to give her the heave ho or have a tough conversation with you about her behavior towards you and DD.

Tbh she sounds like a bitch, I’d be getting rid!

bobstersmum · 17/01/2020 09:16

I would be busy for the next five years whenever she wanted to come around I'm afraid! She sounds like a bloody know it all, I'd hate to have her on the ward after I'd had a baby, she sounds horrible.

howmuchfood · 17/01/2020 09:17

Just stop seeing her, she sounds like a pain in the arse.

Booberella9 · 17/01/2020 09:19

YABU to keep having this woman in your life!

She should have been nipped in the bud. Picking up a sleeping baby, I mean who does that? Only prize twats.

Bin her off and don't give it a second thought. See it as a lesson learned in standing up for yourself and your DD.

Bear2014 · 17/01/2020 09:22

She would piss me right off. Unsolicited parenting comments/advice are literally the most annoying thing, especially when you're tired and just doing your best, so for that reason I would distance myself for now.

Before I had DD I was going to have a hypno water birth with candles, well now I've had two C sections. Shit happens!

TrickyKid · 17/01/2020 09:24

Yanbu
She's sounds very annoying. The comment about choosing forceps would've been the final straw for me.