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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Its my choice who is there when I give birth

900 replies

ShinyGreenElephant · 07/02/2021 19:50

Just had a blazing row with my husband so want to canvas some opinions as I'm planning to absolutely blow my top once the kids are in bed and I'm aware that I am extremely hormonal and could be over reacting. I'm due with dd3 in 2 weeks, having a home birth. Hes just announced that he has asked DSD to come and stay the week I'm due as he would like her to be there when I give birth. I said I'm not comfortable with her in the room when I'm giving birth (many many reasons but it boils down to I'm just not comfortable with it and wouldn't be at my most relaxed), and tried to explain in a nice way. He immediately got defensive and said well why are you comfortable with your own DD then? I said because shes my daughter shes part of me its completely different. When you give birth you can choose your own audience, this is my choice. He said well if I cant have dsd there youre not having your dd there. I said how about I dont have you there, that solves the problem, and I'm now upstairs absolutely furious but don't want DD11 upstairs to hear a row or DD2 who's still awake to realise were arguing.

For reference our DDs are 10 and 11 and neither of them will want to be in the room, but I want my DD to have the choice to come in if she decides to. DD2 will be there unless shes asleep when I give birth. There are SO many reasons I dont want DSD there but the main one is that the idea of it makes my insides curl up and I want to cry. So that doesn't seem conducive to a lovely relaxed labour. I'd 1000% rather DH wasn't there than DSD was.

Am I being an evil stepmother? She will NOT want to be there at all, this is purely DH being (imo) an absolute dickhead.

OP posts:
aSofaNearYou · 12/02/2021 22:07

[quote MyCatHatesEverybody]@SomersetHamlyn why are you airbrushing out the positive things OP has said about her DSD, that she can be very sweet and is great 80% of the time? Do you think the many, many parents who post on mumsnet because they're struggling with aspects of their children's behaviour dislike their actual child as opposed to disliking just those behaviours?

Some might think that OP was just covering her back by saying nice things too but it shows we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. I can't think of any other kind of relationship other than that of step parent to step child where the expectation would be that we have to be 100% ok with someone else's behaviour at all times and not allowed to express any frustration or displeasure without being accused of dislike or resentment or whatever else gets thrown at us.[/quote]
Quite.

DNHandTNS · 12/02/2021 22:23

Thanks for the update OP. I'm glad your husband came back penitent and can totally understand you wanting to shelve your problems with him for the time being. I hope in time, that you can both resolve your problems. I'm glad his Mum didnt enable him anymore and I'm glad for you and your Stepdaughter that she wont be there. Im sure she'll enjoy special time with her Granny.

LouJ85 · 12/02/2021 22:46

I can't think of any other kind of relationship other than that of step parent to step child where the expectation would be that we have to be 100% ok with someone else's behaviour at all times and not allowed to express any frustration or displeasure without being accused of dislike or resentment or whatever else gets thrown at us.

Yep.

LouJ85 · 12/02/2021 22:49

OP's dislike of the stepdaughter comes across loud and clear.

Are we reading the same thread?
All that comes across "loud and clear" to me is a pregnant woman wishing to exercise choice over who is present at the birth of her baby. Which is entirely her absolute right.

Chocomel · 14/02/2021 00:12

I had a hunch the DSD's Mum wouldn't be too keen. (I'd be the same). Glad it's resolved. Good luck with the coming weeks. Hope everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Draineddraineddrained · 14/02/2021 01:57

Good luck with your birth @ShinyGreenElephant!

ShinyGreenElephant · 17/02/2021 14:03

@SomersetHamlyn dsds mum moved home to be with her family when she found out she was pregnant (she was in our town for uni and her and DH weren't in a relationship). We have a court order that states we have her every other weekend and half the holidays but she doesn't want to come that often - we don't have a playstation and limit screen time to 5 hours a day (double what the other kids get but at home its unlimited). After one incident when DH drove all the way to Suffolk and she refused to get in the car weve stopped forcing the issue and just try and persuade her to come and make it fun while she's here. That's why the lack of visits is her choice- Dh misses her terribly as she came a lot more when she was younger. Dss we have EOW and Thursdays but hes 5 and lives 15 mins away so its different. Makes DH feel very guilty though and over compensate so between his attitude that she can do no wrong and her mum trying to turn her against us at every turn thats where the problems lie - none of it is her fault. Still don't want her there while I give birth though!

DSD is now on her way home today - we've had a lovely visit and she informed me on day 1 that I wasn't to give birth while she was here which I was happy to comply with! She will come back once DD3 is here and MIL is happy to go and collect her so everyone's happy with that. As long as I don't give birth today while DH is down south that is!

OP posts:
MyCatHatesEverybody · 17/02/2021 14:16

Glad the visit went well OP and that DSD seems happy enough.

I do think this thread illustrates just how much people project their own feelings onto others and make confident declarations that DSCs will suffer such-and-such negative emotion unless you do XYX action.

I hope your DH is still penitent!

ShinyGreenElephant · 17/02/2021 14:42

@MyCatHatesEverybody he really is and I'm loving it Grin

OP posts:
Hhusky · 17/02/2021 16:36

If my DH tried to police who was there or not there while I give birth he would be told to wise the f up
You're not being in the least bit unreasonable

SomersetHamlyn · 17/02/2021 17:00

@ShinyGreenElephant Thank you very much for answering my question, I have a much clearer understanding of your situation now. I'm glad you had a good visit with your stepdaughter and I wish you all the very best for the rest of your pregnancy and (hopefully not too soon) birth. Flowers

ShinyGreenElephant · 14/03/2021 23:44

Hi, in case anyone was wondering, DD3 arrived last weekend. Happened at night so the kids were asleep which was ideal, and the birth was amazing, only took 4.5 hours and I was fine on just gas and air. Was absolutely amazing to get straight into my own bed after! We were hoping to get dsd down to meet her this weekend but she didn't want to come as she had a very important fortnite battle planned with people from America apparently. DH was a bit upset but hopefully she will agree to come next weekend and I'm sure once she meets DD she will love her - there's probably some mixed feelings at the moment. The other 3 kids are absolutely in love with her and touch wood there's been no jealousy so far. Dh has been fab but hes back in work tomorrow so that should be interesting!

OP posts:
JaniceBattersby · 14/03/2021 23:53

Many congratulations Cake

2020iscancelled · 15/03/2021 00:06

Congratulations OP! All’s well that ends well!

I haven’t read all of your updates but I hope your partner realised he was being a momentous knob making all those demands on you.

I am a step parent and it just absolutely has to be understood by all parties that life goes on when the SC are not here. As much as it would be great for my partner to have his kids here for all the big events and occasions, it’s just not possible.
That is the reality of the situation. And it’s not for the step parent to compromise on every occasion either.

Anyway congrats on the new baby!

BitOfFun · 15/03/2021 01:27

Brilliant news- I'm so glad your birth was straightforward and that the baby is here! Congratulations Flowers.

WisnaeMe · 15/03/2021 01:33

Congratulations 🌺

CreosoteQueen · 15/03/2021 06:19

Congratulations! That’s lovely news ❤️ I hadn’t seen this thread before and I can’t believe how awful some posters were to you when you were so reasonable and measured in your responses. Mumsnet is the worse sometimes. Hope you’re having a lovely time in your newborn bubble, and that your DSD is able to come and meet your new one soon Flowers

MyCatHatesEverybody · 15/03/2021 10:56

Congratulations!

Chocomel · 15/03/2021 11:02

Wonderful news. Sending good wishes to you and your family. X

funinthesun19 · 15/03/2021 12:26

Aww lovely news! Congratulations! Flowers

FictionalCharacter · 15/03/2021 12:32

@wasntsuchasweetsixteen

YANBU Your body. Your birth Flowers
This all day. Your body, your birth, your baby, your choice, and yes he’s being a dick.
FictionalCharacter · 15/03/2021 12:34

Ah sorry, didn’t read the last page of replies. Congratulations! Flowers

wizzler · 15/03/2021 16:26

Congratulations!

PurpleHoodie · 15/03/2021 16:36

Congratulations Flowers

So glad it all went well.

Tinydinosaur · 15/03/2021 16:40

Congratulations OP! So glad it all went well for you Flowers

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