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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I recently had a miscarriage, my SIL just gave birth. AIBU to leave the family whatsapp?

275 replies

rainraingoaway91 · 22/07/2024 14:18

I wrote a couple months ago about how I have been TTC for around a year. My SIL who is younger than us and much more recently married announced she was pregnant very soon after we started trying. She asked me to hold her baby shower. I then got pregnant but had a miscarriage a few months ago which was obviously devastating. She still expected me to host her shower, which I ended up organising but actually couldn't go because I happened to get covid that week (probably for the best!).

She had her baby a couple weeks ago, and it has set me back so much. I made her some food and brought it round the day after, I really didn't want to hold him but they were very insistent. They got their photo, we did our bit, and I was in tears all the way home and the next couple days. She texted me saying she appreciated it might have been difficult but she wants me involved "as humanly possible". I had to tell her that I would love to be but I need some time.

The constant barrage of photos, and family comments in the family whatsapp is so unbelievably painful and triggering. I feel like I cannot cope. My bil and DH's brother sends photos every single day. AIBU to exit the whatsapp group for a while?

OP posts:
TheShiningCarpet · 22/07/2024 14:19

Mute and archive

Flowers
Cinocino · 22/07/2024 14:20

You can mute a group. Leaving makes it a big deal and turns it awkward.

Stroopcoggle · 22/07/2024 14:21

I can understand how you feel but I wouldn’t delete, I’d just mute and archive so you don’t see the updates.

jackstini · 22/07/2024 14:21

YANBU, no

Mute it for a while so the notifications stop, but you don't get questions about leaving it

Sorry for your loss Flowers

Pippa12 · 22/07/2024 14:22

I would mute it and just jump on when you’re feeling strong enough and not pay much attention to any of the pictures.

Personally I wouldn’t leave the family group as I wouldn’t want to cause upset when I could just mute it, archive it if necessary.

TruthorDie · 22/07/2024 14:22

TheShiningCarpet · 22/07/2024 14:19

Mute and archive

Flowers

This. Will allow you to take a step back but cause less drama

MidnightPatrol · 22/07/2024 14:22

I am so sorry about your miscarriage and fertility struggles. I can see why this is difficult for you.

Leaving the group will cause drama however - so I would suggest just muting / archiving it for the time being, so you don’t need to see the photos etc.

Peonies12 · 22/07/2024 14:23

I'd mute and archive the group. I'd also say something like 'I'm happy for you etc, but I'm currently finding it hard". She needs to know - making you do the baby shower and hold the baby is really inappropriate. Not sure if it's your partners' sister, or your sibling's partner, but either way you need to get your partner or sibling to enforce this with your SIL.

Fraaahnces · 22/07/2024 14:24

Tell her to “back off as humanly as possible” and let you heal in your own time.

jolies1 · 22/07/2024 14:25

Mute - leaving is a statement. Ask DP to have a quiet word with his brother “we are so happy for you & love new baby but just finding it a bit hard right now.”

OpizpuHeuvHiyo · 22/07/2024 14:25

Don't exit. Mute the group. Don't look. Take the time you need.
I'm so sorry for your loss but you are unreasonable. It's ok, grief is unreasonable. But you need to keep enough of a grip on what is actually reasonable so that you don't cause an unhealable rift in the family.

Needanewname42 · 22/07/2024 14:26

Mute it.
Deleting it could cause a rift that last for years.

pasturesgreen · 22/07/2024 14:27

Echoing previous posters to say mute, and perhaps consider getting your DH to have a quite word with his brother. Insisting you held the baby really was not on.

💐

CocoPlum · 22/07/2024 14:27

Mute, archive, and set it to not download photos automatically.

I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like she thinks involving you is the right thing to do, can your DH tell them that while you want to be a part of the baby's life in time, right now you can't?

EC22 · 22/07/2024 14:27

Don’t leave.
Mute it. They’re not doing anything wrong. Unless you want to make them feel bad and make things awkward you shouldn’t leave.

HalebiHabibti · 22/07/2024 14:30

It's very cruel that they made you hold the baby. They may not have meant it to be but it is.

Do you get on with your MIL? Maybe have a conversation with her in RL to day that you're happy for SIL, but that being around them right now is tearing you to pieces inside and so while their kindness is appreciated, please could they just give you your space.

redalex261 · 22/07/2024 14:36

Another vote for mute and archive. SIL and BIL will probably just be excited. She probably doesn’t want to appear to be excluding you from baby stuff, I have heard people say they feel left out and excluded by new parent relatives who didn't want to upset them after a loss or if TTC.

AzureAnt · 22/07/2024 14:37

I vote mute. Give yourself some breathing space

TiroirSousLeMiroir · 22/07/2024 14:37

Don't leave the group. How far along were you?

RaspberryBeretxx · 22/07/2024 14:38

I’d definitely mute and archive the group and just be vague with SIL for now about involvement. She has been pretty insensitive but you may feel differently in a few months so probably best not create a big thing and just be quite busy for the next few months. If they keep pushing then maybe your DH can have a word.

of course it’s different for everyone but I had several MCs and found that other’s pregnancy and tiny babies were hard for me but as babies grew into themselves a bit,I found it easier as it felt like they were very definitely not my baby and it felt less raw.

WhatNoRaisins · 22/07/2024 14:40

Agree with mute and archive. Is there someone tactful and diplomatic who could speak to the new parents on your behalf? They sound very thick skinned and insensitive expecting so much involvement from you.

ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 22/07/2024 14:41

Another vote for mute and archive. Imagine you get your rainbow baby and when you're excited and happy with your baby a family member leaves the chat. It's a statement and a hurtful one, though it's understandable you're hurting too. Have you had any help with working through your grief?

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 22/07/2024 14:45

Agree with everyone else mute the chat - I’d actually also say I love you all and the baby but I’m muting the chat for now as I’m finding this all a bit hard, please don’t stop the updates I can read them when I feel stronger

Anyone who has a problem can piss off

ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 22/07/2024 14:45

TiroirSousLeMiroir · 22/07/2024 14:37

Don't leave the group. How far along were you?

Probably not helpful to OP as a loss is a loss, but OP found out she was pregnant after SIL had asked her to host baby shower, she just delivered that baby, and she says miscarriage was a few months ago. So I would assume a first trimester miscarriage.

TiroirSousLeMiroir · 22/07/2024 14:47

ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 22/07/2024 14:45

Probably not helpful to OP as a loss is a loss, but OP found out she was pregnant after SIL had asked her to host baby shower, she just delivered that baby, and she says miscarriage was a few months ago. So I would assume a first trimester miscarriage.

If it was very early it might explain why her SIL doesn't feel as compassionate as OP would like her to feel.