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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Friend's one night stands to get pregnant

317 replies

Polkadotbikinininii · 03/03/2025 14:03

I know this is none of my business. I won't say anything to her unless she brings it up again. I will NEVER say anything to anyone else.

My friend is late 30s and long term single. She has always wanted kids and is very aware of her age.

She told me drunkenly the other night that a few years ago she started having one night stands with the hope of getting pregnant.

She says that she is open with the men about what she is doing as she has no interest in tricking or trapping them. She is happy to nevet see them again and be a single mum.

She thinks she's done it about 25 times in the last few years. Apparently only a few have said no. Most of the men just want reassurance that she won't go after them for money/relationship. 🤨She said 2 men have said they would like to stay in touch if she gets pregnant.

She is stunningly beautiful and funny so I can well imagine that most men will be so impressed with themselves for getting her in bed that they aren't thinking straight enough to say no.

She is very capable of looking after hererself/a child. She has a strong family network who will make sure the child is sorted if something happens to my friend.

She said that the men who don't want anything to do with any child are deadbeats and she wouldn't want them in their life anyway. I asked about what happened if the ones who are interested turn out to be deadbeats and she said that could happen with any pregnancy. I asked about the child that won't know who their dad is and again, she said it's better than a deadbeat who won't support the child and let's them down.

She reassured me that she does do STD tests and never puts herself at risk. Apparently she is very strict with herself and if she is "going out to make babies" she doesn't drink at all and apparently if she has never bought anyone back when drunk.

I asked why she doesn't use donated sperm. She said she doesn't like the idea of it being medicalised and all the pressure of it and that she was also having fun.

She pointed out that any one night stand could result in a baby with a stranger and at least this way, the baby will be wanted.

I couldn't explain why I think this is all just so yukky. She accused me of slut shaming and pointed out that the men she takes home will be bragging to their friends every time they get a woman in bed and that lots of women take home more men than she does and plenty of people don't use protection.

Ignoring the risks, I don't think it's the taking people home that made me purse my lips. It's the intention behind it. It's irrational but I feel like maybe an accidental baby from a very short relationship is a better idea than a wanted baby after a one night stand?

ARE unreasonable- your friend will make a great mum and there will be good support for her and any baby. She has told you she isn't taking any risks.

ARE NOT unreasonable - getting pregnant ON PURPOSE from a one night stand is grim. She should be exploring other options.

OP posts:
Kahless · 03/03/2025 14:06

Neither of your options work for me.

YABU to judge your 'friend'

Catza · 03/03/2025 14:07

I don't get your logic. She is upfront with men, it's consensual. And it's free as opposed to 10k+ it would cost to use a sperm bank/IVF. Pragmatically, it is exactly the same as using a sperm bank minus the cost.
Would you feel more comfortable if she didn't take them home and, instead, did it in a hotel?

Polkadotbikinininii · 03/03/2025 14:12

Catza · 03/03/2025 14:07

I don't get your logic. She is upfront with men, it's consensual. And it's free as opposed to 10k+ it would cost to use a sperm bank/IVF. Pragmatically, it is exactly the same as using a sperm bank minus the cost.
Would you feel more comfortable if she didn't take them home and, instead, did it in a hotel?

She travels a bit for work and holidays so I sort of presumed that most of the time it will be hotels.

OP posts:
PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 03/03/2025 14:15

She is stunningly beautiful and funny so I can well imagine that most men will be so impressed with themselves for getting her in bed that they aren't thinking straight enough to say no

Stop infantalising men. She's being honest with them and they're more than capable of being accountable for their own decisions.

She's doing nothing wrong, morally or otherwise.

Jessieshome · 03/03/2025 14:15

I knew a woman in her 80's who always wished she'd had a one night stand to have a second child after her abusive husband died, she had one child with special needs, she was very sad and regretful she'd never tried anything to have a second child (didn't want another relationship). I also knew another lady who was going to resort to one night stands, until she luckily met her husband in her late thirties.

Personally, sperm donation seems much more yukky, but I don't know why.

She is running the risk of being stuck with a man she doesn't like that much who wants to be part of the child's life. Or would she be happy with one of these men being involved? It might be easier not to tell them what she's doing, I'm surprised so many are up for it!

As long as she's being safe, I think it's ok. Mostly because I remember the lady I knew welling up, even in her 80's thinking about what never was.

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/03/2025 14:15

She says that she is open with the men about what she is doing as she has no interest in tricking or trapping them

And a load of pigs just flew over my garden. Absolute bollocks she tells them. She’s taking for an idiot and she’s awful.

Araminta1003 · 03/03/2025 14:17

I don’t get this. Why does she not just go to a sperm bank where the donor has actually given consent and where she can get some information on the donor as well. That would make far more sense, and be safer for all involved. And yes, people do that and then it can be timed to her cycle as well.

Inmydreams88 · 03/03/2025 14:17

I used to work with someone who openly
admitted to having one night stands to get pregnant, except she didn’t admit that to them and had no contact after. She had two kids that way, possibly more now as I haven’t seen her in years.

Pancakeflipper · 03/03/2025 14:17

I think my concern is that the baby will one day grow to be curious about their father and looks like they will be denied the opportunity to have a father/child relationship, also the grandparent/Aunty/cousins/uncle relationships.

Knowing your parentage is important to me. Genetics are another issue and knowing about family health.

It's OK her saying she doesn't need the money/support now. But you honestly never what will be happening 10yrs later...

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 03/03/2025 14:18

Jessieshome · 03/03/2025 14:15

I knew a woman in her 80's who always wished she'd had a one night stand to have a second child after her abusive husband died, she had one child with special needs, she was very sad and regretful she'd never tried anything to have a second child (didn't want another relationship). I also knew another lady who was going to resort to one night stands, until she luckily met her husband in her late thirties.

Personally, sperm donation seems much more yukky, but I don't know why.

She is running the risk of being stuck with a man she doesn't like that much who wants to be part of the child's life. Or would she be happy with one of these men being involved? It might be easier not to tell them what she's doing, I'm surprised so many are up for it!

As long as she's being safe, I think it's ok. Mostly because I remember the lady I knew welling up, even in her 80's thinking about what never was.

She's also running the risk, by having baby-making sex with men she doesn't know, of having a baby with genetic problems about which she will have no warning. I presume she doesn't ask these men about their family history?

Cctviswatchingme001 · 03/03/2025 14:18

My ex friend did this. She was in a relationship with my DH friend so we became friends. She was a nice girl. They bought a house together and at one stage he was planning to propose. He then ended the relationship quite suddenly.

She wanted a baby and was about 35 at this stage. She met a guy through friends at a party. She slept with him a few times hoping to get pregnant. He was unaware but obviously he should have used protection. She had a plan. She got pregnant and he heard through the grapevine, she told him she was getting an abortion, she didn't. She had the baby and basically her parents are raising her child as she has to work full time to support them both and pay her mortgage. The father is not in the child's life.

What she did was wrong but its nothing new, women have done it for years and will continue to do it. Not fair on an innocent child though.

GlacialLook · 03/03/2025 14:19

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 03/03/2025 14:15

She is stunningly beautiful and funny so I can well imagine that most men will be so impressed with themselves for getting her in bed that they aren't thinking straight enough to say no

Stop infantalising men. She's being honest with them and they're more than capable of being accountable for their own decisions.

She's doing nothing wrong, morally or otherwise.

It's not the men, it's the ethics towards any resulting child. Explaining 'I deliberately conceived you on one of a series of ONS because I preferred having sex with a random man who was happy not to use a condom and conceive a child with a stranger than use a 'medicalised' sperm donor.' I mean, it's basically saying 'I chose an irresponsible idiot for your father with no idea about potential inherited diseases etc.'

Nanny1983 · 03/03/2025 14:20

The poor child who will be involved in this . Your friend obv thinks her need to have a child outweighs the child’s need for a Dad .
Imagine the child growing up and finding out this information .

Polkadotbikinininii · 03/03/2025 14:20

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/03/2025 14:15

She says that she is open with the men about what she is doing as she has no interest in tricking or trapping them

And a load of pigs just flew over my garden. Absolute bollocks she tells them. She’s taking for an idiot and she’s awful.

I don't think she does tbh.

She has never seemed particularly interested in any type of relationship. She gets chatted up a lot when I've gone out with her so I'm sure she's had plenty of opportunity if she did.

I genuinely think she's happy being single and like I said, I think (although no real evidence of this I guess) that a lot of this is done away from home so I don't know how she'd track someone down anyway.

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 03/03/2025 14:20

Araminta1003 · 03/03/2025 14:17

I don’t get this. Why does she not just go to a sperm bank where the donor has actually given consent and where she can get some information on the donor as well. That would make far more sense, and be safer for all involved. And yes, people do that and then it can be timed to her cycle as well.

Another advantage of sperm banks is that the donors ate screened for chlamydia, genetic abnormalities etc.. She doesn’t know what she’s getting this way does she? I’m not a huge fan of planned single parenthood but think sperm bank is the preferable way.

5128gap · 03/03/2025 14:21

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/03/2025 14:15

She says that she is open with the men about what she is doing as she has no interest in tricking or trapping them

And a load of pigs just flew over my garden. Absolute bollocks she tells them. She’s taking for an idiot and she’s awful.

Surely when she asks them not to wear the condom they will no doubt have ready if they don't want to cause a pregnancy, they would ask her why, and if they weren't satisfied with her explanation, put their pants back on and leave? Short of the very unlikely opportunity to poke holes in his condom, there is no way a woman can deceive a one night stand into becoming a father against his will.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 03/03/2025 14:29

Erm

I'm 100% in support of becoming a mum through sperm donation

But this is dangerous - she could catch any number of things or her child could have a number of complications from the man who's history she doesn't know

Plus, using a sperm donor means she can have more than one with the same sperm. Doing it this way is crazy.

HauntedBungalow · 03/03/2025 14:32

Women hold the key to how and where humanity reproduces and perpetuates itself within their bodies.

For some, this is an unacceptable and even terrifying prospect. Hence patriarchy. And within patriarchy, discussions like this.

DamnUserName21 · 03/03/2025 14:32

Whether she is upfront with the men or not, any man who has sex with a woman without a condom, is aware they run the risk of pregnancy. Most don't give a shit, IME.

With regard to your friend, I'd be more concerned about STIs including hepatitis and HIV. It's alright doing testing AFTER but this obviously won't stop someone from getting, or passing on if undetected, an infection.

I'd encourage her to find an FWB (and have relevant testing done beforehand) or go for sperm donation as PP have said.

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 03/03/2025 14:32

How on earth can unprotected sex be safe from the risk of an std?

Araminta1003 · 03/03/2025 14:32

It is also much easier to tell the child the truth about a sperm bank in a child friendly way, further down the line. There are literally books for this and guidance on it.

Pigcasso · 03/03/2025 14:33

she has slept with 25 men?😮

CrazythenewNorm · 03/03/2025 14:33

Kahless · 03/03/2025 14:06

Neither of your options work for me.

YABU to judge your 'friend'

I think op may be the friend in question; I could be wrong.

GlacialLook · 03/03/2025 14:36

HauntedBungalow · 03/03/2025 14:32

Women hold the key to how and where humanity reproduces and perpetuates itself within their bodies.

For some, this is an unacceptable and even terrifying prospect. Hence patriarchy. And within patriarchy, discussions like this.

It's hardly patriarchal to think that deliberately choosing a man who is irresponsible enough to have sex without a condom with a total stranger as your child's putative father is a terrible idea!

Deedeesharpwhatkindoflady · 03/03/2025 14:37

Pigcasso · 03/03/2025 14:33

she has slept with 25 men?😮

The numbers are not the issue but the unprotected sex that's got to be playing russian roulette with her sexual health and subsequently any pregnancy if she did conceive.

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