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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:
Trendyname · 03/03/2025 16:19

She doesn't sound very mature to raise a child. No amount of money and family support can make up for the immaturity of the parent.

nightmarepickle2025 · 03/03/2025 16:20

Well she is putting herself at risk if she's had sex with 25 men without protection.

fitzwilliamdarcy · 03/03/2025 16:21

GlacialLook · 03/03/2025 14:36

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!

I've been on two threads on here where oopsing has been presented as a feminist act, and those opposing it on the basis of the rights of the child were "upholding the patriarchy".

MN is absolutely bonkers on this issue.

CalleOcho · 03/03/2025 16:22

Pigcasso · 03/03/2025 14:33

she has slept with 25 men?😮

What’s wrong with that?

ThisFluentBiscuit · 03/03/2025 16:22

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.

Exactly. There is NO WAY that she's upfront with them.

RitaFires · 03/03/2025 16:25

If she's so desperate for a child, I don't understand why she wouldn't go to a fertility clinic and use a donor. She'd get a better estimate of her actual chances and could move on to further fertility treatment if her initial attempts are unsuccessful. She's putting her health at risk by having unprotected sex with randos without knowing if she has any underlying fertility issues which might make the whole endeavor pointless.

Imbusytodaysorry · 03/03/2025 16:25

My concern would be she is bedding an abuser . Who decides to control, and play games afterwards with her and the child and her life is ruined for 11-18 years with ,,, he turns up he doesn’t turn up .
or Court action.

Yes if she does get pregnant and do it alone then she has a child who wonders where their dad is and doesn’t bother. Then what.

Delphiniumandlupins · 03/03/2025 16:25

I don't think it's a terrible way to try to conceive but it seems a bit unfocused? IVF would obviously be expensive but sperm donor in the UK costs around £1000 per shot and she could target her ovulation days. I would be most worried about the health risks to her rather than any judgement about enjoying sex with strangers. It is irrational that you think an accidental pregnancy from a short term relationship would be better, better for whom?

LBFseBrom · 03/03/2025 16:25

I can understand you are concerned for your friend. It sounds to me as though she is selling herself short. If she is stunning and attractive in other ways, she could probably have a proper relationship which may lead to a child. However she may not want that - or may say she doesn't. No matter how open someone appears they don't always tell the whole truth, even to themselves.

It is of course her business. I don't get any of it, neither do you but there's nowt we can do about it. I feel sorry for any child she might conceive, most like to know that they were at least conceived in love, even if things don't work out with their parents. It always seems selfish to me to just have sex randomly in order to become pregnant, smacks of desperation. She must have other things in life that are fulfilling.

However it is what it is. Let's just hope for the best. Nobody else's business.

Gogogo12345 · 03/03/2025 16:26

Daisyvodka · 03/03/2025 16:17

This relies on neither the father nor the child ever going looking, which is incredibly unlikely, and her never being found, which is also unlikely. It's incredibly easy to find someone these days if you want to. Unless she is exclusively doing this in other countries than the one which she lives, which does drop the chances of her being found somewhat, but not entirely. In order for her to have any chance of never being found, she'd have to drop off the radar entirely, move, change her name etc.

It if she never gave her full name or said where she lives it's unlikely And why would a bloke go hunting out someone he'd had a random shag with. Obviously he wouldn't know about any pregnancy.

I could have a ONS with someone. Tell them my name is Jane Smith when really it's Lilay Brown. Even say I lived in London. How would this guy track me a year later? Espr not knowing id given birth to his child. C'mon realistically what's the odds?

GarlicStyle · 03/03/2025 16:27

Some really odd replies here. You can go for STI tests as often as you want, she isn't going to be spreading disease or infecting a foetus. Sperm banks have a distinctly seedy side, with some donors fathering hundreds of kids, and 'unofficial' donor systems are even worse.

People don't usually go for a full battery of genetic tests before TTC, so she's running no greater risk there than any other woman ... plus, the commonest genetic disorders are de novo.

I wouldn't have tied this strongly to patriarchy but the feebleness of these objections is making me think it is all about protecting the male's control over female fertility.

offmynut · 03/03/2025 16:29

If this was a man it would not go well.
He would be ripped to pieces.

However the her bidy count has nothing to do with anyone good on her at least she will have plent to think about in her old age.
If 25 is such a huge number to mumsnet id better not say mine.
But hey ive had some fun times.

Whenalldoneandsaid · 03/03/2025 16:31

Her strategy is clearly not working

ERthree · 03/03/2025 16:32

I hope to god she fails and doesn't get pregnant. She is bloody stupid and selfish.

butterpuffed · 03/03/2025 16:32

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.

So, out of the 25 men [or thereabouts] the vast majority of them agree to her rules. I find that hard to believe unless she is deliberately picking men who she thinks are wasters .

Misaster · 03/03/2025 16:33

she is either on bones of her ass financially if she’s needing to do this rather than get a
donor
or she’s not really all that desperate that she’s prepared to put down some money on the problem
or
she is winding you up op

I would bet on the third

Bogginsthe3rd · 03/03/2025 16:33

I would worry she would get an STD including HIV from her unprotected sex with strangers more.

GlacialLook · 03/03/2025 16:33

offmynut · 03/03/2025 16:29

If this was a man it would not go well.
He would be ripped to pieces.

However the her bidy count has nothing to do with anyone good on her at least she will have plent to think about in her old age.
If 25 is such a huge number to mumsnet id better not say mine.
But hey ive had some fun times.

It would not be possible if she were a man! She's aiming to get pregnant! It's not a matter of how many people she's slept with (I've slept with far more than 25 people, and I think that's fairly modest!), it's the ethics of giving a child a father distinguished only by his willingness to dispense with a condom on a one-night stand.

Gogogo12345 · 03/03/2025 16:33

GarlicStyle · 03/03/2025 16:27

Some really odd replies here. You can go for STI tests as often as you want, she isn't going to be spreading disease or infecting a foetus. Sperm banks have a distinctly seedy side, with some donors fathering hundreds of kids, and 'unofficial' donor systems are even worse.

People don't usually go for a full battery of genetic tests before TTC, so she's running no greater risk there than any other woman ... plus, the commonest genetic disorders are de novo.

I wouldn't have tied this strongly to patriarchy but the feebleness of these objections is making me think it is all about protecting the male's control over female fertility.

I was with the father of one of my children for 10 years. I know as much about his generic family history as I would have if he'd been a ONS.Simply because he was adopted ( pre 1974) and no info at all on his birth parents. BTW he's never cared or tried to find out anything about them and he's 60odd now

Squirre · 03/03/2025 16:34

Is she meeting these men on nights out? Are they sober too? Presumably she's not getting them to do STD tests before the deed if she's meeting them randomly? Not so much a moral judgement but I'd be worried about my friends safety in that situation. Unless it's really out of character and your worried there's something else going on then there's not much you can do or say other than trying to make sure she's as safe as she can be.

MissDoubleU · 03/03/2025 16:35

ThisFluentBiscuit · 03/03/2025 16:22

Exactly. There is NO WAY that she's upfront with them.

Presumably they have a basic biological understanding that not using a condom may result in pregnancy. And even further idea that not everyone is honest about being on contraception. If they don’t take care of it themselves, there is a considerable risk of pregnancy. It’s on them not to take their own precautions, regardless of if she’s upfront or not.

Jeeekers · 03/03/2025 16:36

I’m sure there’s women who have done worse. Using ovulation test kit will help.

Gogogo12345 · 03/03/2025 16:36

Imbusytodaysorry · 03/03/2025 16:25

My concern would be she is bedding an abuser . Who decides to control, and play games afterwards with her and the child and her life is ruined for 11-18 years with ,,, he turns up he doesn’t turn up .
or Court action.

Yes if she does get pregnant and do it alone then she has a child who wonders where their dad is and doesn’t bother. Then what.

He wouldnt know the child existed or be on the birth certificate so your point is irrelevant

Naunet · 03/03/2025 16:37

offmynut · 03/03/2025 16:29

If this was a man it would not go well.
He would be ripped to pieces.

However the her bidy count has nothing to do with anyone good on her at least she will have plent to think about in her old age.
If 25 is such a huge number to mumsnet id better not say mine.
But hey ive had some fun times.

Men can't get pregnant! You can't do a 'if this was a man' post on this one!!

Whereissummer24 · 03/03/2025 16:40

I know a first hand of this - she had a fling with my friend , he used protection it failed and she said its fine she was on the injection. We all assume she lied, she had the baby, he's now paying for a child she knew he didn't want. Its a terrible situation on the child and the unwilling father

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