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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bad reaction to pregnancy announcement

442 replies

Familydrama25 · 04/07/2025 01:48

Username changed for this.
Sorry it's a long one to get it all out.

For reference I'm 27 with a 5 year old. I was already apprehensive about telling my family and my fears came true. And when I say family, I mean more my mum. I'm 18 weeks and held off as long as I could.

She had a suspicion recently and went "you're not pregnant are you, you better not be pregnant". At first I thought it was an opening but her wording put me on the defensive. I decided I will come down with some scan photos delivering the news a bit more how I would like and with my parents together - and I'm glad I did because my dad acted as some sort of neutraliser in all this.

I presented the photos and said how there's going to be a new member of the family by Christmas. She just said "why". I didn't really know how to respond to this. Dad moved it on, oh let's look at the pictures then. I don't even recall her even looking at the photos actually. I think she got up to do the dishes. From the kitchen she goes "take it you didn't take any precautions then", leaving my dad and I awkwardly looking at each other. He moved it on asking when it's due. "It better not be around Christmas" she pipes up and then made a dramatic sigh when I said 1st December. She told me how unfair this is on the child to share birthday and Christmas so close together. Despite them knowing I'm with someone, she goes "do you even know who the dad is". I clarified it was him but she clearly doesn't view me in a good light.

She then wants to plan a family holiday next year for us. And a bit child like she goes "I wanted to go Disney next year". I said we can still go. She replies well that was for (name of my ds). This was one of the first things she said and I still can't see how it's relevant. If anything it sounds like she's already excluding the unborn one!

In the end I just said can't you be happy for me and she replies a blunt "no". And a "why would I be".

I didn't expect her to be jumping with joy, but she couldn't even keep it neutral, especially knowing it's a moment that stays with you. Last time her response was "what have you done that for" but I was 21 so understand I was just starting out in life. I know I'm still young and it feels like she's mad at me for having done it again.

In all honesty the decision for me to go ahead with this pregnancy was a hard one. It was all about her but it would have been nice to be asked how I was feeling. In an ideal world, I would have liked to have been able to open up to her months ago and get some support around what to do but I think I've accepted she's not the one to do this with. It saddens me that she's actually the last person that I can come to with anything emotionally.

Recently her friend gave her some news about getting married and I had her friend call me up asking if she was ok because she didn't respond as how you would expect. So maybe it's not just me?

What would you do from here? It makes me want to distance myself but I'm still determined to go back and patch things up. It's a lot to take in and she's never been one at handling her emotions well.

AIBU - she has her reasons to lash out
YNBU - there was no need to say all those comments. There's better ways at going about expressing your concerns.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock000 · 04/07/2025 15:14

You have relied heavily on your DM, you accept the help as her choice, when she is helping you to enable you to work, she has done it for 5 years, and probably doesn't fancy starting again.

You will be in for a shock if you stop DM helping, going from full support with one child, to none with two children.

Is the father planning to move in with you. How many times has he met your parents? It is strange that your DM asked about the dad, if you're in a serious relationship.

PassingStranger · 04/07/2025 15:17

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I expect her response would have been different if you were happily married and you'd planned and wanted children etc.

Although you feel hurt, you can't control how other people act.
People don't always react the way we think they should.
This goes for any situation.
We can prepare ourselves for that.

the7Vabo · 04/07/2025 15:18

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 04/07/2025 15:09

I don't think she is, she's reacting to her mother's reaction.

I’m anti-abortion for context (not that I want to debate that, we’d be here all day), so I’m glad the OP kept the baby. But she herself said it was a very difficult decision. She had to have expected some legal of negativity from her mother.

I don’t mean to be hurtful to the OP or anyone else for that matter. But I wouldn’t want my daughter to have two babies in her 20s with two different men and not be in a stable relationship with either. I want a more stable life for my child than that, & for my GC tor that matter. No, her mother shouldn’t have said the things that she said, but she’d hardly expected to be overjoyed is she?

Busyworkingbees · 04/07/2025 15:29

Seems like your mum needs to step out and let you take full responsibility for your children with the occasional help.

NamechangeRugby · 04/07/2025 15:32

boujeewooje · 04/07/2025 12:44

But again, I know plenty of married, professional couples in their 30s/40s who have a baby then use grandparents as part of their childcare plan when they go back to work. A friend is late 30s and has just returned to work on a part-time basis (teacher), her daughter is spending one day with her mother, one day with her husbands parents and one day at nursery each week. So significant family help. She wants one more child in a couple of years but I wouldn’t expect them to react as OPs parents have?

I feel like grandparent help with childcare is pretty normal but just spun differently if the mother is younger or single, even though it’s the same thing.

The scenario you describe is very, very different to the one outlined by the Op. The Grandparents are only doing one day a week each and in addition there are two other child care providers to allow for flexibility, plus a part-time parent in a committed relationship. Plus I am willing to bet that the friend is eternally grateful to her Mum and MIL for taking them. Or even if minor issues (there are always minor issue, we are all human), she sees the enormous benefit of building the relationship between the kids and both sides of the extended family unit. She is 'considering another child in 2 years' - planned and child centric.

NotrialNodeal · 04/07/2025 15:36

Congratulations on your pregnancy that is such brilliant news! I know how you feel op, my mum is the same I will never forget how she reacted when I told her I was pregnancy first time round or how she reacted when I told her I was an expecting a girl after two boys. I've never worked out why she responds the way she does but needless to say I very low contact with her.

ParmaVioletTea · 04/07/2025 15:36

pourmeadrinkpls · 04/07/2025 08:19

I'm confused, what is her issue? Is it the same father as the first child? Is the father a good guy? Do you have a job? Can you afford it? Do you have a suitable home? Are you a good mum to the child you have? There mist be more to it? Or else of course she's being UR

I suspect the answer to most of thse questions is "No." Hence why the OP has not returned ...

PutThe · 04/07/2025 15:41

NamechangeRugby · 04/07/2025 15:32

The scenario you describe is very, very different to the one outlined by the Op. The Grandparents are only doing one day a week each and in addition there are two other child care providers to allow for flexibility, plus a part-time parent in a committed relationship. Plus I am willing to bet that the friend is eternally grateful to her Mum and MIL for taking them. Or even if minor issues (there are always minor issue, we are all human), she sees the enormous benefit of building the relationship between the kids and both sides of the extended family unit. She is 'considering another child in 2 years' - planned and child centric.

Yes, it's only the same thing if it is in fact the same thing!

Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 15:53

Hope you're ok OP. This thread is shocking and toxic in 2025. Congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope you can distance yourself from your mother. Take care.

Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 15:54

ParmaVioletTea · 04/07/2025 15:36

I suspect the answer to most of thse questions is "No." Hence why the OP has not returned ...

Vile.

Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 15:59

ParmaVioletTea · 04/07/2025 15:36

I suspect the answer to most of thse questions is "No." Hence why the OP has not returned ...

Reported.

Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 16:00

crumblingschools · 04/07/2025 13:59

I’m still trying to work out where the dads fit in. Do they get to parent? Is DM stepping in because they don’t/aren’t allowed to parent

Then you have far too much time on your hands.

Sugardown · 04/07/2025 16:01

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Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 16:03

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Sugardown · 04/07/2025 16:04

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Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 16:07

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CaptainFuture · 04/07/2025 16:09

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Whoa Nellie! Calm the words and personal abuse! 🫣

Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 16:10

CaptainFuture · 04/07/2025 16:09

Whoa Nellie! Calm the words and personal abuse! 🫣

No.

Nanny0gg · 04/07/2025 16:11

Twilight7777 · 04/07/2025 14:26

That would be me going low contact with her if I had had that reaction from a relative, I can understand the reaction when you were 21 but 27?! Certainly wouldn’t be giving her access to the new baby!

Edited

Best hope the OP can manage then as there is nothing I've read (unless I've missed it) to say the father is going to be that involved

Sugardown · 04/07/2025 16:11

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FumingTRex · 04/07/2025 16:13

You are only giving us half the story here. Why wasnt the Dad of your first child around? Did he ever help or contribute anything? Sounds like your mum was dumped with a lot. Why are you having a second baby with someone you dont live with and will he be taking an active role?

Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 16:15

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You stopped reading but had to reply? Do you have a problem with self control? I'd see someone about that that if I was you. Much like you should see someone for your hate filled posts. I'm very happy thank you. I'm not the one judging a pregnant young woman. That is you.

Sugardown · 04/07/2025 16:16

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boujeewooje · 04/07/2025 16:17

NamechangeRugby · 04/07/2025 15:32

The scenario you describe is very, very different to the one outlined by the Op. The Grandparents are only doing one day a week each and in addition there are two other child care providers to allow for flexibility, plus a part-time parent in a committed relationship. Plus I am willing to bet that the friend is eternally grateful to her Mum and MIL for taking them. Or even if minor issues (there are always minor issue, we are all human), she sees the enormous benefit of building the relationship between the kids and both sides of the extended family unit. She is 'considering another child in 2 years' - planned and child centric.

she sees the enormous benefit of building the relationship between the kids and both sides of the extended family unit

But this is exactly what I mean when I say ‘a different spin’ is put on it. It’s still relying on grandparents to give up a lot of their free time and provide free, ongoing and regular childcare. If my friend was 20 and single and her mum was doing the exact same amount of help (one full day a week) people would have a different attitude to it, despite all the ‘benefits of building a relationship with extended family’ would be exactly the same.

Differentforgirls · 04/07/2025 16:20

😂