Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner being at hospital when female friend gives birth, AIBU to hate it?

655 replies

BeetrootBrownies · 23/11/2025 22:40

Been with my partner for a year - the relationship relatively quickly and I moved into his home at 6 months. Partly because I was living with my parents at the time and needed to get away for my own sanity, but also because we were madly in love and felt ready. It’s been lovely.

He has a female friend called Mia. They met 4 years ago through a shared hobby. They bonded because they are both from the same home country and neither have family in the UK. They have never had a sexual relationship, DP is adamant about this and I believe him as she has been in the same relationship with another man (who we will call Josh) throughout her and DP’s friendship.

6 months ago (just before I moved in) I was at DP’s house having a quiet night in when he gets a voice note from Mia in a state asking if they can meet for lunch to next day for a catch-up. DP asked her what the problem was and she said she needed to vent about Josh, she insisted she wanted to meet in person before saying anymore because she had a lot to go over.

I went home the next day. Wasn’t particularly worried about their lunch together as I genuinely believe they’ve never had a sexual relationship and they very much have a brother/sister type relationship and she has been seen to make childish gagging/shuddering motions whenever he’s accidentally brushed passed her when we’ve been on double dates with her and Josh or even out for coffee just the 3 of us. She also likes me a lot and has been very excited and happy for DP throughout the development of our relationship. I was curious what she wanted to tell DP during the lunch but only from a place of nosiness rather than jealousy.

During this lunch Mia told DP that she was unexpectedly pregnant and Josh had been on board with it for a month before suddenly shitting himself and running a mile and moving back to the home country. Josh hasn’t been seen since other than half-hearted text responses every time she updates him about the pregnancy.

DP and Mia have continued their normal friendship routine throughout the pregnancy and meet up about once a week (she’s now on maternity leave and DP gets 3 days off a week so they get plenty of opportunity to meet up). Usually coffee shops or dinner. Sometimes I come, other times I don’t. DP has been moaning about the meet-ups lately saying that it is exhausting listening to her talk about pregnancy and issues with the baby’s father and he is struggling to relate. She’s also ask him to lend her money but he has shut that down. DP doesn’t want to take a step back from the friendship though as he does care about her. I can understand why she is in a state as I was present during a meet-up where she called the baby’s father and she put him on speakerphone to show us how awful he was being, he was indeed vile and she was in tears afterwards and I even ended up hugging her.

She’s now due to deliver in 2 weeks and DP knows all the details. Baby is big and she is a very small-build and she has been recommended a C-Section but she really wants to try for a natural birth unless it gets critical. She’s got an induction booked in to increase chances of her being able to deliver naturally. Given that she has no family or other friends, she wants DP present at the hospital. She has made it clear she doesn’t want him to see her pushing or the actual moment of birth, but she would like him present and on-hand to advocate her needs and support her during the labour. She is due to be induced on DP’s day off. She has no other family or friends and she said she is terrified to go through labour alone.

DP feels weirded out by it but says he can’t see how he can say no. DP says he thinks he is okay with it so long as he doesn’t see anything gruesome - the plan is he would leave the room once she starts pushing and come back a couple of hours after birth and see if she needs anything like food or practical items etc and meet the baby. Even though I have had no prior jealous feelings towards her, I feel this is just way too intimate. I know it sounds ridiculous but I want my DP’s first experience of supporting a woman through labour/childbirth to be with me when I have his baby in the future…does that make sense? I have visions of her grabbing his hand during contractions etc!

It’s all freaking me out a bit

OP posts:
osirista · 25/11/2025 09:01

As someone else suggested- she needs a doula. Once he’s attended the birth, she’ll be ringing him all hours asking for help. Incidentally, if she does have a cesarean, she’ll won’t be able to drive afterwards. Guess who she’ll be asking…

WalkDontWalk · 25/11/2025 09:06

SmilingHappyBeaver · 24/11/2025 20:50

You know he’s the father, right? You need to keep your wits about you and start making plans.

.....don't you have some colouring-in to be getting on with?

seafoamhair · 25/11/2025 09:57

Stravaig · 25/11/2025 08:08

I hope you all get to taste your own medicine at some point in your lives x

That is rich, coming from you. You've been notably unpleasant towards the OP all through this thread.

ADHDdiagnosis · 25/11/2025 10:33

MissDoubleU · 24/11/2025 09:37

She has other friends. She has female friends. She has been here for many years gaining further education and employment here. She just wants OP’s DP. She chooses to be closer to him. She is telling him he is the only one she wants to support her. It’s very obvious why, really.

If she was genuinely alone and vulnerable it would be another matter, but she 100% has other people who would likely be very willing to support her.

Exactly this.
she wants this man if she doesn’t already have him

JFDIYOLO · 25/11/2025 10:41

He has absolutely done the right thing.

Men are also allowed personal boundaries and are also allowed to be blunt if a woman tries to bulldoze them.

His uncomfortable feelings with the situation are understandable - it must be a relief to you both that he's felt able to state them clearly.

More appropriate help must surely be available.

And I agree with a pp - it feels like she has been lining him up as a replacement partner / father and might have been quite happy with people assuming he was.

Zipping the bandaid off was the best thing to do.

Keep a clear eye on the situation in case she tries anything. Be prepared for self harm threats.

2031MummyTBC · 25/11/2025 10:58

Stravaig · 25/11/2025 08:08

I hope you all get to taste your own medicine at some point in your lives x

Eh?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/11/2025 11:03

Another here who believes he's done the right thing; uncomfortable perhaps, but it needed saying and anything less probably wouldn't have sunk in

Also agree that, while it's natural for her to be disappointed, her reaction says everything you need to know - especially around how much worse this could have become

There's still nothing to stop you offering support when the baby arrives, but to my mind that would be suggesting sources other than yourselves (which she should have been researching for herself anyway)

MO0N · 25/11/2025 11:11

Mia sounds difficult and dysfunctional, presumably Josh is the same- birds of a feather tend to flock together.

JFDIYOLO · 25/11/2025 11:19

He also did exactly the right thing putting it in writing.

If he had tried to do it in person, there would have been a scene - imagine if they'd been in Costa's. Imagine what bystanders would have assumed - that bastard dumping his poor pregnant partner.

This way his feelings have been clearly set out, with no derailing or bulldozing.

And he has a record of exactly what he said in case she tries to twist it.

No, contrary to what one person has said here, putting it in writing was the wise way to tell her.

chocorabbit · 25/11/2025 11:32

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/11/2025 11:03

Another here who believes he's done the right thing; uncomfortable perhaps, but it needed saying and anything less probably wouldn't have sunk in

Also agree that, while it's natural for her to be disappointed, her reaction says everything you need to know - especially around how much worse this could have become

There's still nothing to stop you offering support when the baby arrives, but to my mind that would be suggesting sources other than yourselves (which she should have been researching for herself anyway)

I agree. He must have known that if he had tried to talk to her she would have not let him continue. It would be her screaming and trying to guilt trip him so he knew the only way to put his points across was in writing.

Doyouknowdanieltiger · 25/11/2025 11:39

Sorry op but id be very suspicious.

I think the baby is his

Caligirl80 · 25/11/2025 11:43

Totally weird. Your partner should have nipped this in the bud a very long time ago. I'd be very weirded out by this - and frankly I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that the guy has been carrying on with this other woman.

Caligirl80 · 25/11/2025 11:46

osirista · 25/11/2025 09:01

As someone else suggested- she needs a doula. Once he’s attended the birth, she’ll be ringing him all hours asking for help. Incidentally, if she does have a cesarean, she’ll won’t be able to drive afterwards. Guess who she’ll be asking…

Exactly. This weird relationship needs to end immediately. She's clearly got a problem with appropriate boundaries - and the only way to deal with this is for the partner to go total no contact. "Mia" is not behaving appropriately at all. It's understandable that she's worried about doing the pregnancy by herself etc but looking for a "replacement" man by guilting others into being there is total BS and very manipulative. The best way to deal with people like this is to just cut them off.

Sunshinesmon · 25/11/2025 11:50

Wow, your DP has done the right thing. I'm not surprised she's upset, that would have been very hard to receive.

SheilaFentiman · 25/11/2025 11:59

Doyouknowdanieltiger · 25/11/2025 11:39

Sorry op but id be very suspicious.

I think the baby is his

OP has explained, repeatedly, why it is not. And Mia was with her partner for 3+ years before getting pregnant.

DarkPassenger1 · 25/11/2025 12:16

You have a good partner there OP. Firm, and fair. And made the right call even though it was difficult and he was put under a lot of pressure.

I find it interesting that she has reacted this way. Presumably at no point during the previous months when Mia has mentioned your DP being at the birth has he gone 'OMG I can't believe you're asking me! Of COURSE! What an honour! Oh I just can't wait, let's start packing your hospital bag, what do we need to get sorted? Oh this is going to be such a beautiful experience!'

Presumably when she's mentioned it he hasn't even given a firm yes, because he's still been debating with OP whether to do it or not. A good friend would have the nous to pick up that his response to the idea was less than enthusiastic. Mia sounds extremely selfish and out solely for herself. I can't imagine asking a good friend for something like this, their response being less than enthusiastic, and not saying 'it's only a question, there's no assumption you'll do it, you can say no and that's absolutely fine'. She has clearly barrelled through all signs and responses assuming he'll be too weak to say no to her and she'll get what she wants.

That's why her response is interesting to me. To kick off so extravagantly, implies that DP has agreed to this and he's reneging at the last minute. I don't think he did agree to it. Fair enough he should have been firmer sooner but he's telling her now, that he won't do something he has no obligation at all to do.

I don't think this 'friendship' will pick up again, thankfully. Friends don't treat friends this way. Being pregnant is no excuse either. You're both better off out of it.

2031MummyTBC · 25/11/2025 12:37

If the DP had a chance of being the dad, then friend probably would have mentioned it in their private text convos (which he showed OP).

Lastfroginthebox · 25/11/2025 13:28

Doyouknowdanieltiger · 25/11/2025 11:39

Sorry op but id be very suspicious.

I think the baby is his

Not all men cheat. I know some women are understandably suspicious, but it's not always justified.

Lastfroginthebox · 25/11/2025 13:30

2031MummyTBC · 25/11/2025 12:37

If the DP had a chance of being the dad, then friend probably would have mentioned it in their private text convos (which he showed OP).

Exactly. And Mia would probably bring that out in an argument to force him or blackmail him. He knows he's innocent which is why he can be blunt now.

The13thFairy · 25/11/2025 13:38

The gagging and shuddering if he brushes past her (in your presence!) is really performative . . . I'll bet she doesn't do that when you're not there to see. She's making a move on him, while being so sweet to you. Your relationship is in peril.

B1anche · 25/11/2025 13:57

SheilaFentiman · 25/11/2025 11:59

OP has explained, repeatedly, why it is not. And Mia was with her partner for 3+ years before getting pregnant.

How dare you come here with common sense and facts. Can't you see that people want drama?

Hedgehogbrown · 25/11/2025 14:44

Well first of all an induction will drastically reduce her chances of having a natural birth, it can take days, will be massively more painful, and way more likely to lead to intervention / instruments / C section. Secondly he sounds like he would be a terrible birth partner. She needs someone who has done their research, can properly advocate for her, and isn't squeamish and going to leave the room when she pushes! All this will make her feel like absolute shit and this is just so much birth trauma waiting to happen. I feel so sorry for her, she seems so alone. Even if you offer, it doesn't sound like you would be that caring anyway. She should reach out to birth charities and try to get a doula. AND she needs to listen to some birth podcasts to understand the risks / benifits of induction. Poor woman.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 25/11/2025 19:01

I would message her and offer to be there. Be firm. Tell her it's inappropriate for your so to be there and you need boundaries in place but are more than happy to assist.

Buffs · 25/11/2025 19:20

She’s looking for a father for her child. Also, he’s not going to be able to advocate for her properly without being in the room.
inappropriate on every level

SheilaFentiman · 25/11/2025 19:53

For the love of the goddess, please at least read the OP’s updates, new posters!

Swipe left for the next trending thread