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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to resent my mother-in-law staying four weeks after my C-section?

294 replies

Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 05:53

FTM 4 weeks post C-section

MIL has came to visit from South of England for a week to stay in our marital home. She is 92 (had DH when she was older). As her only Son, he has adopted a caring role for her when he goes home to visit. She is very good for her age but obviously frail. Their relationship appears codependent and very, very odd. He is 50.

AIBU to feel this was too soon for her to come?, I feel terrible being angry about it and feeling they have both been selfish. I have not been able to establish breast feeding, walking about in my underwear at home with post partum night sweats. I have barely slept obviously. She does nothing except make comments about me over feeding him, he is too cold, are you sure his breathing is OK. Hysterical at everything. (She has a lifelong history of being a drama queen). I am thankful I have some medical background as if I was an anxious FTM she would have had me completely wound up. She continually asks if he is medically OK, she somehow thinks at 4 weeks old he has no signs of autism.

She asked if he ‘actually has any clothes that fit him’ - I explained he is 4 weeks old so is quite small still. She seems utterly bamboozled when he stirs or cries. I asked if she remembered her own Son when he was a newborn to put his presentation into context; to which she says she does not recall - she just put his pram out in the porch and let him cry.

It explains why my husband only got married in his late 40’s, had a strange attachment pattern and never had a girlfriend before me in all honesty.

She was crying the other morning saying ‘she should not have come’, to which I obviously said it was OK - her tears dried up immediately following this - I felt her immediately transformation from sad vulnerable old woman to smiling broadly was quite manipulative. Her tears were the last thing I needed post partum. Post C section, still bleeding and still needing regular analgesia.

Yesterday I was making cups of tea for her whilst she was sitting on the sofa. My husband and her both slept in until 10 whilst I was up with baby.

I am absolutely furious with them both for putting me in this situation, I feel this is not a fucking holiday home for entertainment - it is a recovery from childbirth and establishing a routine. My question is AIBU?

She has form for this; when we got married she stayed in our new marital home for a week after the wedding making it exceptionally awkward for me to come and visit and move in from my own home. She was apparently crying to my new husband about how she was going to lose him as a Son. I did have patience and empathy then but my post partum expierence has resulted in this wearing thin. I think they are both selfish morons.

OP posts:
hellospring26 · 18/04/2026 06:55

So sorry, I pressed the wrong option in rage. YANBU. She needs to go home.

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/04/2026 06:56

So you didn’t live together before getting married ? Why not ?

very strange for her to stay after for married. Didn’t you have a honeymoon ?

he’s a mummy’s boy you must have reliesed this when you met him

so he’s 50 and guessing you are much younger - what attracted you to him ?

congrats on baby and yes he /she should help more.

making a cuppa. You shouldn’t be waiting on her Hand and foot - equally she’s elderly so making the odd cuppa for yourself obv offer her one

what was she like before you had baby when she stayed ?

She can lie in till 10. He can’t and should be helping you rest

she’s not gonna live forever and may be the only time she sees grandchild

does she live far away ?

Sloupes · 18/04/2026 06:56

How long is she staying for? Can you pack her off gown soon? Say you're experiencing medical complications so as to avoid further drama (for your own sanity, not for her sake).

PussInBin20 · 18/04/2026 06:57

I think YABU about her, I mean she is 92 and probably just wanted to see her grandchild. I would just ignore all her comments tbh. And it’s only for a week! Give the woman a break - she probably won’t be around much longer.

Ido think your DH needs to step up though with the baby so you probably have a DH problem.

Any why do you keep calling it “your marital home” as if no-one else should be allowed in? It’s just your home that you both live in surely.

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 18/04/2026 07:01

I get that it is incredibly frustrating. Just don’t engage with fee. Be polite but nothing else. Don’t make her tea. Focus on DH. He doesn’t get to stay in bed until 10. Ageee a plan/routine for him to help you and parent his baby eg you feed the baby, hand to husband and go to bed for two hours.

Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 07:03

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/04/2026 06:56

So you didn’t live together before getting married ? Why not ?

very strange for her to stay after for married. Didn’t you have a honeymoon ?

he’s a mummy’s boy you must have reliesed this when you met him

so he’s 50 and guessing you are much younger - what attracted you to him ?

congrats on baby and yes he /she should help more.

making a cuppa. You shouldn’t be waiting on her Hand and foot - equally she’s elderly so making the odd cuppa for yourself obv offer her one

what was she like before you had baby when she stayed ?

She can lie in till 10. He can’t and should be helping you rest

she’s not gonna live forever and may be the only time she sees grandchild

does she live far away ?

I am 42

OP posts:
BlueMum16 · 18/04/2026 07:04

Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 06:52

My instinct is if I send her away or make her stay at a hotel - or I go and stay at a hotel she will create complete hysteria and the melodrama will be exponential.

I already got a brief glimpse with her tears the other morning - complete fucking moron. She must think I am buttoned up the back to fall for it. The massive narcissist smile when I said dont cry its OK to stay - she obviously knew she had over stepped and I was RAGING

When did she arrive and when is she due to go home?

If she only has a day or so left I'd have a quiet word with DH and send them out for the day so they can have time together. When they come home you and baby can be in bed.

If she has only just arrived you need to lay some boundaries with DH. Before she arrived was he more helpful and getting up in the morning etc? He needs to realise he cannot stop being a dad just because he's a son for a few days.

Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 07:07

Blondeshavemorefun · 18/04/2026 06:56

So you didn’t live together before getting married ? Why not ?

very strange for her to stay after for married. Didn’t you have a honeymoon ?

he’s a mummy’s boy you must have reliesed this when you met him

so he’s 50 and guessing you are much younger - what attracted you to him ?

congrats on baby and yes he /she should help more.

making a cuppa. You shouldn’t be waiting on her Hand and foot - equally she’s elderly so making the odd cuppa for yourself obv offer her one

what was she like before you had baby when she stayed ?

She can lie in till 10. He can’t and should be helping you rest

she’s not gonna live forever and may be the only time she sees grandchild

does she live far away ?

We did not live together as his mother would not have approved of living together before marriage. There is obviously a pattern now emerging…

OP posts:
Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 07:08

BlueMum16 · 18/04/2026 07:04

When did she arrive and when is she due to go home?

If she only has a day or so left I'd have a quiet word with DH and send them out for the day so they can have time together. When they come home you and baby can be in bed.

If she has only just arrived you need to lay some boundaries with DH. Before she arrived was he more helpful and getting up in the morning etc? He needs to realise he cannot stop being a dad just because he's a son for a few days.

I sent them out a drive yesterday and husband said ‘are you trying to get rid of us’ - yes.

OP posts:
Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 07:10

It is honestly as if she has never seen a new born baby before or held one. I do not think she held her son much - it is awkward watching her interact with her grandson. Interestingly she says she was ‘nearly sectioned’ apparently for post natal psychosis. Its beggars belief given her lack of empathy towards me in my postnatal state.

OP posts:
SexIsNotNebulous · 18/04/2026 07:12

Oh gosh, sorry you’re dealing with this. No way would I have had a baby with a fifty year old that lived with his mum until 40. The likelihood of him being an active partner and useful dad is next to zero. I think a very elderly woman in her 90s is the least of your problems.

user1474894224 · 18/04/2026 07:12

I misread your post and thought she was staying 4 weeks. She's with you only for a week. Right....so you must already be some way through. So if DH is off work he needs to tend to her as well as support you. That means he needs to do breakfast through to tea, all the cups of tea etc fir both of you. That means he needs to get up in the morning.
If he's working he can still sort breakfast and tea out.
You are doing amazingly. Breast feeding can take a while. I struggled with ds1 who fed little and often and only slept whilst on the boob! (With hindsight he was sleeping not feeding but I wasn't sure etc etc) so - you do you. Walk around in underwear. Spend time in bed do whatever you need.
On the other hand. You child won't know grandma for many years. So take lots of photos of her with your darling baby so you can let your child know how much they meant to grandma. How grandma was so pleased they were born she came to stay after their birth. (Read the horror stories on hear about grandparents that don't care over and over until you can get this in a positive light- that might take a day, a month or a year!!!)
You sound very level headed and able to deal with this. When it gets too much come back to this threat and moan and moan.
Congratulations on your wonderful baby.

Dantalya · 18/04/2026 07:12

OP you are at risk of PND. I think you need to assert yourself now or you will forever be angry that this ruined your early weeks. Are you managing to bond ok?

I would tell your husband everything you have said here. Nothing to lose I reckon. His reaction will tell you everything.

theotherfossilsister · 18/04/2026 07:15

This makes me furious as it’s such a vulnerable time for you. My in laws hugely overstepped in similar circumstances and I hate to see it being done to you. Please go to hotel with room service.

BruisedNeckMeat · 18/04/2026 07:18

Bloody hell, the poor woman is 92 years old! It’s 4 weeks not 4 days post birth and she’s visiting her son and new grandson.

If your husband is useless then deal with that but give the woman a break.

user1474894224 · 18/04/2026 07:19

Can I add - there will be loads of why did you marry him, why did you have a child with him comments. You did for your own reasons. Because the 2 of you work together. Having a baby is a massive life adjustment. Some parents adapt and fall into the role really easily. For others it takes time to adapt. My husband and I argued loads following Ds1's birth - because we were both anxious about doing the best we could. It took time, patience and communication to work together to parent together. We could have easily split up. But we are here 18 years later with 3 kids and as I watch him parenting now i am so pleased we worked through the difficult times. (We still clash at times and still have different opinions- but one of the reasons I was attracted to him was this!! My previous partner agreed with everything i said which was sooo bloody boring!!)

Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 07:19

user1474894224 · 18/04/2026 07:12

I misread your post and thought she was staying 4 weeks. She's with you only for a week. Right....so you must already be some way through. So if DH is off work he needs to tend to her as well as support you. That means he needs to do breakfast through to tea, all the cups of tea etc fir both of you. That means he needs to get up in the morning.
If he's working he can still sort breakfast and tea out.
You are doing amazingly. Breast feeding can take a while. I struggled with ds1 who fed little and often and only slept whilst on the boob! (With hindsight he was sleeping not feeding but I wasn't sure etc etc) so - you do you. Walk around in underwear. Spend time in bed do whatever you need.
On the other hand. You child won't know grandma for many years. So take lots of photos of her with your darling baby so you can let your child know how much they meant to grandma. How grandma was so pleased they were born she came to stay after their birth. (Read the horror stories on hear about grandparents that don't care over and over until you can get this in a positive light- that might take a day, a month or a year!!!)
You sound very level headed and able to deal with this. When it gets too much come back to this threat and moan and moan.
Congratulations on your wonderful baby.

This is great advice with how to reframe it and keep me sane - thank you so much 🙏

the relationship with my husband will never be the same following this post partum sadly - I think I have already processed this. I just have to deal with it and realise I probably made a misjudgement, I do have a gorgeous baby boy who I adore but it may have been at the expense of my marriage. The issue is I was very independent; finacially, socially etc so I think I missed how selfish he was as I did not require much in the dating phase to be happy. It has been a lesson for sure. I have to deal with the decisions now I have made.

Husband did not live with her until 40 - he actually admitted he moved away from her at 40 as she was such a nightmare. He has lived alone since he was at Uni except for a brief period in his 30s when he lived in the same city as her but had enough after she kept going to his house, and once even broke in as he had a girlfriend over and caught them shagging on the sofa when he was 35!

OP posts:
Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 07:20

Dantalya · 18/04/2026 07:12

OP you are at risk of PND. I think you need to assert yourself now or you will forever be angry that this ruined your early weeks. Are you managing to bond ok?

I would tell your husband everything you have said here. Nothing to lose I reckon. His reaction will tell you everything.

Bonding fine with baby and had no tears post natally except when she turned up to the house! I was doing fine!

OP posts:
Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 18/04/2026 07:21

I read your other thread. The husband needs to go.

Barney16 · 18/04/2026 07:25

I would tell OH to take her home. It's too much to care for a newborn and an old lady at the same time. Have to admit to a certain admiration for someone who is still going strong at 92. Anyway regardless of that she isn't helping and your husband is just falling into a probably well established pattern of behaviour of being useless when his mum is around.

TobaccoFlower · 18/04/2026 07:26

Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 07:07

We did not live together as his mother would not have approved of living together before marriage. There is obviously a pattern now emerging…

What's it got to do with his mother?

Mulledjuice · 18/04/2026 07:27

Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 06:14

I did not have a choice regarding her staying it was pushed onto me. It is making me wuite resentful

You do have a choice. You put your foot down.

Meanwhile stop worrying about her. Focus on your baby and your recovery. The post is all about her - what support do you need to establish breastfeeding? How are you physically - are you managing to pick up baby and do changes or do you need some more help (from your husband or elsewhere)?
Have you been able to get out and about.

Stop pandering and do what works for you and your baby.

Pinkbananaa · 18/04/2026 07:30

This has more red flags than a summer fair.

Booboobagins · 18/04/2026 07:30

Just stop doing what your dng and focus on you and the baby.

I don't know what your relationship with your DH is like, but you describe in a very odd way, so I hope he is typically good to you. If not leave. Ife is too short to waste it in unfulfilling relationships.

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/04/2026 07:32

Dougiesmaw · 18/04/2026 07:10

It is honestly as if she has never seen a new born baby before or held one. I do not think she held her son much - it is awkward watching her interact with her grandson. Interestingly she says she was ‘nearly sectioned’ apparently for post natal psychosis. Its beggars belief given her lack of empathy towards me in my postnatal state.

It would be. You say she’s a narcissist. This reaction may be born out of jealousy. So a passive aggressive narcissist.