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Original poster

Weirdest reactions when you told people you're pregnant?

236 replies

tindel · 24/04/2015 10:21

As I'm now 17 weeks, I've pretty much told everyone that I'm pregnant. Most people have been lovely about it - even had a couple of people crying because they were so pleased Smile - but two reactions have definitely stood out as being a bit odd and one slightly rude, imo.

First one was when I announced it at my team meeting, which was mainly done over teleconference. After I'd said it, I had people saying their congratulations and then my boss said "Yes, well done Tindel". Well done? For what? Getting knocked up? I know it was meant nicely, but it just seemed a bit weird to be praised in the same way as if I'd finished a work project!

The other one, I'm still not sure if I should have taken offence at. When we went to tell DH's parents, MIL's first reaction was to turn to him and say "And I suppose this is your doing?" FFS, who else would it have been, given that we've been together for more than 10 years? Angry

So share - what has been the weirdest reaction you've had when you've told people you're pregnant?

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Dontforgetyourbrolly · 24/04/2015 16:09

My nan said 'are you sure?'......I had just had my 12 week scan!

quesadillas · 24/04/2015 16:13

Upon hearing I'm having twins, my mother commented "well done darling. Twins is a very middle class thing to do."

????????

showtunesgirl · 24/04/2015 16:20

All three times I told my dad, he didn't say anything apart from: Mmm and looked as though someone had died. Sad

MehsMum · 24/04/2015 16:23

DH, with DC1: 'Oh, poo!' (We had been TTC...)
My (D)F, when I announced DC2: 'That's a big quick, isn't it?' (2 year gap between births)
My (D)F, when I announced the last DC: 'What, again?'

My aunt, I think with all of them: 'I do hope it isn't twins' (major history of twins on both sides of my family. It never was.)

noddingninja · 24/04/2015 16:27

"Oh no"

From DH's grandma, even though we'd been together a year and a half and baby was planned. She is slightly unhinged though, the first time I met her she said "so, you're having sex with my grandson?"

Moondancer146 · 24/04/2015 16:34

My mum was thrilled when we told her about our first but followed the congratulations up with 'about time, I thought I was never going to be a grandma' (I was 24 and had only been married 6 months) When I told her about my 4th she said 'you're doing it again? At your age, seriously'
No pleasing some people lol

Stinkylinky · 24/04/2015 16:35

DP's Dad: "oh thank god, I thought you two would be raving in fields until you were drawing your pensions"

Patatas · 24/04/2015 16:36

I got a few 'was it planned?' But the very worst was from a colleague 'really, I can't imagine you as a mother, you don't seem maternal at all'. That comment caused many sleepless nights worrying that I was going to be rubbish.

ifyoujustsmile · 24/04/2015 16:40

DH decided (after a painful op and diagnosis of endometriosis and PCOS and being advised there was little to no hope of getting pregnant) that we should start Ttc immediately after our wedding, we got a bfp the first cycle.
My --dickhead- BIL just looked at me and said 'you got what you wanted then' turned to DH (who was over the bloody moon) and said 'I hope you're happy'. Hmm

98percentchocolate · 24/04/2015 16:43

My dad.
"We're having a baby!"
Long silence. Loooong silence. Had a conversation with my mum and in laws, arranged to go out, got stuff together... Still no word from my dad. Get in the car and shut the door.
"So when are you getting married?" In a very serious tone.
Still not married and DD is 3 Grin

Jebel · 24/04/2015 16:43

I don't live in the UK, on hearing I am having a girl:

  1. I'm sorry
  2. I would like to marry your daughter (this is apparently a compliment)
Gruntbaby · 24/04/2015 16:51

My MIL (who is lovely btw and very sane and practical normally), said 'but - how did that happen?'

We'd been together for 7 years and were engaged.

Undeuxtwatcinq · 24/04/2015 16:51

with DC1 we went to visit extended family and friends in Somerset to tell them all. Every single one of them said "Well done". I assumed it was a regional thing tho it did make me giggle. (Neither DH or I are English)

resipsa · 24/04/2015 16:53

I feel bad. When one of my friends announced her pregnancy, the first words I uttered were 'whose is it?'. How offensive. I cringe on remembering it. My only defence was that the father was an on/off thing who at that time was married to someone else (and still is).

LittleBairn · 24/04/2015 17:18

PIL "we won't tell anyone justin case"
I've lost two babies late term MC but I was 28 weeks by this point.

Just before DD was born MIL told me she would live the baby " no matter who she looked like..." DD is defintely DH but it was good to know if she looked like the milkmans she would still be welcome.

Lemondrizzletwunt · 24/04/2015 17:38

My (quite a bit older SIL), at a party last week shouted loudly, complete with humping action against her kitchen island:

"SHAGGERS!!!!!!!! SHAGGERS!!!!!!"

Was hilarious Grin

crazypuglady · 24/04/2015 17:50

"But what about the dog?"

Errrrrrr what about the dog? Hmm He wasn't just a stopgap until we had a baby. He'll be staying thanks Confused

DoJo · 24/04/2015 18:02

I think the 'well done' thing is intended to imply that they assume the pregnancy is planned (perhaps because the congratulator has witnessed some of the less appropriate responses evidenced here!). A few people said it to me and I always took it to mean a sort of 'you must be pleased' rather than 'that's what sex is for - good for you!'. Grin

trufflesnout · 24/04/2015 18:33

To be fair, if I had received a Christmas cracker with someone's scan picture stuffed inside, the next person to tell me they were pregnant probably would have gotten a sour response.

Sagethyme · 24/04/2015 18:57

Background we'd been trying for dc for 6+ years and accepted it wasn't meant to be, so when i discovered i was pregnant my DH responce was 'are you sure?!' Followed by "well that's nice" and he he fell back to sleep (it was 5am when i told him having just done a test!)
My DM responce was 'well don't get your hopes up, its early days and lots can go wrong' Sad she's not normally a miserable old bat Grin
Amazingly my MIL, was lovely and really positive and excited!

Thanksforthat · 24/04/2015 19:36

I got the "does your husband know" as well. Really bizarre

Stillyummy · 24/04/2015 19:48

"Was it planned" married 6 years on years on fertility treatments... Least I know I can act normal on every medication going Grin

Stillyummy · 24/04/2015 19:50

Oh, my mum also said "don't tell anybody" when I called her after my 12 week scan. So I put it on face book.

teacoffeesomethingsweet · 24/04/2015 19:53

I got a few odd reactions.
The best one was DP's when I told him: "really? Seriously? But how?"
In his defense, he was told he'd never have kids after we both got checked up for fertility issues.
And one of my "friends": "You don't waste time, do you?"
We were in an established relationship, living together. I still don't know what she meant.

mailegmice · 24/04/2015 19:56

Unrelated...but can you defer school entry in England? In Scotland, a child is eligible to start school in mid Aug, if he or she has reached his or her fourth birthday by the end of the preceding February. However, rather than starting at four and a half, parents whose child is born in Jan or Feb often defer school entry until five and a half. It's not uncommon in recent years. Do you have that option in England and wales?