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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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LaLaLaaaa · 26/04/2015 17:04

From a colleague:

"Oh no, you've only gone and got yourself pregnant! We'll be getting you condoms for Christmas"

I think roughly translated it was meant to be a compliment that they don't want me to be off work for a year.

LaLaLaaaa · 26/04/2015 17:05

Oh and when I told sil about my first pregnancy (ended in mc) she said

'oh good it's due in May, that means you'll have time to lose the weight for my wedding in September'

BakingBunty · 26/04/2015 20:21

Male client, aged about 40, sniggered and said "he he... You've been having sex!" Hmm

anniepanniepears · 26/04/2015 20:31

my neighbour came to my door and said just heard your news
so he will be putting a ring on your finger now ..I said I beg your pardon I have been married for seven years Oh I didn't know that she said loony

RabidFairy · 26/04/2015 20:54

DSis and I are both pregnant. She is estranged from our dad, I struggle along with a crappy relationship. He knew I was pg but not her, so when my mum eventually told him that actually there would be two grandchildren born in the summer his reaction was "Rabid is having twins?"

My current pregnancy is dc3 and she certainly wasn't planned (found out almost halfway through). My Mum is over the moon once the shock wore off, but when I told her I had a midwife appointment she gave me a stony look and said "well I think you're mad". She also didn't believe it was an accident at first. Now she's thrilled and telling everyone, but adding her little joke of "Rabid already has two DC; I guess she doesn't know what causes it, ha ha!"

misssmilla1 · 26/04/2015 21:28

Lots of friends: "you didn't waste any time!" (we got pregnant 3 months after we got married, but we'd actually been ttc for over 18 months..) along with "was it planned?"
Mum: "I knew it!" along with "I've been waiting 71 years for this!" (first grandchild)
Sister 1: "brilliant news! I can't wait to buy him outfits"
Sister 2: deadpan silence, followed by "oh, I suppose congratulations are in order then" followed by a swift change of subject. better than what she said to my parents tho when they told her which was "why didn't she just get a cat?" For context, she's 41, doesn't want kids and is STILL being majorly weird about the whole thing

Bedsheets4knickers · 26/04/2015 21:32

Dp mother sent us a print out for rights for unmarried fathers!!!

Rachel1406 · 26/04/2015 22:20

I've had a lot of raised eye brows, and " oh gods " I mean I'm happy so why can't they be for me too AngrySad

elmo4 · 27/04/2015 04:20

We had friends who were quite insensitive when we were going through fertility ssues and asked us repeatedly when we were going to have a baby, we always found this question difficult to answer as it was very painful, but in the slight pause it took for us to try to get the energy to try to explain the situation, they suddenly assumed we 'weren't ready' and then for a year or so congratulated us on being so sensible in waiting til we were ready....

When we finally did get pregnant my friend came up to me and said 'oh no, are you ok? do you want it? I was so worried it was a drunken accident' I was a bit flummoxed and managed to reply that no we were very happy, and she was like - 'oh god what a relief, I thought you'd be so upset seeing as you weren't really ready'

CheerfulYank · 27/04/2015 04:53

I've gotten lots of "was it planned" too. With some people I just laugh and say "I've planned one out of the three, do you want to guess which?"

Or a breathless "no, I don't! What do you mean?" When someone asks if I know what causes it. :o

Stinkersmum · 27/04/2015 07:56

Generally had great reactions. Although one person informed me, at my age, I simply must get pregnant again as soon as I've given birth to this one (first dc). Heaven forbid I have an only child.... Hmm

scarednoob · 27/04/2015 08:50

My SIL of 10 years, whom I haven't seen for a few months (due to her having turned from a perfectly pleasant human being into a controlling weirdo who uses my nephew as a weapon in her imaginary wars with everyone), found out and texted MY oldest friend to say:

"I hear [my brother's name]'s stupid f*cking sister has got herself up the duff."

Charming.

Also when one of our old family friends got pregnant at the age of 37, back in 1978, the doctor said to her at her appointment, "well, you're leaving it late for an abortion...." Unbelievable!

hobNong · 27/04/2015 08:55

Haha BakingBunty, your client sounds funny.

StatisticallyChallenged · 27/04/2015 09:24

Reactions to the announcement of first pregnancy - married, had been for 3 years, me mid 20s, DH early 30s. So shouldn't exactly have been a shocking next step IYSWIM?

Aunt: Is it congratulations or commiserations?
MIL: So, when will you be giving up work Stat (she meant forever, not mat leave)
FIL: Oh. So is this what you wanted to do next? (No, we wanted to get a fucking pony but got a bit confused you daft man!)

DurhamDurham · 27/04/2015 10:57

Well my mother-in-law phoned me to ask if I was sure the baby was her son's.......we were engaged but not yet living together and I think she just wanted to make sure he was wasn't being trapped what with him being such a catch.

This is the same woman who visited me after I'd given birth to her first grandchild to present me with Delia's new cookbook so I could make her son something special to eat once I got home (I had a c-section) as he had 'had a tough time of late, what with one thing and another'.......took me years to be able to laugh at her instead of getting upset.

willitbe · 27/04/2015 11:04

My FIL's reaction to our announcement of expecting DC1 - had a heart attack, literally. Spent the rest of the weeks holiday visiting them, in the hospital!

My own father actually managed to spoil the surprise a bit. DH, and my parents and I were having a discussion about dreams, when my mum laughed out and said that my dad had had a very funny dream a few days before, he dreamt that my dh and I were announcing we were pregnant, and it was a boy (they did not realise we were ttc). Dh and I then had to confess that it was true we had got a positive test a couple of days previously!!!! 9 months later we had our boy!

My dad predicted my pregnancy with a girl next, and then with the third he not only predicted the gender but also the name, which he wrote down but did not tell us. He was right (even though it was a name that my dh hated at the time)!!!!! Weird!

RockerMummy184 · 27/04/2015 11:10

Slightly off topic, but MILs first reaction to meeting our son when he'd just been born, 'look how scratty he is!'
(He was 6lb 14oz so not exactly a tiny baby!)
We don't speak to her much any more!

MummyZelle1 · 27/04/2015 13:19

Hey,i have four biological kids and two step kids and get bad comments everytime im pregnant,i hid my last pregnancy till I was about 15 weeks as I didn't want to be judged but unfortunately you will get negative comments from anyone........anyway trying for baby number five and dreading the comments we are going to get! Kids are all happy, healthy well loved, and well wanted......that's the main thing,,, good luck in your pregnancy :)

Conniegirl · 27/04/2015 13:42

I'm pregnant after using a sperm donor - I'm 41 and single so my announcement caused quite a stir - "Oh, didn't know you had a boyfriend, kept that quiet" - Me: "I don't" ha ha!

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 27/04/2015 14:34

Durham Durham - that's dreadful. I can't believe someone would do that! Your MIL makes my FIL look good . . . well, maybe not good . . . but better by comparison!

DurhamDurham · 27/04/2015 15:34

Lorelai the poor woman is dead now but she did make my life hell when I was younger, then one day I just decided she wasn't going to upset me anymore and from then onwards when she said something stupid I just laughed at her. It really was that easy and I felt so much better. She was quite nice to me towards the end.

Mummyofonesofar · 27/04/2015 15:45

MIL to DP ( I didn't go tto announce it as she is difficult at the best of times) and he was told "I am happy if you are" she knew we were trying.

And my Dad "Oh right, well done." Then swiftly passed the phone over so I could tell the next person.

sianihedgehog · 27/04/2015 16:24

I announced my first pregnancy on Facebook, and almost every single comment was along the lines of "what, on purpose?!"

Bedsheets4knickers · 27/04/2015 20:37

Conniegirl, congratulations and good for you xx

Mummyboo30 · 27/04/2015 22:49

I had good responses from everyone with DD1, and pretty much everyone has been happy this time around.
Except when I told my mum that this baby is another girl.
For reference, all of her grandchildren are girls, but she has an irrational preference for boys, which borders on the insane.

Me: "it's a girl!"
Her: "oh no. That's a shame."
Me: "actually we are really happy about it!
Her: (in disbelief) "Really?!"
Silence
"I guess you don't get to choose though."
Angry
How can a person be disappointed in a baby before they are even born?
I've not yet spoken to her since then.