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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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First Time Dad

415 replies

DC905210 · 14/06/2015 08:06

Hi everyone, sorry to invade Mumsnet, I can not find anything of much use on the Dad's side of things.

My wife is 4-5 weeks pregnant, and she does not want me to tell anyone until the first midwife appointment I understand the reasons for that (lots of people to tell if something goes wrong etc) but there are two elements of it I am uncomfortable with / frustrated at.

Firstly I work for a very small company where you can just tell if something is on someone's mind there is a calendar month today before the appointment. Is it normal to sit in an office with two other people (who incidentally I 100% trust to keep it to themselves) for a month pretending nothing is happening?

Paired with this the company is very flexible and such as the first midwifes appointment they would almost certainly let me work for home and fit around it but instead I will have to take a day off (which I assume for a new Dad could come in handy later on) to pretend I am doing something else. For what?

Secondly, she does not want to tell any family.

Between us we don't have Dad, they have both passed away and we do not speak to her Mum. My Brother has a two y/o little girl and a little boy due in November and I have a lot of stuff to ask him, my Mum as well will be our overriding principle support in everything we need help with, it is reasonable that I should accept not telling them for another month? They too are 100% guaranteed to not tell a sole.

It is not like (god forbid) if something did go wrong we would not bother telling them, the point is just lost on me.

Please don't take this as a moan of like "poor men" or anything but we don't have the support that woman have. I have read frightening sounding things about labour for example and I am anxious about it. I don't want to start adding to the pile of worries that my wife has about it but I am just expected to live with it for a month.

OP posts:
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CatOfTheGreenGlades · 15/06/2015 10:57

DC I admire you for that post, it takes some courage to apologise. If you can see how you're being and that there is some frustration there, I'm sure your wife would appreciate you opening up to her too and explaining what's hard for you about it, and trying to be open-minded about the fact that there are going to be a lot of things about pregnancy and having a baby that are going to take some adjustments from you, and getting your head round that.

NickiFury · 15/06/2015 11:02

Great post catofthegreenglades what I was thinking but I am no where near as articulate as you Smile.

It's been a baptism by fire for you OP Wink but I hope you stick around and maybe get your wife to take a look at MN as well. It is the most supportive place believe it or not.

You'll calm down, I promise, probably around the four month mark, it all gets rather "well what now?" roundabout then and feels like ages to go.

DC905210 · 15/06/2015 11:06

I have not "gone on" in any way as far as I can see it.

I have said it is a worry and asked how would be if I was working away near to and after the baby was born and also potentially not around when she goes into labour.

She has said disraught and she would rather me not work away to much from now on but asked I don't tell anyone still.

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DC905210 · 15/06/2015 11:08

Thanks Niki :-)

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 15/06/2015 11:08

The antenatal clubs on here might be good for your wife, it'll be all women due in the same month, guessing February 2016? I only found it with my second and wish I had with my 1st as everyone has similar worries at similar times. In fact you could lurk and have a read, I bet there'll be loads of women expressing similar worries to your wife, it might help you understand her perspective.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 15/06/2015 11:08

Lots of us do understand your wife's superstition. It isn't unusual. It has its roots in the statistical likelihood of miscarriage but it is just superstition. But when something as 'magical' as pregnancy happens it is so amazing and almost unbelievable that the illogical superstition comes up. She's also flooded with new hormones and feelings.
She may suddenly be distraught and clingy. That'll probably wear off as she gets used to it.
However you are going to have to talk sensibly to her and say that if you can't have a discreet word with x at the office to request a consideration then you will both have to carry on as normal. There's no middle way.

LittleBearPad · 15/06/2015 11:13

I have said it is a worry and asked how would be if I was working away near to and after the baby was born and also potentially not around when she goes into labour.

Well you organise your work from about 36 weeks onwards to be local.

I do not believe that the rest of this year is mapped out to the nth degree to preclude that.

FGS why raise the possibility that you might miss the birth - you utter numpty. Now I understand the distraught bit. It won't happen. Worst case you'll be in the country, labour typically takes hours and you'll get there. If you don't think that your employer, clients etc will say go to the birth then you're being a bit silly.

Finally your wife has said she'd prefer it if you didn't work too far away too much at the moment. Well it seems you only work away a few days a week anyway. So this is easily accomplished.

Now please calm down. There's a long way to go.

DC905210 · 15/06/2015 11:28

These are the bits I don't get lol. I didn't say miss the birth. I said not around when she goes into labour I would be able to leave wherever I was immediately but would most likely be a few hours away that is just a fact.

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Blackandwhitecat3 · 15/06/2015 11:28

DC you sound like you are rather anxious and that's not really surprising given the life-changing (and wonderful) news you've had. You also sound like the sort of chap who likes to have everything sorted out well in advance and also who likes to have everything clear and on the table.

You feel like your integrity will be compromised by telling lies or half-truths to your employer, but it doesn't have to be this way. Your employer has no right to ask what is wrong with you if you have time off for a medical appointment or two, even if in your office you are all very open about these things normally. Just tell them that you (or your wife) have a medical appointment (both true) and don't say what it's for. If they do ask (which they're not meant to do) then you can just say "I'd rather not say", which you are perfectly entitled to do. If you'd just found a lump in one of your testicles are wanted to get it checked out but felt you were being a bit silly and worrying for nothing, would you want the whole office to know? I'm not trivialising testicular cancer or pregnancy here, but you do have a right to keep personal health information private.

The weeks between now and the end of the first trimester will not last forever, and if you get through those with a healthy, viable pregnancy then you will be able to tell work, family and friends, and they will not hold it against you for keeping it a secret until 12 weeks, as this is totally normal. You will have plenty of time to plan and read up on birth and parenting and the very different times ahead.

Your wife will also have another 27 weeks of being pregnant and everyone knowing about it, at which point, as other posters have said, an awful lot of those people will only think of her pregnancy and not her. For this reason I'm glad that we haven't told many people yet, although I'm dying to shout from the rooftops that I'm pregnant, I'm quite pleased that we've still got a few weeks of sharing this little secret because it feels to special, and also that people are still treating me normally, as me.

You mention that your boss has never met your wife and won't until the Christmas party, but have you considered how awkward it could be if (and I hope this doesn't happen) she miscarried and then gets to meet a man who she never knew before but knows she was pregnant and miscarried. Whether your wife knows he knew or not. I'm not saying you're being thoughtless, just that you probably didn't think of that because all this is so new to you.

Also, with telling family, you do need to be careful and agreed on who you are going to tell and when. I have friends who told siblings in confidence about an early pregnancy and were horrified when those siblings told others the news. Your family may be the best secret keepers in the world, but there is always a risk.

Lastly, it must be difficult for your wife not being able to talk to her mother at this time, and it's great that you see that. My mother and DH are my two rocks, but there is something very special about the different conversations I have with each about my pregnancy. It is also making me grieve once again for my dead father, and how I have missed telling him my happy news. Your wife needs you to be that one and only rock right now, and that may feel like a heavy load for you at times, but I am sure you are able to support each other for a few weeks,by which time she may feel like telling a few people (especially if you have an early scan, which I recommend if you are both a bit anxious), but clearly you will agree this together.

Congratulations on your wife's pregnancy and I hope you both get to relax and enjoy it soon. It sounds as though you are already starting to get your head around some of the many enormous thoughts there are to consider.

Best of luck

DC905210 · 15/06/2015 11:32

AbbeyRoadCrossing

Her plan is to go to loads of antenatal stuff so there should be no problem there.

She is a bit wary of Mumsnet / Netmums though because of some, what was considered bullying her friend encountered related to breast feeding.

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 15/06/2015 11:37

Antenatal classes start quite late though, 3rd trimester usually. I was suggesting it if she needs support now. I've never come across bullying on the antenatal clubs thread, it's not that sort of forum. If she went on a formula vs breastfeeding debate in AIBU on here though, those usually end in a bun fight, it's true. All parts of mumsnet are different.

Blackandwhitecat3 · 15/06/2015 11:40

Having a chuckle at your last post OP...you did indeed tell her you might not be around when she goes into labour, but she immediately panicked that you'd miss the birth. Pregnancy hormones are wonderful if you can try to see the funny side. Your conversation sounds like one of many between me and my DH.

Try not to panic her, she's feeling it right now. I am pretty sure your colleagues will be begging you to work from home the week she's due, and will be keeping a closer watch than you on your mobile phone for two weeks before that. Smile they'll pack you out of the door the moment she rings you

rallytog1 · 15/06/2015 11:40

DC the February ante natal thread on here is lovely. Everyone is very supportive and not judgemental at all. We would all make your wife very welcome on there. I can't link to it on this app but it's in the Becoming a parent > Antenatal clubs board.

HappyIdiot · 15/06/2015 11:41

also, she doesn't need to post, she can just lurk. I lurked on here for ages, just picking up bits of information and advice before ever posted anything.

DC905210 · 15/06/2015 11:43

BlackandWhite,

Thanks for your thoughtful message. There is a lot of good stuff in there.

This wont change anything. What my wife wants is what it is going to be and I will not pressure her otherwise.

I personally don't understand as a concept us enjoying having a secret though. It is something a few people have said.

I just don't like it at all. It is certainly not fun in any way and not really what I was expecting.

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NickiFury · 15/06/2015 11:46

"It's certainly not fun in any way and not what I was expecting"

And will last at the very most two months! It's time to get over it, it really is, because you sound very resentful again.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 15/06/2015 11:48

Also, I wouldn't worry her about the birth yet. You won't have much information about that until the 2 scans as things like multiples, low lying placenta, breech, other pregnancy conditions will change when that is likely to be and by what method / where (vaginal, c section, home, birth centre, hospital).
Obviously don't tell her this but my birth was premature and an emergency section, so I was nearly on my own - it was all done in less than an hour over a month early. I'd have been shit scared if DH had mentioned missing the birth to me, but when you're in the situation all I thought about was the safety of my baby and I had a full medical team reassuring me. He didn't miss by the way.
Anyway, what I'm saying is don't worry about birth until you have some information on how the pregnancy is going. There are so many variables and without wishing to sound rude, you're at the cell ball stage, they can't tell anything yet.

CatOfTheGreenGlades · 15/06/2015 11:51

Yes, I mean this in a nice way but you need to be able to say "oh well, not what I'd have done but I guess I'll get over myself" and stop taking things to heart so much. You need a sense of humour and flexibility and that things will NOT always be what you planned. Now and for the rest of your life :)

Jackiebrambles · 15/06/2015 11:52

I loved it when it was mine and my Dh's little secret too, it made it really special - sort of like you have your own little world that nobody else knows about.

It was the same after we got engaged, we didn't tell anyone for almost a whole day, just enjoyed the special knowledge of it ourselves.

Each to their own I guess.

Jackiebrambles · 15/06/2015 11:57

I totally get that you said you might/could be working away when she goes into labour, most men are at work when that happens, but she 'heard' I'm going to be alone when this massive, scary, painful event is going to happen. Not rational but understandable!

I'm due next week and thought I was going into labour last night. It's amazing how vulnerable you feel and I wanted to keep Dh close this morning. He's gone to work though because you have to get on!

MrsTittleMouse · 15/06/2015 11:58

I'm not quite sure why you would "resent" not being able to tell your work collegues the full truth for 2 months. I know that them knowing can't have any effect on the safety of the pregnancy, but it can have an effect on your wife and how she feels. I'm a very logical STEM type of person, but pregnancy can be very difficult emotionally, and if you tell your collegues then it could quite easily cause your wife to feel under pressure. She's probably concerned about the old Franklin quote "three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead". No matter how lovely people are, these things can creep out (and I know that you would never tell, because you didn't tell about your brother, but not everyone is as good as concealing these things). Even if you know that your collegues wouldn't tell, you're expecting your wife to trust them when she's never even met them!

Talking of which, I'm a bit concerned about you needing the support of your brother and you mother. Nothing wrong with that in itself, but in 8-9 months your wife is going to be in labour, and might not want that news to be broadcast either, not even to nearest and dearest (I didn't tell my own Mum that I was in labour). Now is the time to prove to her that you can keep the workings of her body secret, as when she is in labour it is essential to the progress of the labour that she isn't stressed about who knows and why.

Blackandwhitecat3 · 15/06/2015 12:04

Tittle I never thought of that - I do NOT want my MIL to know about my labour until there is a healthy kicking and screaming baby in my arms. Good to know I can trust my DH on that score Grin

DC905210 · 15/06/2015 12:04

I am not trying to moan about anything and complain I am downtrodden etc. I am just trying to provide a perspective on how it is.

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LittleBearPad · 15/06/2015 12:07

You did indeed say 'goes into labour' she heard 'miss the birth'

Going into labour is rarely the exciting event portrayed in films, nor do matters typically progress very fast. But you'll learn all this in the coming months.

Stop worrying about the birth etc. it's ages away. Life can't be planned in the way you want it to - especially with babies and children.

Blackandwhitecat3 · 15/06/2015 12:08

DC I'm not going to take it personally, but I do think you need to be a little less blunt in your replies if you're going to use this forum successfully.

Greenglades is right here.

We all want to help you, please try to do as she says.