Ok, long story short. I hope. (I normally lurk) I need some outside perspective from wise Mumsnetters. I think I'm losing touch with what is 'normal'. and I have already learned so much on the Relationships board
My PIL are lovely, decent, hard-working people. Well educated, 'up-standing pillars of the local community' sort. After my difficult childhood (severe family illness) and various life changing events, I was over the moon to meet and fall in love later in life, with my wonderful now DH. Also quite delighted to discover he had a pretty amazing family who were great achievers in all areas. They were all extremely welcoming towards me, although MIL could at times be rather suffocating in her enthusiasm (her son and I had met in our 30's and as the last to settle down, maybe she was panicking slightly that it wouldn't happen for him). We were extremely lucky to have a little financial help from them to buy our first house and I am always telling them how grateful we are.
It was no secret to her children that MIL wanted grandchildren. They all knew there was a family heirloom waiting for the first grandchild to arrive. I was also slightly perturbed to hear it was family knowledge that one of her DIL's was "already on the folic acid" during their wedding planning. No pressure then. Luckily, they were rewarded with a honeymoon conception and MIL -beaming- duly congratulated them on their achievement.
Now, I should add that MIL has high anxiety levels. They have been described as 'neuroses' but if I listed them here, you may have different ideas. They also like to be very 'involved' in their grown up children's lives and with extensive life experience have lots of wisdom that has to be shared. They also like to know as much as possible and often worry -unnecessarily- when they aren't involved. I understand in the past, they have never refrained from commenting when they did not think any potential in-laws were not suitable, particularly if they were foreign and could take their child/grandchildren abroad This understandably has caused some tensions.
DH & I were able to date, get engaged and plan a small wedding without too much discussion intervention At the time, MIL was pre-occupied with the other siblings, mainly how they were bringing their children up and other wedding plans. She became quite ill with anxiety and stress during this time, perhaps because the siblings had their own plans/lives and she wasn't happy about some of them (PIL tend to ring the other siblings and share the stress out during these dramas). I am aware that one sibling's calls had to be screened by FIL as she was too ill to talk to them directly and another sibling had threatened to go NC with PIL if they continued to be 'over-involved' with their child-rearing ideas. Or 'concern' as it is labelled.
There were a couple of calls about bringing our wedding forward (why? it was the winter! brrr) etc On the whole though, during our short engagement they were very kind and supportive, offering lots of help and even donating a small sum towards the modest costs (very low key wedding).
Both DH & I are quite private people (as are PIL) and as we don't consider ttc a team event, never announced to all that we were going to try for a family. (Even though they had quizzed DH about it before the wedding - to ensure it was going to happen I assume). Less than five months after our wedding (with as yet no pregnancy announcement) MIL asked to have a private word with me. She said she knew that I enjoyed my career and that I had worked hard to gain financial independence, despite my difficulties in life. She suggested it might be difficult for me to give that up. Therefore, to make it a bit easier for me, she wanted to give me £10,000 to support me during any maternity leave (!) Bizarrely I was already 6.4 weeks pregnant and we were planning on telling them after our 12 week scan. Unfortunately, I had been bleeding AND feeling extremely ill and didn't handle my -surprised- response clearly and assertively enough. I was also in the throes of a severe chronic illness (at that time undiagnosed) and mumbled politely that it was thoughtful, but if she wanted to give money then it would belong to DH and it would be up to him how to use it. I would have told her that I was pregnant anyway, but had a bad feeling about the bleeding and knew she'd be upset, so I didn't. After she left the house, I miscarried. The pregnancy was over but chronic illness continued.
The next 18 months have been a blur of uncharacteristic continual severe illness, misdiagnosis, countless hospital visits, medical letters, scans and finally, a diagnosis and PIP application/ill health retirement. We didn't make it headline news amongst everyone we know (we weren't sure what was happening ourselves) but DH kept his family informed. During this time, I was unable to attend any family/friend events and lost touch with so many people. It was a horrid time, but I attempted to keep in touch by group e-mail and also sent copies to PIL. My friends were amazing! During my illness -where I was housebound most of the time- PIL held group meet-ups, but rarely came to the house, so I did not see them much at all.
MIL was extremely anxious when we discussed my illness with her at the beginning and sent me to her recommended alternative practitioner to see if it would help. I gladly went, feeling so ill, but it became another treatment we tried that did not work. We did not share our miscarriage with them on top of me being ill. (MIL has experienced terrible fertility issues/lost a child in the past and I could not face involving anyone in our grief, especially with the inevitable anxiety! I had enough of my own by then). Anyway, we would soon be pregnant again wouldn't we and give her some happy news. Well, I did get pregnant on a further two occasions and devastatingly lost them both, one between hearing the heartbeat for the 2nd time and getting a scan picture (10 weeks) and the 12 week scan. The chronic illness may or may not have contributed and it was a scary, unpredictable time for us both. We clung to each other and survived through it, thank goodness. My maternal age was advancing and I know my Dh was desperate for children. We had the inevitable discussions about whether we should separate and he should have a second chance with someone younger/more fertile. He was always adamant that it had taken him so long to find me, he wasn't letting go of me now, children or no children. I was very keen to keep trying (not very wise in hindsight) but he was a lot more realistic about our chances and although sad, said he had let that go now. He could see that I was too unwell. The pressure was off. Are you still with me? 
DH told PIL about the miscarriages very soon after the last one (16 months after the wedding) and said that it was not looking very hopeful for us now. MIL sent me a lovely e-mail about how horrid MC's were and that they were thinking of me and the only thing that mattered was to get better again. They sent round lots of vitamins/healthy drinks and cooked food. Very thoughtful as I was so ill. Sadly, I did not improve and of course did not go out or see people. I asked PIL to come and visit (they often are near seeing the other siblings) but they seemed rather elusive. I believe that because of their anxiety, DH did not perhaps be as honest about how ill I really was. There were lots of other issues in the family (more fertility angst elsewhere) and with his DM's health, he only focussed on the positives. i.e. the days I had got upright and left the house briefly. MIL did ring me to wish me Happy Birthday which was thoughtful. But she was concerned that DH was not getting out enough and wanted to know did he still see his friends? (NOT on my priority list to be honest).
During my mostly housebound and awaiting a diagnosis months, PIL would travel to the area to see some of the siblings and meet DH from work for lunch to catch up. He would come back with various updates. I.e.
*MIL thought we were becoming socially isolated (er, hello, did you know I was ill and rarely seeing anyone -not even my own family- and I was relying on DH for care?!! AND I had invited PIL on numerous occasions).
*MIL was extremely concerned that we weren't in touch very much with the siblings (er, the ones with children or are triumphantly pregnant you mean? I think my DH struggled with this as much as I did)
*MIL was worried that Dh would not have children and should freeze some sperm (DH pointed out to her that as we had stopped trying, unless I had been hit by a bus and he would have to go ahead and meet someone else in the future, that it would not be necessary). MIL came back the next day with another sibling to convince him and MIL would pay for the sperm freezing storage costs. He declined.
*Following another long call between DH and MIL, a letter arrived in the post. It was a newspaper article stating that the UK was short of sperm donors and MIL thought that if DH signed up for it that it would "take the pressure off" and wished us both luck (!)
MIL seemed to be avoiding visiting me during this time and I became upset that she didn't visit or seem to understand how ill I was. I felt I was being pushed out and she was becoming a little 'over-involved' with discussions that did not seem to involve me. DH then decided to share this with her (to improve relations?) and she arrived unexpectedly on my doorstep weeping when he was at work. She was upset that we had not told her about any of the pregnancies (none had ever reached 12 weeks) and that I was "secretive". She was also very upset that I had not even told her about the MC when she was round here last offering the money. Truthfully I told her I did not know it was a MC at the time, as I'd never had one before. She then shared her own distressing fertility struggles (about burying babies) with me and although I wish she hadn't (it made me cry) I understand she was probably trying to empathise/get closer. I was too ill to really engage with her -or anyone else.
Life carried on, both with me not recovering and MIL going back to not visiting me but DH from work. I asked PIL to visit by e-mail, telephone call, or through DH. I offered to cook (would have taken me a week) or to travel to visit them and take food (so that MIL wouldn't have to cook). Her anxiety during this time was sky high (other family issues) and she had a huge panic attack in public. DH said she was too ill to visit me (but seemed to manage to get to the other siblings ok). During an argument, he then confessed that MIL thought that I had been stringing DH along all this time. Putting the wedding off as long as possible during dating (I was waiting for him to propose!) and making sure I was too old to have children, so it would be too late. It explained so much. I guess when there was no pregnancy news over 16 months of marriage, they became ? fearful?
I continued to be ill, and trying (& failing) to make arrangements and see people. I'm a very sociable person normally and the isolation was driving me crazy! Last year we organised to travel and go and meet PIL (I was hoping it would improve relations). Unfortunately they decided to turn it into a bit of a celebration and invited other siblings along. DH and I had been hoping for something small and low key which we had discussed with them (without staring at pregnant bellies) so he cancelled politely by e-mail 48 hours before. MIL e-mailed a lovely brief reply, but there was some panicky phone calls the day after about why he had suddenly cancelled, so DH had to send another reassuring e-mail out to them that he was fine, just weary.
On the evening of the day we were due to originally meet, PIL drove 50 miles for an unannounced visit to us. MIL was very teary and clingy with DH. She turned sideways to me, would not look me in the eye and ignored all attempts by me to engage and set a date so they could come and visit for lunch. Later we discovered that PIL thought that DH was suicidal as his cancellation was 'uncharacteristic'. He has NO idea where that idea came from. (With suicide in my family I was careful to discuss this with him at length!).
This has gone on long enough! Are you still there? Sorry. I could write so much more but wanted to provide a balanced account of the main events. I have been ill for so long and had so much time to think about what has happened but I'm not sure I am strong enough to see solutions to this. Disclaimer: The illness/ recurrent miscarriages has triggered anxiety and depression, which although under control now, has had me doubting my judgements/feelings.
The happy news is that now I have a diagnosis, I have an amazing medical support team and I have clear information I can share with family/friends. I have been advised to surround myself with people who can really support me during my potential recovery -fingers crossed that happens- and to avoid anxiety where possible. I still find the behaviours of MIL upsetting and their long anxiety-filled telephone calls to DH very difficult. I can't list their fears/neuroses for fear of outing myself, but they are long and varied and at times quite extreme. All very tiring. (One being that I took their offer of money the wrong way, even though it was kindly meant etc. I see some blame coming my way.....).
My doctor has suggested that DH tells PIL they are not to ring the house or visit. How is that going to do down?! Ulp. My husband is the kindest, most caring, calm, loving, individual. He tends to be the peacemaker and is quite adamant that they do everything through love and do not intend to offend. However, even he seems to be on the edge over this recently and appears hesitant to be in touch with them.
Any advice or suggestions? They are intrinsically lovely, thoughtful people and I am quite devastated that I have lost a relationship with them due to MC and illness (rarely see my own family). I'm not sure what to do next. What would you do if they were your PIL? I hope there is someone still reading?..... If so, then thank you!
Now we can all go and have a long lie down! 