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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

To be a bit gutted about SIL's (lack of) reaction to pregnancy?

287 replies

ConkerGame · 22/01/2025 21:39

Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation as it's getting me down and I don't want it to cause long-term damage in family relationships.

For full context, BIL and SIL are a few years older than us and have 2 DC, age 6 and 4. We have one DC age 2. We have always got on well with them - not super close due to living 1.5 hours away, but make an effort to see them, reacted with happiness when they announced each pregnancy, try to spoil our niece and nephew when we see them. We only meet up in person around 5 times a year, so it's normal to share news via FaceTime if not seeing one another soon.

DH messaged to say we had some news we wanted to share and asking to arrange a FaceTime. They would have known this was very likely to be a pregnancy announcement as we're already married, moved house last year, both in relatively new jobs, so not much else it's likely to be! They were slow to reply and quite non-committal on times, cancelled on us at the last minute first time we arranged. We eventually managed to arrange a time 10 days after DH's message - their choice of day and time. When BIL picked up, it was just him and he said SIL was busy doing bedtime. We said no problem, let's call you back in 30 mins so she can be here too. He said not to worry, he didn't know how long she would be and he would pass any news on. This was a bit deflating as we wanted to share our happy news with both of them, but it seemed odd to push it when he'd said no, so we announced the pregnancy to BIL on the call and he said all the right things - congrats, very exciting, the kids will be happy to have a new cousin, etc etc.

I expected to get a text from SIL later when she heard the news but...nothing! It's been two weeks now so it's not that she hasn't had enough time. I'm obviously happy and want to share the excitement with DH's family and she's the one I would usually message but it feels way too full on to message and check she's heard the news?! So now I'm left wondering - did BIL actually tell her? If he did, why is she not happy and why hasn't she congratulated us? Is there something wrong? And how on earth do I act when I next see them? (Likely to be early March so I'll be showing by then). The whole thing is just really weird and out of character. The only thing I can think of is that she could be having some sort of fertility issues herself, but then she does already have 2 children, which we happily celebrated with her, and would it really be too tough to just send a "heard the news from DH - congrats!" text? Or maybe to ask how I'm doing? She was really good with my first pregnancy so I was probably subconsciously expecting a similar reaction and the total lack of response has just left me feeling a bit...meh :-(

I know I can share my happiness with my parents and friends as well but family ties are important to me and she is the only other woman of our generation in either family, so I'm feeling quite sad that she doesn't seem at all interested or to care :-( Not sure how to handle this one going forward and any advice would be appreciated.

OP posts:
2025NewUserName · 27/01/2025 15:33

Wishingplenty · 27/01/2025 13:01

I definitely think there has been a massive shift in family dynamics over the years, and now that most families are quite disjointed, huge milestones that were once seen as the pinnacle of life, are no longer celebrated as they once were.

I actually think the opposite, a few decades ago people got hitched and popped out babies and it was a much more low key enthusiasm. I can't imagine in the 70s (or even the 90s tbh) things like save the date cards, very large weddings, pregnancy announcements, gender reveals, baby showers, babymoons etc.

meh2025 · 27/01/2025 15:59

2025NewUserName · 27/01/2025 15:33

I actually think the opposite, a few decades ago people got hitched and popped out babies and it was a much more low key enthusiasm. I can't imagine in the 70s (or even the 90s tbh) things like save the date cards, very large weddings, pregnancy announcements, gender reveals, baby showers, babymoons etc.

Absolutely this. It was just another normal part of life, and exciting for the grans to be usually, more than anyone else other than the parents to be. Baby showers for example didn't exist at all in the UK a few decades ago, I never heard of one until the 1990s.

BuildbyNumbere · 27/01/2025 17:06

Oh God … people have their own lives, why does everyone need to react how you would?!? I think you need to get on with your own life and realise it’s not all about you and your news 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

Voneska · 27/01/2025 18:38

You just don't know what's going on hindcloseddoors. It could be all sorts of things causing her depression. Life's problems don't stop when a pregnancy starts. She could be dealing with something concerning her own extended family. Maybe she just suffered a loss herself. Obviously there's something ailing her and she does not feel able to casually tell anyone. That's life I'm afraid.

Voneska · 27/01/2025 18:41

It's so disappointing that we haven't got to ' Father Reveal' parties yet
....L. O. L.

heroinechic · 27/01/2025 18:55

BuildbyNumbere · 27/01/2025 17:06

Oh God … people have their own lives, why does everyone need to react how you would?!? I think you need to get on with your own life and realise it’s not all about you and your news 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

Out of interest how do respond when a family member has positive life changing news?
a) say congratulations like a normal person
b) ignore it entirely
c) tell them it's not all about them and their news

Alabas · 27/01/2025 20:04

heroinechic · 27/01/2025 18:55

Out of interest how do respond when a family member has positive life changing news?
a) say congratulations like a normal person
b) ignore it entirely
c) tell them it's not all about them and their news

If my sister in law was pregnant (or got a promotion, etc.), and my husband had sent congratulations, I would assume they would think the congratulations were from us all. Same if my sister was pregnant or promoted, I’d say congratulations and she’d assume (and has in the past assumed), this was a sentiment from my family as a whole.

BuildbyNumbere · 27/01/2025 22:38

heroinechic · 27/01/2025 18:55

Out of interest how do respond when a family member has positive life changing news?
a) say congratulations like a normal person
b) ignore it entirely
c) tell them it's not all about them and their news

A … but as mentioned, not everyone is the same and she didn’t need to respond as wasn’t told
directly … OP is moaning that she hasn’t reached out since which is her prerogative.
Also, what’s a normal person?? That would be your opinion and not necessarily fact.

BuildbyNumbere · 27/01/2025 22:40

ConkerGame · 23/01/2025 14:21

Is everyone missing the fact that they literally shared their news with us the exact same way?!

So what?

BuildbyNumbere · 27/01/2025 22:41

ConkerGame · 23/01/2025 15:44

I have got the message. To be honest I’m very shocked by everyone’s responses (although I should know by now that MN hates both in-laws and celebrating any happy occasion! 🙈)

I don’t know anyone IRL who wouldn’t congratulate someone on a pregnancy, at least with a short text message. It’s rude and hurtful, regardless of what you’re going through.

like everyone I’ve had tough periods in my life but have never used that as an excuse to actively try to rain on someone else’s good news. This should be happy news for the whole family, not just for me/DH - another niece/nephew/cousin in the family to love and enjoy the company of. It’s not a crime to be excited to share that joy with your relatives! That’s how I’ve felt about each of their children (and even smaller things tbh, like when they got a lovely new house or a job promotion) and think it’s very sad that so many people on this thread feel so little for their own family that they simply don’t care if a new member is joining or not.

tbh this thread has really upset me. I’ve had a shocking first trimester, still feeling really rough and dealing with numerous complications and was just looking for help (on a site for mums!) with how to keep family relations positive during this time but instead I’ve faced a kicking for the apparent crime of following the usual method of communication for DH’s family. Often mums get blamed for favouring their own family when it comes to kids but I actively try to involve DH’s and still get told I’m in the wrong. Really can’t win!

Well you do know someone IRL now 🤷🏻‍♀️👍🏻

Lolalaboucheridesagain · 29/01/2025 14:07

They may be going through fertility issues. They may be going through something else which is taking their attention. They are probably just very busy. They are not as excited by your pregnancy as you are. Honestly the whole ‘booking in a zoom call’ just to tell them you’re preggers seems like overkill. I’m sure they’ll make an acceptable amount of fuss for you once the baby safely arrives.

Hatty123 · 29/01/2025 14:15

OP focus on yourself and your new little baby. I think you are massively over thinking this whole thing. You can’t control what other people do but you can control how you react to them. Speaking as someone with a 9Y, 6Y and a 1Y, having a 6Y and 4Y child will be time consuming and also no guarantee atall that they aren’t trying for another baby. We were trying for our third baby for 3 years and it finally happened for us with I was 40Y…
Also I think it is entirely possibly that your SIL considers the “Congratulations” from her husband to be from both of them.
As to how you react when you next see them…? Just be normal. Be happy, be natural and don’t make a big deal of things. Try to think about things with a dose of compassion as you don’t know what your SIL is going through… who knows if she has has been trying for another baby or has even had some losses… I can tell you that even after having 2 children, the pain of a miscarriage is still crushing.
Try not to dwell on things any longer and focus on the positives. Focus on your wee family and growing baby. And don’t do or say anything that could impact your relationships- this is all likely a bit of an overreaction to something non intentional! Give your SIL the benefit of the doubt. 💓

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