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Baby arrived! There was family drama :(

(88 Posts)
muffinthemoo Sat 15-Sept-18 14:43:00

First of all for those following my adventures at home - my boy arrived at the weekend. He is fine but the delivery was lengthy and difficult and eventually emergency section was needed. It was a bit touch and go for me but they managed to stop the bleeding eventually and save the uterus. (I was okay with the hysterectomy if needed although to be fair if needed, there wouldn’t exactly have been an option). We had to stay in most of the week so I could have blood transfusions and other things since I left seven pints on the theatre floor and went into shock sad. Rough affair all round and tbh DH was pretty frightened by the whole thing. Definitely definitely the last baby for us. I had some cardiac trouble that was put down to the blood loss but I am getting that further checked out in a bit.

Thanks to all the grans who sent their best wishes, I needed those in the end!

Feeling really rough but I’m home with my wee ones now and am just trying to rest and take it easy until I can get back on my feet more.

Drama - he arrived very early Sunday morning. Around mid morning MIL told (now I have seen the texts, so I say this advisedly, it was phrased as a statement of fact) DH that she would be coming to the early afternoon visiting. DH explained I was still in the recovery room getting blood and fluids as I was in shock and no one was coming anywhere since I was probably going to the High Dependency Unit rather than the postnatal ward.

She told him that she was coming to the visiting for the baby, not me, and surely if I was in HDU there was still visiting for the newborn?

Yeah, okay, thanks. DH was pretty upset by this time and he said some fairly rough things to her. I was pretty out of it so I wasn’t really aware of this happening until afterwards. I did end up in HDU. No one came up that day because I didn’t want the wee ones to be frightened so I needed my parents to stay with them. I called them on the phone when I was bit more compos mentis.

The next day comes, I ask to go to the postnatal ward if possible because I really want to see my girls as soon as I don’t look too scary. So I get down there in time for afternoon visiting amd see my wee ones and my parents come along. My parents were super upset but putting a face on it. (Mum has actually been... really good the whole time. Dad says she got a big shock and has decided to ‘try harder’. She’s my mum, I’ll take it)

DH is not speaking to his parents ar this point after the events of the previous morning but after the wee ones have a nice visit with me and new brother, I have a talk with him and say I think his mum and dad should come up that night to meet the new boy. I would rather he was there to help with the visit because I’m not allowed out of bed yet and have drips everywhere and a catheter in. Honestly I can’t even reach myself a drink. But I say, the other GPs have been up, let them come and see him.

You guys. The ILs appear and MIL doesn’t speak a word to me. She takes the one chair next to me and folds her arms and glowers at DH.

I ask her nicely if she wants to hold baby, and she rips out “No. I don’t agree with this passing babies around. Put him down.” It’s.... er, his own dad and her son who’s holding baby at this point so I think, welp not getting involved in this one.

I honestly just don’t feel well enough for drama so I just lie there and make a little conversation with FIL who seems embarrassed by the whole affair. Mercifully our brothers turn up with my SIL and I have a normal chat with them. DH offers the brothers and SIL a wee cuddle and they do indeed “pass the baby around”. Baby is cool with this, everyone washed hands when they arrive, this is fine. I open some lovely gifts from bros and chat away.

DH offers FIL a hold of the first and (almost certainly) only grandson. FIL moves his arms to accept before MIL grinds out “NOOOOO” and FIL just folds his arms back down.

The bros and SIL check this out and stampede for the door. If I could move I would also bail, smart move. But I have to keep lying there.

DH gets quite obviously emotional and asks his mum does she really not care about holding her grandson. She looks at him - he’s obviously tearful - and sneers “Too little, too late.”

FIL more or less grabs her and hustles her off the ward.

DH sits crying with me for a while. I feel really bad but all I can really do is hold his hand and try and comfort him.

We’ve not heard from her since and I haven’t brought it up. Neither has DH. I feel like I should try and find out how he’s feeling about this but, urgh, baby and I are barely back in the house. I don’t have the energy for drama at this point.

I will take any advice you might offer on how I should handle this from here.

Deedaa Sat 15-Sept-18 23:02:12

Congratulations Muffin my daughter's best friend had a similar time with her first baby - her husband had to burn all his clothes when he got home from the hospital because they were so bloody! (ten years on both of them are fine!)

Your MiL sounds a total self centred cow! I would have as little to do with her as possible. If she can refuse to acknowledge your presence you can do the same to her. She's obviously convinced your husband that it's his fault if she's upset which makes it difficult for you. Just try to rise above her nastiness. Do look after yourself now, and that lovely baby.

Elrel Sat 15-Sept-18 23:18:29

Muffin - you are amazing and certainly shouldn't have to cope with in law drama after what you've been through, physically and emotionally. Glad your little son is all right and hope you're soon rested and on the way to recovery. Wishing you and your family all the best for the future, you so deserve it!

PageTurner Sun 16-Sept-18 00:05:01

Muffin, Congratulations on the birth of your son. I hope you recover your health very soon and can enjoy your new baby.. The birth was an ordeal for you both.
Your MIL may someday regret her actions, but she definitely has some problem that she needs to address.,
I certainly would welcome a daughter in law as sweet as you.
Best wishes to you and your family.???☦?

harrigran Sun 16-Sept-18 09:04:44

Congratulations on the birth of your son muffin, you really do not need any more agro after what you have been through. Concentrate on getting your strength back. ?

oldbatty Sun 16-Sept-18 09:24:58

Please consider your own health and wellbeing as absolute top priority.

NfkDumpling Sun 16-Sept-18 09:49:15

Congratulations and good news that you survived all that and have a beautiful son. flowers

I echo what all the others have said. Your MiL obviously only came to the hospital to make trouble and has succeeded. Your poor DH has really been through the mill worrying about you and the baby and then having his mother attack him. Good for him to have stood up to her - even if he did end up in tears.

He’ll have enough on his plate looking after you and the children so hopefully won’t have time to worry too much about his mother, who is undoubtedly stewing at home. Time to concentrate on getting better yourself and into the new routine with the baby and the girls and being happy. Make the most of her sulking if it keeps her away - but I fear she’ll be back!

Anniebach Sun 16-Sept-18 09:59:44

Congratulations muffin and welcome to the new little life x

Bathsheba Sun 16-Sept-18 10:25:04

How lovely that your new baby boy has arrived - big congratulations!
But oh muffin what a traumatic time you have had shock. How that woman can be so evil unfeeling towards you after all you've been through is completely beyond my comprehension.
You are clearly such a lovely person, suggesting that she visits when you knew it would be an ordeal - there are plenty of women who would head down the NC route for far less! Good for you, she should be shamed by your kindness - surely she must realise she doesn't deserve it? Hmm, no probably not. She sounds like a totally self-centred and self-righteous bitch and not likely to change her nasty ways now.
Please just put her out of your mind for the time being, and concentrate on your little bundle of cuteness - and on getting back to full health. I feel so sorry for your DH, but I'm so pleased to see what a wonderful job he is doing in supporting you.
flowers for you and your little family xx

Marmight Sun 16-Sept-18 10:33:51

flowers Congratulations Muffin. Look after yourself and concentrate on your family. Ignore the MiL. She has a big problem. Let her stew....

ffinnochio Sun 16-Sept-18 10:54:34

Many congrats. and welcome to your baby boy! flowers

Take this time to have a really good holiday from MIL., until you’re robust enough to deal with her.

LJP1 Sun 16-Sept-18 14:22:47

Congratulations. flowers Well done both of you for weathering the storms so rationally. I'm not sure I could have done as well.

Try emailing / texting just you FiL - send a photo. It's up to him what he does with it or if he mentions it at all. He could help heal the rift if you can keep the lines of communication open.

Good luck shamrock

maddyone Sun 16-Sept-18 14:23:07

Congratulations Muffin, enjoy your little family and get well soon.
I don’t know what to say about MiL, except has she always behaved like this? How very strange she sounds. Whatever’s the matter with her? Thank goodness my MiL is nothing like this, so I really don’t know what advice to offer. Good luck seems appropriate though.

Jaye53 Sun 16-Sept-18 14:33:41

I agree with all posts re MIL.

Harris27 Sun 16-Sept-18 14:35:22

Please accept my heartfelt congratulations to you and your husband. I am the mother of three sons and deplore this behaviour she is the one going to miss out. My own motherinlaw died in Feb and she was a nightmare till the day she died we should of moved with husbands jib years ago but hindsight is a wonderful thing. She came around sometimes with me after needing daily care I was certainly good enough for her son then!! You have a husband and family which she will miss out on if she's not caeful but that's entirely up to her! You take care and concentrate on them let her come around in due course.

Shazmo24 Sun 16-Sept-18 14:37:49

MIL sounds like a total nightmare. FIL is browbeaten poor man. Let her get on with it! See if your hubby could get his Dad over for a visit or maybe arrange to meet up somewhere (without his mum) so that the "boy's" can have a bit of time together. Your poor FIL can't help being married to such a nasty woman
Take care, rest and recover xx

Marianne1953 Sun 16-Sept-18 14:48:38

Congratulations. Your FIL needs to get some balls and discuss MILs bad behaviour shown to your husband and you. This behaviour will not stop until FIL or your husband talks to her.

PECS Sun 16-Sept-18 14:52:19

Congratulations and welcome to your new baby! Hope you are gaining strength hour by hour. Focus on those you love and who love you. When you are back to full strength you can start thinking of other people. As you say maintain an open attitude to MiL for DH ( & FiL) sake. Just do not waste any negative emotional energy on her..not worth it.

grandtanteJE65 Sun 16-Sept-18 14:52:40

Congratulations on your son and your own recovery. Sounds like you have had the most ghastly time of it.

I suggest you leave discussing how hurt your OH is by his mother's behaviour until you feel stronger yourself. Otherwise it could turn into the sort of over-emotional talk for you both that does more harm than good and leaves you both feeling frazzled.

I am glad to hear that your FIL seems to have realized that his wife's behaviour is deplorable. Let's hope he had told her some home truths in the privacy of their home.

Glad to hear that your side of the family were pleasant and helpful.

gerry86 Sun 16-Sept-18 15:03:17

Congratulations. You have been through so much and you and your husband deserve to enjoy your new arrival without any hassle. Ignore MIL, she will either come round or not, her choice.

blueberry1 Sun 16-Sept-18 15:05:04

Congratulations on the birth of your dear little son.Just sorry that it was so traumatic for you.Concentrate on getting back to full strength and enjoying your children.Take it as easy as you can and treat yourself to your favourite foods.
As for MIL,if she turns up at your home,I would ignore her;after all she will only be there to visit baby,not you.
Your poor hubby needs to stand up to her a lot more but this is not the time to discuss it.When you feel stronger,why not have a quiet talk together about how to handle this in future.

Terri823 Sun 16-Sept-18 15:09:29

OMG Muffin, Thank goodness your dh supports and sticks up for you. FIL does need to grow a pair but probably too late now. Huge congratulations, not only on the birth but being such a level headed woman, I would be proud to have you as my DIL. Ignore her, the selfish woman, who obviously thinks it’s all about her. Enjoy your wonderful family, be loving to your DH and ignore the silly woman.

Jane43 Sun 16-Sept-18 15:10:34

Congratulations on the birth of your son. What a shame the joy of his arrival was tainted by the behaviour of your MIL. It is hard to understand some people sometimes.

dollyjo Sun 16-Sept-18 15:16:10

To Muffin and husband - Congratulations and I hope your strength - both physical and emotional goes from strength to strength.
I have tried to think of a kind word to say about your MiL but I cant think of one. I hope it is all 'water under the bridge' before too long.

Urmstongran Sun 16-Sept-18 15:24:30

Hearty congratulations to you all Muffin. Such high drama (in more ways than one eh?). Perhaps your husband could suggest he & his dad get together to ‘wet the baby’s head’? MIL sounds a nightmare. She gets away with it because she can.

GabriellaG Sun 16-Sept-18 15:26:33

A bit of a stretch...7 pints. The average woman has 6-8 pints.
I've no idea why she's not on Mumsnet.