Woman Struggles With HG While MIL Denies Diagnosis And Demands A Birthday Party

During pregnancy, a new mom needs all of the support she can get. From her partner keeping the house clean to her best friends dropping off delicious treats to keep her energy up, it truly takes a village to transition into the life of being a parent without losing your marbles.

But unfortunately, some family members feel the need to make the experience even harder on new parents. One pregnant woman reached out to Reddit for advice after her mother-in-law pushed her to her breaking point. Below, you’ll find all of the details that she shared, as well as a conversation with the author and some of the replies concerned readers left her.

This woman has been struggling with an extremely difficult pregnancy

Woman with tousled hair looking out a window, appearing thoughtful and concerned about pregnancy and family issues.

Image credits: Dragana_Gordic/Freepik (not the actual photo)

But what pushed her over the edge was the way her mother-in-law has been treating her

Pregnant woman shares her experience battling hyperemesis gravidarum and calls out MIL for hijacking pregnancy on Facebook.

Text excerpt about struggles with pregnancy, ER visits, vitamin infusions, medication, and mental health challenges.

Text stating a woman calls out her mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy by using her uterus as a Facebook profile picture.

Pregnant woman sharing frustration as mother-in-law hijacks pregnancy and uses uterus as Facebook profile picture.

Text excerpt discussing a small surprise party and personal feelings about a pregnancy celebration.

Text excerpt describing a woman confronting her MIL over hijacking pregnancy and unfair birthday party planning.

Pregnant woman holding ultrasound photo, illustrating a woman calling out MIL for hijacking pregnancy on Facebook.

Image credits: user13216326/Freepik (not the actual photo)

Woman sharing her pregnancy loss story and calling out mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy on Facebook profile pic.

Screenshot of a Facebook post sharing pregnancy experience and addressing pregnancy loss with delicate and tactful wording.

Text shows a woman upset about her mother-in-law hijacking pregnancy and sharing miscarriage details on Facebook.

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Text excerpt about woman upset with mother-in-law hijacking pregnancy and sharing without tact.

Older woman looking concerned using laptop, depicting mother-in-law hijacking pregnancy on social media profile.

Image credits: Wavebreak Media/Freepik (not the actual photo)

Text expressing sadness and guilt after MIL hijacks woman's pregnancy announcement on Facebook.

Text showing a woman expressing pain about others discussing her loss bluntly, touching on pregnancy and family issues.

Text excerpt showing a woman calling out her mother-in-law for hijacking her pregnancy and sympathy on Facebook profile.

Woman calls out mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy by using her ultrasound as profile picture on Facebook.

Text excerpt describing discomfort over mother-in-law hijacking pregnancy with uterus profile pic on social media.

Image credits: xcataclysmicxx

“I’ve really had to lay down the law about a few things”

To find out more about this situation, we got in touch with the new mom who shared this story on Reddit. She was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and discuss how her relationship with her mother-in-law is today.

“I’d say our relationship has improved, but I’ve also really had to lay down the law about a few things and be a real jerk,” the author says. “But so far, it’s worked out in my favor and has gotten me respect.”

She also noted that she’s never been particularly close with her husband’s mom, but this level of disdain for one another was new.

Finally, we asked the mother what she thought of the responses to her post. “I thought the replies were mega helpful, and validating,” she shared. “I thought I was just being a brat if we’re being honest.”

New moms need all of the support they can get during pregnancy

Pregnant woman gently touching belly, highlighting pregnancy and family dynamics involving MIL hijacking the moment.

Image credits: cookie_studio/Freepik (not the actual photo)

As the author noted, pregnancy is one of the hardest things a person can experience. For nine months, a mother’s body is no longer fully her own. She has to share it with her child, who she’s now in charge of growing, protecting and nourishing until they get to come out into the world. 

The experience can be terrifying, empowering, beautiful, exhausting and extremely painful, physically and emotionally. So it’s important for everyone in the mother’s life to do all that they can to help and support her during the wild ride of pregnancy.

Sunflower Motherhood notes on their site that the best way to support someone’s pregnancy is to try to understand what they’re going through. Educate yourself on the stages of pregnancy and what the mother is likely going to experience during each one. 

However, if she expresses that her experience is unique, listen to her. Don’t invalidate her feelings or dismiss any of her concerns. No matter how much research you do, you won’t know exactly what she’s feeling in her body. And it’s important that she feels seen and heard.

Practical and emotional support are both crucial during pregnancy. When it comes to helping out with practical needs, friends and family members can offer to help clean the house, prepare meals and drive the new mom to and from appointments.

Tasks that would usually be simple can become extremely exhausting or challenging while growing a child, depending on how the mother is feeling, so it’s best to try to lighten her load. And at the same time, loved ones should encourage her to practice self-care. Prenatal yoga, hot baths, gentle walks and meditation can do wonders for some mothers, so make sure she always has some time to relax.

It’s important to set strict boundaries when dealing with a toxic mother-in-law

Middle-aged woman with glasses resting on a couch, reflecting on a story about hijacking pregnancy on social media.

Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)

Unfortunately, as we’ve learned from this story, not everyone is supportive as they should be during pregnancy. It’s common for mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws to have conflicts in general, but these issues can sometimes become heightened when there’s a new family member on the way.

The soon-to-be grandmother might want to be overly involved, while the new mother might be feeling terrible or might be too exhausted to have to deal with entertaining her in-laws. Not to mention the fact that stress can take a huge toll on a pregnancy. 

If a mother is under a lot of stress during her pregnancy, it can weaken her immune system and increase her likelihood of getting an infection. Stress can also lead to developing other issues like trouble sleeping, problems eating and high blood pressure. And tragically, it may even lead to miscarriage in certain cases.

So how can a pregnant woman deal with a toxic mother-in-law who’s only exacerbating her stress? SanityDaily notes that it’s best to enforce firm boundaries and prioritize yourself. And if she’s trying to provoke you, do everything you can to ignore her and refuse to engage. 

Make sure that you already have enough help from others, and she won’t be able to argue that you’re in need of her assistance. And keep in touch with people who actually love and support you that will help you destress from your encounters with your mother-in-law.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments, pandas. How would you have responded to the way this woman’s mother-in-law acted? Feel free to weigh in. Then, you can find another Bored Panda article discussing similar family drama right here. 

Later, the soon-to-be mom responded to several comments and shared more details about her situation

Reddit comment discussing a mother-in-law hijacking pregnancy by using ultrasound as a Facebook profile picture.

Reddit conversation about a woman confronting MIL for hijacking pregnancy and disrespecting her loss on social media.

User comments expressing frustration about mil hijacking pregnancy and offering support during pregnancy struggles.

Readers assured the author that she was not overreacting, and many shared suggestions of how to deal with her mother-in-law

Reddit conversation discussing a woman calling out her mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy on Facebook profile.

Screenshot of a social media comment addressing pregnancy hijacking by mother-in-law in a family conflict discussion.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman calling out her MIL for hijacking pregnancy with FB profile pic.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman calling out her mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy.

Screenshot of an online comment calling out a mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy on social media.

Comment advising to cut off MIL who hijacked pregnancy by using woman’s uterus as Facebook profile picture.

User comment in a forum advising to contact Facebook to remove hijacked pregnancy image from MIL’s profile picture.

Screenshot of a woman’s comment about controlling who sees her baby first in a pregnancy hijacking discussion.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment where a user suggests putting the mother-in-law on an information diet regarding pregnancy.

Comment discussing setting boundaries with mother-in-law who hijacked pregnancy by using fetus image as social media profile pic.

Reddit comment discussing personal boundaries amid a woman calling out MIL for hijacking her pregnancy on Facebook.

Comment warning about helicopter grandparent behavior in pregnancy hijacking dispute on a social media post.

Comment advising to cut MIL out of life and set boundaries to avoid pregnancy hijacking issues with mother-in-law.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing Facebook and the impact of a mother-in-law hijacking pregnancy news.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment advising to ask Facebook to remove a hijacked pregnancy profile picture.

Screenshot of a social media comment calling out a mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy and using uterus as profile picture.

Screenshot of a social media comment urging to report and call out a woman hijacking pregnancy for her Facebook profile.

Comment advising on privacy and trust issues after mother-in-law hijacks pregnancy by using personal info on Facebook profile.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment criticizing a MIL for hijacking pregnancy and advising to limit photo sharing.

Screenshot of a comment discussing pregnancy hijacking and a mother-in-law misusing Facebook to post about the woman's body.

Screenshot of a social media comment calling out a mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy on Facebook profile.

Screenshot of an online comment calling out a mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy on Facebook profile pic.

Comment on a forum post expressing sympathy and calling out a mother-in-law for hijacking pregnancy attention.

Some even had similar stories of their own to share

Reddit users discuss MIL hijacking pregnancy by sharing ultrasound photos against the woman's wishes and fertility struggles.

Pregnant woman shares ordeal with MIL hijacking pregnancy and dealing with severe morning sickness during high-risk pregnancy.

Screenshot of a forum post where a woman shares how her MIL hijacked pregnancy news by posting an unauthorized ultrasound.

Comment discussing pregnancy loss, HG struggles, and a mother-in-law hijacking pregnancy news on social media.

Text post discussing setting boundaries with a mother-in-law over pregnancy and issues of appropriation and support.

Comment expressing frustration about MIL hijacking pregnancy and its impact on mental health during early pregnancy.

Text post detailing frustration with mother-in-law hijacking pregnancy, ignoring cravings and boundaries, harming mental health.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman’s MIL hijacking her pregnancy and posting ultrasound pictures online.

Comment discussing a woman confronting her mother-in-law for hijacking her pregnancy on social media.

Commenter discusses frustration over MIL hijacking pregnancy by using uterus image as Facebook profile pic.

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