Woman ‘Disappointed’ by Family’s Reaction to Her Pregnancy After Sister Gives Birth

A mom-to-be seeks support from the Reddit community after sharing her disappointment over her family’s lukewarm reaction to her pregnancy.

The 27-year-old woman explains that she and her husband had been planning to start a family for some time and she was thrilled to learn that she is expecting.

“I was so excited when I found out we were having a baby!” she writes. Her excitement, however, was not matched by those closest to her, particularly her mom, who recently devoted much of her time to helping with her younger daughter’s newborn.

Her sister, 23, recently became a mom herself and the family has been completely focused on the new arrival. “The entire family has been over the moon, and my mom has been the biggest help to them, even staying over often to help with the baby over night,” she shares.

It’s that level of energy and enthusiasm that the expecting mom had hoped for when she shared her own big news. Instead, she says, “when I announced my pregnancy, I was not met with the same enthusiasm.”

She admits she tried to brush it off at first, understanding that her family might be feeling “babied out,” but the reaction still stung. “I recently had a conversation with my mom about being a little disappointed with the family’s reaction, and she proceeded to tell me that it was poor timing, because she needed a break,” she explains.

The mom-to-be emphasizes that she never expected her mother to take on the same role again. “I never asked or assumed that I would depend on her for help with the baby, although I can’t lie and say it wouldn’t hurt if she refused to offer at all,” she admits.

Part of what made the moment harder was knowing how quickly her mother had celebrated her sister’s first pregnancy. “She was excited from the moment my sister announced her pregnancy,” she recalls. By comparison, she feels her own joyful news is falling flat.

Her post asks the community a vulnerable question: “Does it make me the AH for getting pregnant a few months after my sister has a baby?” It’s clear she worries that her timing is being unfairly judged.

Many commenters rushed to reassure her, insisting she has nothing to feel guilty about. One person wrote, “OP, this isn’t normal. I would honestly go low contact for a bit until your family can show up for you and realize that it’s not okay to be any less excited for you or treat you differently than your sister.”

Another commenter offered a heartfelt congratulations and reminded her that this milestone belongs to her. “Well that’s a weak and selfish reaction from them. I’m excited for you, congratulations!” they chimed in.

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They went on to encourage her to lean into the joy of starting her family with her husband, even if her relatives don’t match her excitement right away. “Also, you get to start your family whenever you want, regardless of what’s happening in your family at the time!” they add.

As the thread continued, support poured in for the mom-to-be, with many urging her not to let her family’s initial reaction overshadow the joy of her pregnancy. “Try to focus on your excitement with your husband and take joy in the process,” one commenter encouraged.

For now, the expecting mom remains hopeful that her family will come around. But even if they don’t, she knows she has something to celebrate, holding tight to the happiness she felt when she first learned her family was expanding.