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Pregnancy

Honestly am I being unreasonable ?

34 replies

TTCmay · 28/12/2012 13:37

Partner's brother is getting married in NZ next year. I will be 32 weeks.

Partner now decided he is almost certainly going. For 2 weeks. I cannot believe he is even considering it. I am anti this as:

  • anything could happen ie baby arrive (unlikely, but why risk it?!)
  • I could have complications, eg admitted to hospital, bed rest etc, and have 6 yo at home to think of, with no family nearby.
  • generally I need his support and assistance.


Separately, we cannot afford this. We have made a concerted effort to become debt free (almost there!) and this will plunge us backwards. He said separately that he is worried about our finances when I am on maternity leave- being £3k less well off/in debt will not help at all.

We plan to get married late next year- if he goes, we definitely won't have the money. So him going to this wedding will delay ours by at least a year. Also I very much doubt his brother will come to ours....

Going myself is not an option- I have a child in school (it will be term time) and also I don't want to travel 30 hours when so big! That's before considering money side.

I can see this becoming a massive issue. Please tell me if I am being unreasonable. If he is being unreasonable, please help me show him this (he very much doesn't like being told what to do, so he needs to figure out for himself. Me saying I need him doesn't sink in)
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SuperSesame · 28/12/2012 13:46

I'd lay all of this out to him and let him make a decision.
I think at 32 weeks you will all liklihood be fine for about a week with you 6 year old.
I think YABU to not "let" him go to his own brothers wedding.
Cost aside I don't see any real issue. With costs delaying your wedding by a year, is that really a big deal? You'll feel better about your body and have more money a year after anyway

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brainonastick · 28/12/2012 13:49

I think yabu to have a problem with it due to you being 7 months pregnant, as it's his brother, and 7 months isn't too badassuming a straightforward (ha!) pregnancy - if it were 8 months then I'd agree with you.

Yadnbu to have a problem with it for all the financial reasons you mention (although I don't see why it as to cost £3k, but even so, it sounds like you simply can't afford it). You need to be able to agree on finances before you can agree to marry someone. If your dp can't manage money I would be very wary of marrying him.

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TinkyPeet · 28/12/2012 13:51

Tbh, the first part of that is very selfish! A long as you have no other issues, there will be nothing happening at 32 weeks! That's basically telling him he can't do anything or go anywhere for 9 months 'just in case', is there any reason to believe you would labour at 32 weeks? It's his brothers wedding.......
You're not being unreasonable about the money, if you can't afford it then you can't afford it, but again, it's his brother wedding......
I think you need I sit down with him and sort out what you both feel and make a decision from there, turn it the other way round, what if. It was your brother/sister. Would you expect him to be supportive?
Sorry if that sounds harsh. I hope you can fid a solution x

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Yama · 28/12/2012 13:53

Personally I would have hated dh to go away for 2 weeks while I was 32 weeks pregnant and with a 6 year old to parent.

The fact that the brother will not attend your wedding means that your dp presumably does not have family pressure to go. He is going because he wants to.

I would move heaven and earth to go to my siblings wedding but if it caused my partner distress I don't think I could.

I'm going round in circles. I can see both sides, I really can.

If he does go, do not allow him to put pressure on you whilst on maternity leave.

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YDdraigGoch · 28/12/2012 14:02

I think you could safely take a 6year old out of school for a couple of weeks with no long term consequences if you really wanted to go to NZ with your DP.
£3k is surely enough for all three of you to fly over and stay in a modest hotel for a week or so.
Appreciate that you might not want to fly at 32 weeks, but GP would probably certify you ok to fly if no other issues, and NZ isn't a third world country - they have a health service.
The timing isnt great, but I think YABU to not "allow" DP to go to a siblings wedding - how would you feel if the boot were on the other foot?

If you decide to stay at home, then you should be perfectly fine at 32 weeks. Tired maybe, but fine.

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TTCmay · 28/12/2012 14:03

Thanks all, there are good points made for both sides.

We do need to sit down to look at money again. And as the last poster mentioned, I am worried that after a few months off it will financially be so difficult that I will have to go back to work early- I'm already only taking 9 months off.

Selfishly I guess I don't want to give up time with my newborn so he can go off to wedding/on holiday (which it will be- it's a holiday with a friend around the wedding, which is the part I anticipate will make it expensive).

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ohcluttergotme · 28/12/2012 14:08

I think it sounds as though you are being a little unreasonable and you should manage a 6 yr old whilst being 32 weeks pregnant. If it were me I'd be inclined to go, have fun & let my 6 year old experience a lovely family wedding in NZ.

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Unicorn007 · 28/12/2012 21:42

If it were me I'd tell him he can go if he wants to but having just done that journey at 28 weeks pregnant I personally wouldn't be in a rush to go yourself. Also some airlines might not be willing to bring you back at 34 weeks! You need to check it thoroughly, I got stopped and asked for doctors letters etc at the airport on my way back.
It's a long journey normally with a 6 yr old to occupy, doing it whilst 32 weeks pregnant too - you would have to be keen!!

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Mylittlepuds · 28/12/2012 21:54

Of course something could happen at 32 weeks!

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TwitchyTail · 28/12/2012 22:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

leannac · 28/12/2012 22:19

We had a similar situation earlier this year with DH wanting to go to sisters wedding in Australia when I was 15 weeks (& advised not to travel due to previous pregnancy complications) & had a 15 month old toddler. My situation was slightly helped by the fact that SIL stipulated my DD wasn't allowed to attend the wedding as she wanted no kids so that made it seem more reasonable for DH to fly over without us. We couldn't afford the trip either & I didn't really (selfishly) want DH to go for that long due to the fact that I would have to take annual leave from work whilst he away as I couldn't do pickups & dropoffs by myself as I work shifts. As a compromise where he got to see all his Aussie friends as well as attend sisters wedding he went for just 9 days. Which obviously meant he spent a bit less money too.

Having done the Australia flight pregnant & with a baby, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be very nice at 32 wks pregnant & I wouldn't want to be so far away from home at that stage, but I'm thinking from the perspective of a mum of a toddler as I'm sure (praying fervently!) that 6 year olds are a lot easier on planes than toddlers?

It's an annoying situation but I would sort it out ASAP with partner & then don't mention it again after decision has been made. We argued for weeks about this when we had thr issue & I certainly wouldn't recommend that!

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mylittlemonkey · 28/12/2012 22:28

Financials aside, I do think it is unreasonable not to let your partner go to his brothers wedding and I would be fully supportive of my DH to go to any of his siblings weddings. I would be devastated to miss one of my sisters weddings. At 32 weeks the likelihood anything will happen is very low and so I would not especially worry about that.

Taking into consideration the financial side of things, does he really need to go for 2 weeks? Why not just go for 4/5 days or even a week. That way it cuts down the costs and means he will be away for less time.

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ScarfHatSunglasses · 28/12/2012 22:37

My DH flew to New Zealand for a wedding when I was 36 weeks pregnant. He went for the weekend only and it cost £750. It was fine. I had no other children but was working full time.
It doesn't need to be 2 weeks at all. Compromise on the time and therefore the money.

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noblegiraffe · 28/12/2012 22:45

His wanting to go to his brother's wedding is reasonable. 32 weeks pregnant isn't hugely pregnant. But to go for 2 weeks is unreasonable. Can you negotiate a shorter time?

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OhMittens · 28/12/2012 23:19

What is concerning is not the fact he wants to attend his brother's wedding, that's natural and reasonable, but the apparent lack of recognition of your efforts to keep house, home, 32 weeks pregnancy and child running smoothly without his input for the 2 weeks he is on the other side of the world!

I can totally see your side and if I was you, I would be feeling slightly resentful at being left to deal with the child, plus in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy (when yes actually, anything could happen even if it has been a straightforward pregnancy), struggling away whilst other half has a whale of a time on the other side of the world. On top of which it is costing quite a bit of money.

However, having been in similar-ish position to you in the past, from my experience all I can say is that resistance is useless. If you put your foot down and he doesn't go, he would always blame you which would be unbearably irritating in the future. You will never hear the end of it. If the annoying thing has come up, at least get some moral high ground mileage out of it. What might end up happening otherwise is that you argue about it, eventually he decides not to go, you feel so guilty you then end up persuading him to go, you can manage perfectly well etc etc!! He then ends up with a) the trip, b) your blessing(!) and c) the moral high ground. Triple irritating.

You need to try and avoid arguing about this as he could well decide it's too expensive anyway, but park the blame at your door for not going. I would just ask him to work out all the expenses and suggest ways in which you can cope without his input whilst he is away - just get him to think about what you in some way, whilst he is gallivanting.

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Ivvu6 · 29/12/2012 02:11

was this wedding planned before you got pregnant? If his brother set the date whilst you were pregnant then he has been unthoughtful( I got married this year and most of my family lives around the Europe. I picked the date what was good for everybody so I see it like that if his brother wanted him to go so badly he would change the date and even if your partner cant go... come on, its just a wedding! It`s not like he will never see him again. If he chose to have a baby he has to step up and not abandon his family. Anyway I hope it works out well for you :) xx

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noblegiraffe · 29/12/2012 07:25

It's not just a wedding though, it's his brother's wedding. I made a massive effort to get to my brother's wedding 150 miles away when I was 5 days before my due date. To suggest skipping the wedding entirely when his wife is only 32 weeks pregnant is quite a big ask. That said, there is a big difference between making the effort to go to the wedding and hopping abroad for a 2 week holiday. I'd say he can go to the wedding, but the holiday is unreasonable.

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ohcluttergotme · 29/12/2012 07:50

What about if your dh cuts the trip back to one week to ensure he goes to wedding and takes your dd? You could have a nice break before baby arrives, dh gets to go to brothers wedding and dd gets to go to wedding and all family get to spend time with your dd? Sure taking her out of school for 4.5 days wouldn't be the end of the world at 6 years old. Then the money saved from cutting back the trip could cover dd's fare? Good luck with getting this worked out

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sleeplessinsuburbia · 29/12/2012 08:20

Agree with scarfhat, I'd always encourage my DH to attend his brother's wedding (I'd actually go myself in your place) but compromise 1 week.

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Mylittlepuds · 29/12/2012 10:08

Agree with Scarfhat

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YDdraigGoch · 29/12/2012 16:33

Ohclutter has had a great idea. DP can compromise by taking DD with him. That way, you all get a holiday.
Being out if school for a couple if weeks at 6 is no big deal, and the trip could even be described as "educational".
They get some time together and with DPs family. You get a couple of weeks to yourself. You could take some time off too and have your own good time.

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worsestershiresauce · 29/12/2012 18:38

I'm another one who thinks he could go for a week max, and take your DD with him to give you a break. I'm 32 weeks and would be more than happy for DH to go away for a week but there is no way I'd consider a flight of that length myself. I get very uncomfortable if I have to sit in one position for a long time, and the risk of DVT and dehydration would also make it a no brainer not to go.

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Panzee · 29/12/2012 18:51

Great idea for him to take your son too.

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emblosion · 29/12/2012 19:03

Agree with those who suggested he go for a week, which would cost less & be a compromise.

It's his brothers wedding - if he wants to go he should and I think ywbu to stop him. I can understand why you feel how you do though. Can he save up/pay for it himself so it doesn't come out of tour own wedding fund?

In all liklihood you'll be fine at 32 weeks, but I wouldn't want to fly that far myself at that stage. Could he take 6 year old with him? You could have a nice relaxing week at home!

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mrslaughan · 29/12/2012 19:12

I would not recommend flying that distance at 32 weeks - and although many airlines are fine with flights at 32 weeks - most would not put you on a long haul flight at 34 - doesn't matter what a gp says - they just will not let you on.

I think him going - fine, if it wasn't for the financial stuff - that you will have to delay your wedding.

How close is he to his DB - are they religious, I would tend to think he is just going for the party - and he wants to see NZ and this is a good excuse......

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