resentment

[dolphincrazy316]

Everytime I hear about somebody announcing a pregnancy I can't seem to be happy for them..Its more like I resent them..The only time I can be happy for them is if they have also had problems with pregnancy! Like I have a cousin that just had a baby and I was over the moon excited for her because the dr told her that she would never be able to have a baby! So when they announced her pregnancy I was SO happy for her! But if somebody that I know tells me they are pregnant but they have never had to experience a miscarriage or carrying a baby for 27 weeks only to leave the hospital without him and have to plan a funeral! Does anybody else ever feel this way? Is this a normal feeling? Please help!

[kerisue]

Resentment is something I'm working through too, especially with a coworker who didn't want to get pregnant and then sailed right through with 0 problems.

[angieb]

I'm pregnant (sorry to bring it up), but I wanted to chime in because I felt that way before I was pregnant again, and I still pretty much feel that way, having to do fertility treatments to get pregnant didn't help matters when it seemed everyone around me could get pregnant their first or second time trying and then went on to have completely easy pregnancies. With the fertility thing, I always told myself that my friend getting pregnant her first time trying didn't have anything to do with my hard time getting pregnant, and I try to remind myself of that with pregnancies too, but it does feel pretty unfair sometimes. And if they start whining...ugh. All bets are off then.

Anyway, I vote normal.

[m]

I have struggled with the same feelings. Even after having a good outcome with my second pregnancy, it is still difficult to hear about other women's pregnancies. Knowing people who 'accidentally' get pregnant, people who seem to effortlessly have baby after baby, and especially people who smoke while they're pregnant and then get to take a baby home - it's all hard. It's definitely gotten better with time, but I suspect I will always have these feelings to some degree.

[trish9]

I have struggled with those feelings too and have felt not too good about myself for doing so, but am working through it. It was especially hard for me to deal with a coworker who had her second baby just a month after my loss. She continually complains about the childrens's needs taking up so much of her time that she can't do things with her friends, she doesn't have her "own life anymore" etc. Ugh! I'm trying to pray about it and not be so affected by those types of situations.

[jean]

I can relate to this completely. It's so unfair..

[dolphincrazy316]

Thank you all so much..It seems like the ones that don't want a baby are the ones that always end up pregnant. I know this girl that has a 5 year old lil girl. The lil girl doesnt even live with her and hasn't for over 3 years. She couldnt take care of her at all. Well this girl came up pregnant again. Due next month. She told somebody that she only wanted the baby for the first year then she was going to pawn him off on somebody!! It people like that that shouldnt be able to have kids!! She is living in a house with no running water and no electricity!! Thats when I get upset! How could anybody feel that was about a baby when there are other people that would give anything to have a baby! I would love to have another baby for my son to grow up with!

[jamilyn]

I have felt the same way. I have friends and cousins who have 3 or 4 kids and are pregnant again and it is hard for me to get excited for them. When someone I know who has had difficult pregnancies or has a hard time getting pregnant and they become pregnant I am very happy and excited for them. I have been having an easier time with people who were a big support for me during my pregnancy and realize how special it is to be pregnant. Happy to hear I'm not the only one who has these feelings.

[teresatolman]

What you are feeling is completely normal. The thing is unless you have been through it you can not understand. That is why the rest of the world probably makes us feel like we are mean and spiteful. Really we are just trying to cope with grief and loss and it seems as though everyone else who can concieve and carry at the drop of a hat has to shove their perfect pregnancies in our faces. Hang in there, you are not alone!

[Lee Ann]

Yes, I would say it's a normal response to feel resentment at times when someone announces their pregnancy. My cousin just announced her pregnancy about a month ago. I congratulated her because I had to...not because I really wanted to. That sounds terrible, but I did feel jealousy and resentment. My husband and I have been ttc for a year now. So, I wasn't particulary happy about her announcement. I think it's only natural that we want to experience what most women get to experience. A healty pregnancy with good outcomes. My cousin has posted pictures of her ultrasound on facebook and people are commenting and congratulating. I prefer to remain silent. I am happy for her and I honestly do not mean any ill will, but it is (no matter who announces it) always a reminder of what we have lost. I admit, at times I feel disappointed in myslef for thinking and feeling some of the things that I do, but I also know that what my husband and I went through was very tramatic. How we deal with some of these issues are very individualized. I don't think it's abnormal. I think it's just trying to work through our grief and to some extent we try to protect ourselves.