Overbearing MIL

I need to vent. I’m 3 weeks post partum and my son cries sometimes and can be difficult to settle. My mother in law has been very overbearing and whenever my son cries takes him off me to settle him. It’s now got to the point the point where I’m nervous for when my son cries cos I feel everyone looks at me to settle him and when I can’t I feel embarrassed and she comes along and takes him off me. At night when my son is crying, she’ll come into the room and do the same at 3am. I feel like all I’m good for at the moment is breastfeeding him but otherwise I’d be a shit mum. I feel like she’s getting in the way of me bonding with my son and learning my sons cries and habits. I feel really sad and useless :(

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Speak up! It’s your son at the end of the day

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I hate to say it, but she may think she’s helping.

I would try to communicate. Say thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. In the future can I try to do it on my own and ask for help if I can’t do it?

I could be wrong, but the intent might be to make your life easier.

I absolutely understand your perspective. It’s definitely overstepping. But my mom and most people her age would probably do something like that too.

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😭😭please try to have a conversation with her, she can’t be taking him off you without you asking. I’m sorry & I hope it gets better. You’re his mumma and he thinks you’re doing amazing🤍

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My MIL came to stay with us for a month when I was just 1 month pp and she did the same with me and my son. She used to say I’ve raised kids of my own so I know how to do it and it always felt like she’s attacking me and trying to prove that I’m not a good mother. But I had to speak up and let her know that she can’t be constantly taking my baby away, at the end of the day she’s raised her kids and I will raise mine.

If possible try and talk to your husband and see if he can talk to her and set boundaries with her if you’re not able to talk to her.

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Overbearing MIL

I need to vent. I’m 3 weeks post partum and my son cries sometimes and can be difficult to settle. My mother in law has been very overbearing and whenever my son cries takes him off me to settle him. It’s now got to the point the point where I’m nervous for when my son cries cos I feel everyone looks at me to settle him and when I can’t I feel embarrassed and she comes along and takes him off me. At night when my son is crying, she’ll come into the room and do the same at 3am. I feel like all I’m good for at the moment is breastfeeding him but otherwise I’d be a shit mum. I feel like she’s getting in the way of me bonding with my son and learning my sons cries and habits. I feel really sad and useless :(

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1

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