My MIL Made a Strange Request About My Unborn Baby—And I Can’t Let It Slide (2025)

[edited] “Last night, myMIL said she still has books she once read tomyhusband—and how she’s soexcited toread them toour baby too. Atfirst, itseemed like aharmless request.”

Inher post, aReddit user shared aninteraction with her mother-in-law that started off like any ordinary conversation. During acasual evening, her MIL began reminiscing about her own pregnancy—how her husband would read toher belly, how the baby would kick inresponse, and how meaningful those moments were toher asayoung mother. Anostalgic mother reflecting onher journey into parenthood.

The first time mom-to-be didn’t think much ofit—until her MIL casually revealed that she had saved the very same books and wanted toread them again... this time, toher grandchild.

There was apause. Confused, she assumed her MIL meant after the baby was born. But no. Then came the realization.

[edited] “But thenI immediately grew uneasy, realizing she actually wants toread them tothe baby while she’s still inmybelly.”

Her MIL wanted toread tothe baby inthe third trimester, tobeprecise. She hoped the baby would recognize her voice the same way her son had once responded tohis father’s.

The Reddit user didn’t need time tothink aboutit. Her gut reaction was immediate: No, Ican’t let this slide.

“Itold her that would make meuncomfortable,” she wrote. “This isour first child, and wewant toreserve those kinds ofmemories for just the two ofus.”

Itwasn’t that she didn’t appreciate her MIL’s excitement. She understood how meaningful this first grandchild was toher. But the idea ofsomeone else reading toababy inside her body felt intrusive.

“There was something inherently invasive aboutit,” she added. “Alevel ofintimacy thatI simply wasn’t okay with. Ihadn’t even thought ofdoing this with myown parents. I’m not even close tomyMIL, sothe idea ofher doing something like that just feels off.”

Despite her respectful refusal, her MIL didn’t take itwell. She went silent for the rest ofthe evening, clearly upset.

After that tense evening, the first time mom-to-be brought itupwith her husband about what happened—and found herself fully supported.

“Heagrees that itwas anodd request that crosses boundaries,” she shared. “The problem isthat she does these requests not infront ofhim, haha. But heis100% inagreement that this would beinappropriate.”

What followed was not just amoment ofsolidarity, but amoment ofthoughtful reflection. Both wanted tohandle the situation with compassion. The MIL, she noted, might bestruggling with her transition into grandmotherhood, “Wewant tomake sure westay respectful yet assertive.”

Still, the boundary was clear. And with the help ofsupportive commenters, she was decisive. “Iam resolute inthis decision,” she concluded. They even brainstormed ways toinclude the MIL inamore appropriate and comfortable way—perhaps byletting her read stories after the baby arrives, oreven recording audio versions ofthe books asakeepsake.

But reading toabelly? That was afirmno.

The Reddit community had alot tosay about the situation—many expressing concern, some sharing similar stories, and afew offering advice. But nearly everyone agreed: this was not okay. Here are some ofthe most powerful comments from the thread that stuck withus:

• “She gets tomake grandma memories, not parent memories. Baby only needs toknow your voice (and Dad’s) right now. Anything else isjust anintrusion that will mess with your bond and make baby feel less secure and more easily distracted later.
  MILis trying todefy nature tomake herself feel important. Don’t let her.” ©AmbivalentSpiders/ Reddit
• “This isjust plain CREEPY. Please state your firm boundaries NOW because this woman isgoing toruin your postpartum bonding time ifyou don’t! Ohmygoodness! 🚩” ©DazzlingPotion/ Reddit
• “This would make mefeel sogross. Like wearen’t incubators who sit idly bysoyou can spend time with our unborn children.” ©manixxx0729/ Reddit
• “She was involved inthose memories for her own child, now you get todoitfor yours. How would she have felt ifher MIL took over, soshe didn’t get todothat for your husband? Also, anything you wouldn’t feel comfortable with should get anautomatic veto.” ©cutthestrings/ Reddit

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Radiant_Sky_1207 / Reddit, freepik / Freepik