Published on InfoCandle.com
By Muhammad Nadeem
Pregnancy announcements are usually moments of joy and excitement, filled with hugs, happy tears, and heartfelt congratulations. But sometimes, even the happiest moments can take an unexpected emotional turn.
Recently on Reddit, a woman shared a deeply personal story titled, “I announced my pregnancy tonight and now I’m sad.” Her post quickly caught attention—not just for the joy of her news, but for the unexpected response she received from her sister-in-law (SIL). (Post Link)
“I’m pregnant with my first child,” the woman wrote, “and my boyfriend and I are so excited and nervous. We shared the news tonight with his brother and sister-in-law, and their reaction started out happy until his sister-in-law suddenly said, ‘We were pregnant too, but we had an abortion.’”
The confession left the original poster (OP) stunned and emotionally conflicted.
A Happy Moment That Suddenly Shifted
Instead of feeling celebrated, the OP shared that “all the joy I felt just disappeared.”
While she emphasized that she held no judgment and fully supported her SIL’s choice, the timing of the revelation clouded the moment. “I feel guilty for being happy and worried that our news hurt them more than they let on.”
What followed was a blend of conflicting emotions: guilt, empathy, and sorrow—all layered on top of what should have been a purely joyful moment. And while the OP’s story was heartfelt and thoughtful, the comments section revealed just how differently people interpret situations like this.
The Internet Weighs In
The top comments on Reddit didn’t hold back—and many users sided with the OP, saying the SIL’s timing was inappropriate and unfair.
EchidnaOwn1734: “My SIL told me she was 8 weeks pregnant; I laughed and said I was 6! I miscarried that night. Never once did I expect her to be sad about me and feel bad about her pregnancy. Congratulations!”
UhleXSauce: “I actually think them sharing that they had an abortion right after your pregnancy announcement was inappropriate and inconsiderate. It’s not like it was a miscarriage and they had no agency in the decision.”
LawfulnessWrong9466: “Even then it wasn’t the right time to share their side. This was OP’s moment and they stole it.”
Prestigious_Lab_4388: “Yeah, the timing was off, but people sometimes blurt things out when they’re hurting and don’t know how to handle it.”
Grief, Guilt, and Shared Space
5vataben: “Have they expressed that it is painful for them?”
tanrei: “There was zero form of sadness on my end after an abortion. Not everyone feels grief for making this choice!”
It reminded readers that projecting guilt or pain onto someone else—especially around topics like abortion—is a delicate line.
surroundedbysinners: “It’s okay to feel sad over making a tough choice. But what is not okay is announcing that you just had an abortion when someone says that they’re pregnant. What did they want you to do with this info? … She totally dropped the ball.”
The Takeaway
What this story truly highlights is the fragile space where personal joy and someone else’s pain—or difficult decisions—collide. There’s no perfect script for how to handle these moments, but timing, empathy, and boundaries all play a big role.
It’s okay to feel conflicted. And it’s okay to want your joyful moment to remain joyful.
The OP’s feelings were valid. So were the emotions—if any—that her SIL might have been wrestling with. But what the Reddit community agreed on was clear: there’s a time and place for everything. And sometimes, it’s best to let someone shine in their moment before adding your own shadows to the room.
What do you think?
Should the SIL have waited to share her experience, or was it fair for her to speak her truth in that moment?
Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for more stories, only on InfoCandle.com – where real moments matter.
