Announcing a baby’s arrival is one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments parents treasure. But what happens when someone else repeatedly steals that joy?
One mom-to-be turned to Reddit’s AITA community after her own mother twice jumped ahead of her to share deeply personal baby news online. First, she posted about the birth before the OP had even left the delivery room. Now, she’s revealed the unborn baby’s name—again without permission.
The daughter is fed up, but knows leaving her mom out of these moments entirely could cause major family drama. Was she wrong for wanting to take control?
A pregnant woman plans to hide her daughter’s birth and name from her mom after she posted private details online again
In essence, the OP’s mother has become an unwitting warrior of oversharing, posting post-labor photos, revealing baby names before birth, and generally commandeering deeply personal moments meant to unfold at the new mother’s pace.
On one side, the OP values privacy, autonomy, and the sanctity of her own family rituals. On the other, her mother likely sees herself as excited, eager to celebrate, and not as malicious but rather, caught up in an impulse magnified by social media.
Zooming out, this speaks to a broader social issue: “sharenting”, the habit of parents (or relatives) sharing children’s images and information online without permission.
A 2021 study found that over 75% of parents share details of their kids on social media but only about 24% always ask for the child’s consent. The practice can impair not just privacy but family trust, shifting control from the parent to public spectacle.
Clinical psychologist Wale Okerayi advises that “if safety and trust are there, there’s no such thing as oversharing; … But boundaries matter.”
Brides
In this case, the OP never set or the mother failed to heed that boundary. The posts weren’t about trust—they were about control.
So what might the OP do next? A heartfelt conversation could help: “Mom, I love how much you’re excited, but I need to share in my own time.” Or consider an “info diet,” sharing only limited details as needed. If emotions run high, it’s fair to shrink social media access (e.g. untagging or delaying posts), and redirect the celebration to private, family-only announcements.
Take a look at the comments from fellow users:
These users voted OP was not the jerk, backing her right to control her baby’s announcement
Some urged an info diet, stressing her mom’s lack of “right” to private details
This user suggested leaning on hospital staff to enforce boundaries
Another called the mom’s actions entitled
These commenters saw the mom’s posts as attention-seeking
At its core, this drama isn’t about excitement or love, it’s about respect. A parent’s right to announce their child’s birth is non-negotiable. Reddit’s verdict? The mom-to-be is justified in drawing a hard line.
Would you cut your own parent out of the loop to protect your boundaries? Or is there room for forgiveness if the oversharing comes from love, not malice? Share your hot takes below!
