30M and 31F had a still birth. Are these text responses from my sister in law insane or what?

What does a family do when tragedy collides with privacy and outside interference? In this account, a young couple faces an unimaginable loss: their unborn son dies after the mother develops a life-threatening infection. The medical emergency leaves both partners raw, and the immediate priority becomes survival, recovery, and holding space for grief.

An unexpected fundraiser and public post by the mother’s sister turns a private wound into a public story. The post shares intimate details the couple never wanted broadcast and claims financial hardship that feels untrue to the father. That breach of privacy exposes simmering tensions about family influence, caregiving roles, and who gets to speak for the grieving couple.

’30M and 31F had a still birth. Are these text responses from my sister in law insane or what?’

The nightmare began with a devastating stillbirth that nearly claimed two lives.

Recently my wife and I had one of the hardest things happen - she had a stillbirth. She got a bad bacterial infection and our son died before he was...

Support arrived quickly, but it came with unexpected complications from the sister’s side.

Her sister reached out to me the following day asking to speak to my wife because she couldn't get a hold of her (she was too weak to speak to...

I agreed to help them get in touch once i was back in the room with her. She then texted me saying she is trying to get some fund raiser...

The husband pushed back gently, prioritizing their stability and peace.

I told her we are good and i got it. Screenshots: Once i was back at the ICU with my wife who was starting to be more aware other family...

(My wife is a stay at home mom and I am the sole provider). I then asked her is she thought that was the right move as we don't really...

Also that i was not comfortable and this publicity may interfere with our grieving process and make it harder.

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Regret surfaced from the wife, exposing lies in the public post.

She agreed with me and said that she couldn't think clearly earlier and it would be best to have her remove the post

and the fund raiser The facebook post not only announces her having been pregnant to everyone which only the immediate family members were made aware of before

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but also has a lot of completely made up details such as medical bills (we have great insurance), past due bills (we have none), extreme financial hardship and even my...

Are her responses normal? Are mine? Also i have a pretty good feeling that this sister of hers together with her mother had been having significant negative influence on our...

Broader family issues emerged, painting a picture of ongoing control struggles.

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Her mother (who is prescribed anti depressants and mood regulators which she does not take) comes over every single day to help with child care while i am at work...

I feel like i am only needed as a provider and have no say in anything. From how we raise our son to how we spend our free time.

Hiring a nanny for which i pushed so many times (bringing up concerns of her mom being in our lives too much and affecting our relationship) is out of the...

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The core conflict stems from a sister’s fundraiser that ignored the couple’s privacy and financial reality during profound grief. The trigger was the public post filled with fabrications, affecting the husband, wife, and extended family. Emotions like protectiveness clashed with perceived helpfulness, escalating because boundaries went unrespected amid vulnerability.

The husband acts from fear of exposure complicating healing and a sense of erased authority as provider. The sister-in-law shows defensiveness rooted in her own narrative of victimhood, possibly insecurity about her role. The wife appears caught in fogged judgment initially, highlighting empathy gaps where raw pain blocked clear listening on all sides.

Relationship researcher Dr. Sue Johnson explained, “In times of loss, attachment needs heighten, and perceived threats to security can trigger defensive protests that damage bonds.” (Hold Me Tight, 2008) This fits perfectly—the sister’s accusations and the husband’s firm stance both stem from unmet security, eroding trust when compassion could have bridged the divide.

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Start with private, calm talks using “I feel” statements to express hurt without blame. Set clear boundaries, like agreeing on family involvement in decisions via weekly check-ins. Seek grief counseling together first, then address marriage dynamics. Reflect alone before responding in future conflicts to prevent escalation and rebuild mutual respect.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Social media users weighed in heavily on this heartbreaking family drama, splitting into clear camps over the sister’s actions and the bigger marriage picture. Comments poured in with raw emotion, advice, and warnings.

Many readers strongly sided with the original poster. They felt the response was fair and even shared stories of their own:

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shelwood46 − If she kept this fundraiser up after claiming she'd done with you and her sister, I suspect the plan all along was to keep most of the money...

[Reddit User] − I can not believe the total lack of selfawareness this woman has. She came at you after you just had a child, die. I can't even fathom...

Narcissist- check. Making the death of her sisters baby about her for karma points irl. ..gross. You handled it very well. Incredibly well. I hope you see nothing she said...

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saucysagittarius − Umm is sil okay? Like mentally?

F0xxfyre − She is unbelievable! She's insane. Op, I'm so sorry for your family's loss.

Vallhalla_Rising − No human would look at her responses and think she is in the right. I am disgusted she would talk to a father who just lost their child...

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HuffN_puffN − She wants the money. No, not reasonable texts. She is horrible and egocentric, or this wouldn’t have happen for many reasons, but one being way way to fast...

Others pushed back against the poster’s choice. They argued it lacked empathy and came across as unfair:

justcurious12345 − I think you have bigger issues to worry about. Your wife wants her mom around every day rather than a nanny or something like that.

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She drank raw milk during pregnancy and gave it to your toddler because her mom suggested it, even though you pointed out the risks. Her initial response to your SIL's...

I think you maybe see them as influencing her, but in reality she's part of that dynamic just as much as they are. SIL thinks you're controlling because your wife...

I think you're saying they're a negative influence but in doing so you erase your wife's agency and bad decisions. I don't want to speculate to much more.

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Doorwasunlocked − I am so sorry you’re going through this, OP. SIL sounds way out of line but I hesitate because the statement “Regardless of what [wife] says I am...

As someone who has family that has been under financial abuse from someone who’s mindset was “I make the money so I dictate everything in the household. ” I’m really...

But, if that’s not the case, please don’t take offense to my sensitivity since I do not know you and these people exist so there’s no way for me to...

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Sauc3ySloth − Dude. ..... There is so much going on here. Your wife made poor decisions directly leading to hospitalization of her and your small child. She lost her baby....

If this is all true, have you asked for couples counseling? Have you considered you need to potentially leave this woman? ? Daycare isn't so bad, they won't give your...

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Icy_Captain_960 − Divorce. Your wife is an i__ot. Your firstborn is sick and your second is dead because your wife is brainwashed by her mother and idiots like RFK Jr.

A smaller group stepped away from the heated debate. They offered balanced perspectives or added humor to the thread:

prison_industrial_co − Oh boy. First off, I am sorry for what you and your wife are going through. I myself have gone through something similar and it’s a very dark...

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Secondly, I would also be ropable if my SIL made a post like that that was filled with lies. You asked her to take it down and she should have.

Even if she really felt that strongly, she should have taken it down immediately and checked with you later on if you really were serious about her not being able...

I don’t know the state of your marriage besides what you’ve mentioned here, but calling someone an abusive narcissist when they’ve just lost their baby is wild. Also being so...

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However, once you and your wife have had some time to absorb this initial shock, I would strongly suggest couples (and perhaps individual) therapy (I know, the standard Reddit response)...

MIL as childcare, your wife’s need to micromanage etc. Again OP, I am so sorry for you and your wife. Losing a child really is indescribable.

princessofperky − I think you need to focus on your wife and ignore the sister-in-law. But you can absolutely report the fundraiser as fraud to go fund me or whatever...

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And if anyone asks you you can say that you guys are doing financially okay and you ask for privacy during this difficult time and you want to thank everyone...

Don't get into the mud with her because that will just cause extra stress for you and your wife and she'll be rallying the flying monkeys.

reetahroo − I’d post that this is a scam along with her texts. Point out all the lies she posted and ask people not to donate because you will not...

Winter_Apartment_376 − OP, What do you mean your marriage has been in rough waters since your wife’s mom comes to help her with childcare? And that you feel like you...

If your wife is SAHM, do you give her a monthly allowance? Does she have free access to finances for what she/ child needs?

Quiet-Hamster6509 − Honestly, it is too difficult to gauge as her response indicate something going on for a while that we are obviously not privy to. Your wife deserves a...

The couples therapy should touch on why your wife feels she needs her mother and sister to be an integral part of the decisions in your marriage. Good luck to...

This tale underscores how grief amplifies existing family fractures, especially around boundaries and influence. The fundraiser breach teaches that even well-meant actions demand consent, while the marriage strains highlight the need for equal partnership beyond finances. Readers can reflect on protecting vulnerability without dismissing support networks.

Would you confront a relative publicly over lies during your lowest moment, or prioritize healing first? When in-law involvement feels overwhelming, how do you reclaim balance without cutting ties entirely?

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