AITA for asking my immediate family to get the flu shot if they want to see our newborn in the hospital
As the cold grip of flu season approaches, a soon-to-be mother faces the fragile reality of protecting her unborn child.
With a weakened immune system and a baby on the way in January, every precaution feels urgent, every choice weighted with love and fear.
Caught between medical advice and family beliefs, she and her partner navigate a delicate path, hoping to shield their child without fracturing the bonds they hold dear. In this quiet struggle, the heart’s yearning for safety clashes with the hope for harmony.
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The original poster (OP) is experiencing significant anxiety regarding the health of their newborn, prioritizing preventative medical measures recommended by professionals, specifically concerning flu vaccination among close contacts.
This places them in direct conflict with the mother-in-law (MIL), who dismisses these medical recommendations based on personal belief and perceived immunity, creating tension between the OP's desire to protect their child and the wish to maintain family peace.
Given the conflicting priorities of expert medical advice versus familial harmony and individual autonomy, the central question remains: To what extent should new parents enforce medical safeguards on close family members, even if those requests cause interpersonal friction, and is the MIL's refusal justifiable when balanced against the documented risks to a vulnerable newborn?
From Supportive to Savage: The Crowd Responds:
The community had thoughts — lots of them. From tough love to thoughtful advice, the comment section didn’t disappoint.