Husband Furious Over Partner Gifting Cousin's 'Affair' Baby Sparks Debate

Senior Life and Trends Reporter

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When a loved one announces a pregnancy, there's usually a celebration but for this expecting cousin, it is quite the opposite.

In a viral Reddit post, u/pinkrya, explained her cousin had an affair with her sister-in-law's husband and is now seven months pregnant.

The spouse states "my husband is furious with me for continuing to speak to her and spending his money on her." However, thousands of Redditors disagree and the post has received more than 5,400 upvotes.

Newsweek reached out to a mental health expert who said: "This baby deserves all the praise and accolades any other newborn would receive."

Pregnant woman — A Redditor has taken to the internet to discuss a family dilemma that involves an expecting cousin who had an affair with the OP's sister-in-law's husband. Here's a stock image of a pregnant woman crying. Prostock-Studio/iStock/Getty Images Plus

In 2020, The Institute for Family Studies shared data that suggests men are more likely to report ever having engaged in an extramarital affair. In the survey, 1,282 ever-married individuals were examined. The results found 20 percent of men and 10 percent of ever-married women reported cheating on their spouse in the past.

On Reddit, the original poster (OP) said: "I found out a few days before everything was exposed but because I didn't immediately tell everybody, my brother-in-law threw me under the bus to try to make himself look better so it feels like I'm on thin ice with my husband and in-laws."

The OP said they don't have a lot of family so the cousin won't have anybody to "help" her and she isn't "in a good financial situation."

Therefore, the OP purchased "a few things" for the baby but the husband saw the goods before they were gifted.

"He wants me to return everything and not help her after what she did to his sister. I understand why he's upset but my cousin needs the help, and her baby is the only one who'll miss out if I don't," she wrote.

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Newsweek spoke to Marni Goldman, a mental health expert and life coach, who said: "This really brings meaning to the words a little too close for comfort. When someone announces pregnancy, most of the time it's met with celebratory wishes, hugs, and kisses. Others, who get pregnant through an affair, the new baby usually suffers. Not worthy of gifts? This baby deserves all the praise and accolades any other newborn would receive.

"As far as the relationship between the couple, the best thing they can do is agree to disagree. In this situation, there is no right or wrong, just a very strong difference of opinion (which is ok) but leave it at that.

"Telling your partner what to do will only make them resent you. It's not your place to come between two cousins. If it is not going to matter in five years, don't spend more than five minutes arguing with your spouse. This has nothing to do with you, and it's out of your control. You don't get this time back, use this energy for love, not to argue about a baby gift.

"An affair represents distrust and lies. It has nothing to do with a person's personality or who they are as a human being. There are reasons for everything, this pregnancy being one of them. Despite all the good somebody can do, you're always looked upon as the woman who had the affair. Their actions will always be questionable."

Over 2,000 people have commented on the post since it was shared on November 14.

The top comment has received more than 21,000 upvotes, it said: "It takes two to have an affair, it takes two to have a baby, but it seems all the blame fell on your cousin, not on the married man who got her pregnant. Not the a******."

"After what she did to his sister? Not the a*****, good for you for supporting what sounds like is going to be a single mom with a deadbeat baby daddy. Also his money? Gross. You're married, it's just as much your money," wrote another.

"This!!! Everyone is saying it's for that baby, which I get, but the wife went behind her husband's back without even attempting to talk to him. That I think makes her the A******," said one Redditor.

Another comment sided with the husband, it said: "You're the a******. Unless you and your husband have 100 percent separate finances, this is not ok. He doesn't want any of his money or resources going to this woman. I don't think he's unreasonable for this."

Newsweek reached out to u/pinkrya for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.