Colleagues Baby Shower Overshadows My Pregnancy at Work: AITA for Refusing to Attend?

A 31-year-old woman says she’s about to become a mom, but at her small office, her coworker Sarah might as well be the main character in the pregnancy story. While both she and Sarah are pregnant around the same time, the vibe at work is not exactly balanced. OP tries to keep things private and share milestones discreetly, but every time she does, Sarah’s bigger, louder moments swallow the attention whole.

Then Sarah announces a baby shower at work, and OP decides not to attend, wondering if that choice makes her the asshole.

Original Post

So, I'm a 31-year-old woman, and I work in a small office with mostly female coworkers. One of my colleagues, let's call her Sarah, is also pregnant and due around the same time as me.

For background, Sarah has been very vocal about her pregnancy at work, constantly sharing updates and seeking attention. Now, I'm usually a private person and prefer to keep my personal life separate from work.

However, with Sarah's constant discussions about her pregnancy, it sometimes feels like she's overshadowing my own experience. I've tried to share my milestones discreetly, but they often get drowned out by Sarah's more boisterous announcements.

Recently, Sarah announced that she's having a baby shower at work, and everyone is expected to attend. While I appreciate the gesture, I feel like it's just going to be another event where Sarah steals the spotlight, making me feel invisible once again.

So, I've decided not to attend her baby shower. I feel conflicted because I don't want to come off as unsupportive or petty.

Still, I can't shake off the feeling of being constantly overshadowed by Sarah's pregnancy journey. So, AITA?

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That office tension is similar to the AITA case where a pregnant colleague’s baby shower got skipped over work, sparking a fight.

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OP says Sarah keeps announcing every pregnancy detail at work, so the baby shower feels less like support and more like another spotlight grab.

When Sarah makes the baby shower at the office an “everyone is expected to attend” situation, OP’s quiet milestones suddenly feel like they don’t stand a chance.

OP has already tried sharing her own pregnancy milestones discreetly, but she claims Sarah’s boisterous updates drown her out every time.

With Sarah expecting attendance at the work event, OP is left stuck between not wanting to look petty and feeling completely invisible.

What's your opinion on this situation? Join the conversation!.

She might not be refusing a party, she might be refusing to be erased.

Want more baby-shower workplace drama? Read how one employee demanded her event stand out after a coworker’s spotlight.