“Free Pass” to Abandon? Husband’s Solo Trip Request After Wife’s C-section Sparks Outrage

A pregnant woman ignited a firestorm on social media after revealing her husband’s request to travel alone mere weeks after her scheduled C-section, highlighting tensions around postpartum support and family responsibilities.

Expecting her second child via C-section in early December, the woman discussed New Year’s plans with her husband. She suggested a possible group trip with their newborn, assuming infants mostly sleep through outings. Her husband responded by asking for a “free pass” to travel solo if she stayed home, implying she’d handle recovery and childcare alone, possibly including their toddler.

What shocked many was his phrasing—he called it a “free pass,” as if her surgery and recovery were an inconvenience rather than a shared responsibility. According to the wife, she never imagined she would need to “negotiate” her partner’s presence during the early postpartum weeks.

The post, shared on Reddit, drew swift condemnation from users who labeled the husband’s request as selfish. Commenters emphasized the grueling recovery process following a C-section, which includes restrictions on lifting anything heavier than the newborn for at least six weeks.

One user wrote, “It’s telling that instead of asking how he can make your recovery easier, he is checking if he can leave. That’s not partnership, that’s avoiding responsibility.” Another added, “A C-section is major abdominal surgery, scheduled or otherwise. There’s every possibility that you’ll barely be able to pick up your toddler yet at that point, maybe even still having trouble bending over to pick up the baby if you have any complications or heal slowly.”

Many noted that recovery is not just physical—emotional strain, breastfeeding challenges, and round-the-clock newborn care mean mothers need more support, not abandonment. “This is not a vacation, it’s major surgery followed by survival mode,” one top comment read.

Recovering from a C-section involves healing from abdominal surgery, managing breastfeeding, and adjusting to newborn demands, often while sleep-deprived and hormonal.

The woman in this case expressed hurt, expecting her husband to prioritize family over personal travel.

Reddit users echoed her sentiments, with stating, “Unless he is traveling to get a vasectomy he shouldn’t be going anywhere. NTA (Not The Ahole) but you married one.” Another user, highlighted the severity, saying, “You will be sleep deprived, bleeding, hormonal, leaking breast milk. This is not going to be fun in any sense of the word. And can he go? No! No, he can’t.”

The story quickly spread beyond Reddit, picked up by all major outlets. Readers across platforms sided with the mother, arguing that new fathers must recognize their role as partners, not visitors, during postpartum recovery.

(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM)