A young mother of three is feeling unwell after discovering that the ‘love of her life’ and the father of her children is also her brother.
The Melbourne mother told a women’s advisory group that she was adopted at birth but never knew the people who raised her were not her biological parents.
‘I never thought that my parents were not my parents. No one said anything until a few weeks ago when my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,” the woman revealed.
She “started digging” and found her birth mother and “a few siblings” – including her fiancé who has a different father.
The mother said she and her brother immediately separated and called off their wedding, but they don’t know how to explain to their children what they discovered.
A young mother of three feels sick after discovering the ‘love of her life’ and her children’s father is also her brother
‘I just feel sick. They are siblings and cousins. His mother is my biological mother,” she said. ‘My world has collapsed… I’m not okay.’
She added that they “obviously can’t be together” but “love each other so much.”
The post divided opinion – with some claiming it must be ‘fake’ and others urging her to ‘run’.
“I would feel so sick,” one woman said.
“I can’t believe no one ever told you this was their fault,” said another.
‘You haven’t met his mother yet? She would have recognized you for sure,” said a third.
While others wondered ‘how small’ her town is.
But some people didn’t see the problem with the relationship.
‘I would go to a psychologist and get advice, but you don’t have to call it off. You didn’t know you were siblings,” one woman said.
“It’s not the first time something like this has happened – I’d say keep it to yourself and be happy together,” said another.
In a message to a women’s advice group, the Melbourne mother said she was adopted at birth but never knew the people who raised her weren’t her biological parents
“I don’t understand why you guys can’t be together,” a third echoed.
Some asked about their children – to which she revealed that they are all “developmentally normal.”
“I wouldn’t say anything to the kids, it’s not their fault,” one woman advised.
Others said they should wait to tell until they are older, but should get tests done to make sure they are as healthy as they seem.
According to Helesnorge – the national health agency of Norway where inbreeding is a problem – there are significant problems with having children with blood relatives.
If you have children with a relative, the risk of malformations or medical conditions is ‘twice as high’ because both parents are likely to have the faulty gene.
Close blood relationships also increase the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality. Children with related parents are also more likely to have a shorter life expectancy.
Conditions inherited through consanguinity are often serious. Examples include metabolic disorders, skin and blood disorders, physical and mental development problems and hearing and/or vision damage.