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To plan for a baby in an unstable relationship

266 replies

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 16:18

Im 23. I have 2 kids 7 and 4 from different fathers and have been in a relationship with my current boyfriend for just under 2 years. This has been the most stable relationship I have ever been in however it has still been on and of mainly due to me. I have eupd and I have a really bad habit of pushing people away one minute then wanting them close the next. I'm just a bit all over the place. I am under the cmht and have been for years so I don't think time is going to suddenly fix anything here. I'm ok with being a single mum if it comes to it, iv done it twice before. I do really want a baby and I feel it would complete our family. Neither of my girls where planned so it kind off just was what it is and I made it work and where all happy and i have no regrets but I wonder if it's wrong to purposely choose to bring a child into an already unstable relationship but if not now when as like I said I'm not going to ever suddenly be mentally 100% well.

OP posts:
alimac12 · 08/11/2024 17:44

I’m sorry but this is a bad idea. You’ve been in a relationship with your partner for only 2 years at 23. I would never consider it, is too soon, specially if you already know is unstable. You’ll have 3 baby daddies at such young age and I don’t think this is normal. Even though you have 2 kids, with all the respect you seem immature as you can’t see where the problem is. Give yourself some time, and in a few years maybe you can have more. What about your financial situation?

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/11/2024 17:44

Temporary, we've been together nearly 2 years. We live together, split bills and raise 2 children together. It's not some random

On and off. And 'nearly' two years. And you're very young.

It's a terrible idea. But you sound like you're going to do it regardless. Maybe your kids can be the ones to break the cycle because it's wonderful when someone does.

katepilar · 08/11/2024 17:42

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 16:32

I don't understand why my children would suffer. Nobody else's children suffer when their mum decides to have another baby. I bet they would love a little brother or sister

Sorry, that sounds very naive.

Nanny0gg · 08/11/2024 17:41

No child deserves to be brought into a known unstable relationship.

That's for the parents' benefit not the child.

RobinHood19 · 08/11/2024 17:40

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 17:22

Temporary, we've been together nearly 2 years. We live together, split bills and raise 2 children together. It's not some random

Are you in a stable housing situation?

Would this man who’s been with you for almost 2 years, marry you before having a third baby? If it’s not temporary and he is serious about raising the girls and any children that may come, he will spend £100 on getting married at the registry office next week. Because he (and you) must realise how vulnerable it is for a woman to leave work again for several months to raise a baby, without any financial protection from the father, right? If he loves you and is committed to creating “a real family”, he will marry you and commit financially as well. So that you are not left hanging if something happens down the line.

What do you think about this, and what would he say?

Pomegranatecarnage · 08/11/2024 17:38

If you have EUPD the desire for a third baby to love is most likely a symptom of your illness. I don’t think it’s fair to bring a child into the world to fulfil your need for a baby to love you unconditionally. What happens in your years when the child starts school, and you feel broody again? It’s very hard to grow up in a family where the mother has mental health problems.

Richiewoo · 08/11/2024 17:37

Absolutely not. You're only 23. Your relationship isn't stable. Clearly your MH isn't. It would be selfish to hsve another child

TheWorminLabyrinth · 08/11/2024 17:37

IAKnowyou · 08/11/2024 17:12

It is the absolute worst place to ask. Seriously. It is.
I am a similar age to you and I have 1. I understand the broodiness.
If you want another child, and you can provide for your children then have another one!
You'll get a lot of judgement on here unfortunately!

It is absolutely irresponsible and completely selfish for this OP to have a third child. Do people like you ever consider the actual child and future adult in these situations? Or is it just ooh ikkle babby if you want one, have one. So utterly selfish.

Nanny0gg · 08/11/2024 17:37

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 16:37

This is the thing though that people don't get. When people say focus on getting better. What if I never get better. Mental illness doesn't just go away. So why am I letting it stop me living my life

Because you have other lives to think of

katepilar · 08/11/2024 17:36

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 16:25

I'm just so broody at the minute. You know when you see people with their babies and it actually hurts because you want it so bad. My kids aren't babies anymore I miss them days so much and iv never had a baby with a good partner where it's actually a family. I know my boyfriend would be an amazing dad he's so good with my girls and I'd love for him to have his own and be a proper family

A new baby isnt going to create a family. Its you and your partner who need to do that.

Dweetfidilove · 08/11/2024 17:34

What is your relationship like with the fathers of your current children?

How are you coping with looing after them and managing your mental health problems?

What does your MH Team say when you discuss your urge for another child?

How will pregnancy and the responsibility of another child impact your current MH journey?

I have so many questions, but no vision of how another baby improves yours and your children's lives.

viques · 08/11/2024 17:34

Because sometimes having an illness, be it mental,or physical does put limits on what you are going to be able to do in your life. Just as having a small income means you are unlikely to ever live in a town house in Chelsea, or drive a Maserati. It is just the way things are, and you have to suck it up and deal with your life as it is, not how you wish it would be .

At the moment you have two healthy children and someone who sounds as though he is a good partner to you, so from what sounds like a not very promising start to your life you have got some really good things going for you and your little family. My advice is count your blessing for the time being, you are very young, and have plenty of time for another baby in the future.

Concentrate for now on giving your girls the best life you can, encourage them to be kind, make sure they are happy, warm and well fed, look after their teeth, help them to get the best out of their education.

suburburban · 08/11/2024 17:32

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 08/11/2024 17:30

Pls don't have another baby yet.

Wait till you're married, until you have a career or stable full time job, your MH is on a more even keel and you're not pushing away your partner.

You said you've been together 2 years, but also say it's been on again and off again. This is not a stable relationship of any description.

I work with vulnerable children and many come from home where parents have MH issues and it's only when they reach their teens that you see the impacts. Many end up turning to drink and drugs to cope from the turmoil and from Dads coming and going in their lives.

Stabilise your relationship, get married so you have security as well, get a full time job, maybe even look at buying a house and really work on your MH. Then in a decade have another look and consider if a child is right then.

Excellent advice

IVFmumoftwo · 08/11/2024 17:32

IAKnowyou · 08/11/2024 17:12

It is the absolute worst place to ask. Seriously. It is.
I am a similar age to you and I have 1. I understand the broodiness.
If you want another child, and you can provide for your children then have another one!
You'll get a lot of judgement on here unfortunately!

Most don't have a serious mental health issue.

PeloMom · 08/11/2024 17:31

You re so young. You have a long way to go to mature and with the right therapy (and potentially meds) you can be in a much better mental space in few years.
how do kids suffer from having another sibling yoy ask? They have unstable life as it is, a mom who by your admission isnt stable either. You only work part time which they’re still a bit young so don’t feel it yet, but soon they’ll need more things and activities and with one more kids and a part time job, if this guy also walks out, their lives will not be the best. Focus on your kids, maybe skill up, find a better/ full time job, maybe some hobbies and see if in a few years you’re still up for a kid and in a better mental space.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 08/11/2024 17:30

Pls don't have another baby yet.

Wait till you're married, until you have a career or stable full time job, your MH is on a more even keel and you're not pushing away your partner.

You said you've been together 2 years, but also say it's been on again and off again. This is not a stable relationship of any description.

I work with vulnerable children and many come from home where parents have MH issues and it's only when they reach their teens that you see the impacts. Many end up turning to drink and drugs to cope from the turmoil and from Dads coming and going in their lives.

Stabilise your relationship, get married so you have security as well, get a full time job, maybe even look at buying a house and really work on your MH. Then in a decade have another look and consider if a child is right then.

JawsCushion · 08/11/2024 17:29

Three is a big change for two.

Don't be daft.

TerrorAustralis · 08/11/2024 17:29

My mum is like you. She kept having babies to fill a hole that can never be filled. She had her first baby as a teenager. She’s now in her 70’s and still has a void that cannot be filled. She’s still doing shit that is devastating the children that she created.

I doubt this post will change anything, but as a child of a mother like you, I need to tell you to stop. Babies aren’t the answer you’re looking for.

LePetitMaman · 08/11/2024 17:29

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 17:05

I do appreciate the comments on people saying they understand them feelings of being broody. Iv never really experienced it before recently and I could honestly cry when I see women pregnant and with their newborns

Then get help.

Have another baby is not the solution to everything.

romdowa · 08/11/2024 17:27

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 17:22

Temporary, we've been together nearly 2 years. We live together, split bills and raise 2 children together. It's not some random

You live together but it's on again/off again. At 2 years a man shouldn't even be living with your daughters.

Happyholidays78 · 08/11/2024 17:27

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/11/2024 16:39

I'm ok with being a single mum if it comes to it, iv done it twice before.

You still are doing it with your two. They are still small children with needs.

I'm going to be candid because in my job I see a lot of mums with EUPD, head injuries and/or trauma. What I see is a lot of wanting babies because they are perfect and new and novel and will 'fix' everything. Then they become complex young people with needs and wats and they aren't perfect any more so they need to be replaced with babies. I also see women having babies in terrible relationships because the mums are trying to 'fix' their lives. And think that creating a family will make the past different. And, tragically, I see the teenage products of this life. Almost always with trauma and MH issues, anxiety and depression. It's nature and nurture. They have genetic predisposition, plus they've been parented in a less safe and more chaotic way. They've had absent or bad fathers, and single mums who aren't able to parent in a safe and stable way. They struggle and suffer.

You're broody. When you have two children already, you need to understand that their needs come before your wants. If you can't do that, you can't parent and therefore shouldn't have another.

What I suggest is reading parenting books, taking parenting classes, throw everything into parenting the girls you have really well. Take that broodiness and put it into the children you have. Make time and space to nurture and love them. Find ways to connect. Learn all about their hobbies and likes. Be the best mother you can be to the existing children.

You can change the script in your family and make a different life than you had. But you can't do that by having more babies with a different man, in a chaotic relationship.

Perfect response 👌 be the very best mum you can be OP & watch your children thrive!

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 17:27

WomenWhoWearBlackLeadColourfulLives · 08/11/2024 17:23

OP, have you considered these feelings might be part of your MH? My partner has the same diagnosis and impulsivity is a big challenge.

Maybe but we have been talking about it for a few weeks now normally when I'm impulsive it's quite instant. I'm still taking the pill at the moment so no actual decision has been made yet.

OP posts:
Willsnbills · 08/11/2024 17:27

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 17:05

I do appreciate the comments on people saying they understand them feelings of being broody. Iv never really experienced it before recently and I could honestly cry when I see women pregnant and with their newborns

Oh ffs @Differentstarts that’s not a reason to have one though! I could cry when I see someone has a brand-new car because all I’ve ever wanted to do is buy a brand-new car but that doesn’t mean I’m going to go in and put myself in masses of debt.
same principle!

IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine · 08/11/2024 17:26

Differentstarts · 08/11/2024 17:22

Temporary, we've been together nearly 2 years. We live together, split bills and raise 2 children together. It's not some random

The first two fathers were temporary, so it's not a huge leap to assume this one will be too.

WomenWhoWearBlackLeadColourfulLives · 08/11/2024 17:23

OP, have you considered these feelings might be part of your MH? My partner has the same diagnosis and impulsivity is a big challenge.