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AIBU?

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DP not enjoying our “Special time” before the baby arrives.

512 replies

LaniJen · 21/09/2025 14:15

Me and DP agreed in the early weeks of my pregnancy that we’d spend from 39 weeks onwards at my parents’ home, a little way out of the city, so I could relax before the baby arrived. Everything is sorted for a home birth there. I was really looking forward to this – time to just slow down, cook together, chat, and just enjoy being the two of us before everything changes.
DP can run his business remotely so it wasn’t an issue. I honestly thought we were having a lovely time.
But earlier, while trying to connect his phone to Bluetooth, I saw messages between him and a female family member (and her DH – they both work for his business). He was moaning about how bored he is here.
I feel a bit crushed. I thought this was a special time for us, but clearly he’s not feeling the same.
AIBU to be upset that he isn’t enjoying this “just us” time before the baby? Or do I need to accept that he might just find it boring, even if I don’t?

OP posts:
the5thgoldengirl · 21/09/2025 17:02

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Ansjovis · 21/09/2025 17:01

As others have said, if this is the first clue you had about his feelings then he's actually being very considerate in how he's behaving.

You're just about to give birth so your emotions are naturally going to be all over the place but I would definitely try your best to let go of this, and any other preconceived ideas about how this next life stage is going to go. Based on what you've said here my concern would be that you may be vulnerable to post partum depression if the baby comes and things aren't how you imagined them to be. Of course I may be way off but I don't think that keeping an eye out for that is a bad thing for any new mum.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 21/09/2025 17:00

"or if baby doesn’t come on their own" @LaniJen

No one has stayed pregnant forever! You WILL go into labour at some point. You don't have to have an induction just because the medical staff become impatient! Please note that sweeps ARE a form of induction.

Carandache18 · 21/09/2025 17:00

It does sound stultifying, tbh.
And serves you right for snooping his messages.

Rewis · 21/09/2025 17:00

Saying he is bored is very mild. Yes, it is annoying that he is bored when you're having a good time. But this is very mild.

YourWildAmberSloth · 21/09/2025 16:56

It sounds a bit false and forced to be honest. Preparing for and anticipating the arrival of a new baby is generally special enough by itself. I would find it hard to relax staying in someone else's home, away from my own home, even if they are away.

NamelessNancy · 21/09/2025 16:52

OP is the one preparing to give birth and if this is where she wants to be and feels most comfortable he should suck it up and support her. Which, to be fair, sounds like exactly what he is doing.

TalulahJP · 21/09/2025 16:48

I’d suggest you go home and go back to the house when youre having the baby.

Foundationns · 21/09/2025 16:43

He's not enjoying staying at your parents' house in the way that you are. It doesn't mean anything sinister about your relationship or the future, just that you don't always enjoy exactly the same thing.
People are different. I always prefer to be at home unless there's a special reason for staying somewhere else, and this isn't a special reason because you could cook and chat and look forward to the baby just as well at home. Don't let this difference of perspective spoil this time.

FancyQuoter · 21/09/2025 16:39

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/09/2025 16:32

Thought of being stuck in somebody else's house for up to a month without a single break from one person - no matter how much I liked them - because the 'point' of it was to give them undivided attention every second sounds really uncomfortable.

I would be worried he had given so much undivided attention for no special reason now, he would need to blow a fuse and get some air after the baby's born - when realistically you would need him the most.

I would need to get out to avoid exploding and I would be the one giving birth 😂

There's only so much claustrophobic settings I can bear

MaybeNotBob · 21/09/2025 16:39

So he loves you so much that he's willing to go along with this for your sake, and you still want to find a way to have a go at him?

Poor chap, can't do anything right...

FancyQuoter · 21/09/2025 16:36

I would be bored out of my head if I was stuck like that , so good on him to try to keep you happy and making a lot of efforts, he sounds lovely.

but you are very unreasonable to call it "our special time" - he has to work remotely, in somebody else's house, middle of nowhere with nothing to do.

Genuinely, what exactly did you think would be "special" about this?
I understand you prefer the birth options there, but aren't YOU lonely? No friend around? What do you do all day while he's working?

gannett · 21/09/2025 16:35

The setup isn't really the point and the thread's been derailed by so many posters focusing on it. It's a little unusual but if it works for the OP then it's not an issue.

The point is more that you can't police other people's enjoyment of things, and you can't demand they have the "correct" emotional response that you envisaged. He's allowed to be bored holed up in the countryside and he's allowed to have a moan to his family members about it. Taking it personally is a bit self-centred and turning it into a thing is pointless - it's not as if he can force himself not to be bored.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/09/2025 16:32

Thought of being stuck in somebody else's house for up to a month without a single break from one person - no matter how much I liked them - because the 'point' of it was to give them undivided attention every second sounds really uncomfortable.

Endofyear · 21/09/2025 16:30

Why can't you relax and be together in your own home?

Househassles · 21/09/2025 16:26

I guess it depends what exactly "moaning" consists of, but if it's more than a passing observation in a lot of normal correspondence, I'd be pretty unimpressed if he were acting as if everything were fine and he was happy and then secretly giving other people the impression that he's unhappy, there against his will, etc. He doesn't have to love every minute but don't be blatantly dishonest. I'm pregnant, not damaged/delusional.

Moonnstars · 21/09/2025 16:23

I don't understand why you have gone to your parents house for this nesting stage. Most people want to be in their own home, prepping for the baby there. I would also feel uncomfortable if I was him.
How long do you intend to stay there? You say you even plan to give birth there which I find a bit odd too. Will your parents be away indefinitely? What if baby is late and you end up in hospital anyway? Where will you go then from there? Back to your parents house or your own home?

Frankenpug23 · 21/09/2025 16:23

This is odd!! I am with your DH on this one!!

Quicksilver15 · 21/09/2025 16:23

Sounds about the most boring thing you could plan for your last time without children. No wonder he’s bored! But maybe this is the sort of stuff you’ve always found fun so you do you!

SepticPegsSepticLeg · 21/09/2025 16:22

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What on earth? How does this make the op's home a hovel? It's likely just small and space is needed for a birthing pool and the midwifes equipment.

Rude much.

WetHair · 21/09/2025 16:22

Challenger2A7 · 21/09/2025 15:42

That's very odd, quite creepy, and given the fact that 28 billion women on the planet are pregnant right now, stop over-romanticising it. If you don't stop farting your husband about, he will leave, though probably not immediately. What's wrong with your own home? What's the hidden agenda?

I hate to be a pedant, but the total world population is currently estimated at 8.2 billion.

mcmuffin22 · 21/09/2025 16:21

Op, this may be a wild assumption but was your escape to ghe countryside an attempt to stop your dp from going out with friends in the evenings/at weekends and force him to spend time with you?

KilkennyCats · 21/09/2025 16:19

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Snorlaxo · 21/09/2025 16:19

He’s going along with what you’d like as you’re the one who is pregnant. Some people aren’t countryside people 🤷‍♀️ and I imagine that self employed people often have work on the brain as that’s the nature of that kind of setup.

What kind of holidays do you normally take? I’m guessing that trips to your parents’ house is a long weekend trip rather than weeks. Is he normally someone who enjoys going out for walks and stuff when he visits your parents’ house? Staying in is some people’s idea of hell.

I’m guessing that he’s not seeing it like the romantic holiday that you envision which is fine imo. Is he the type of person who isn’t good with events like childbirth where you don’t know if it will happen tomorrow or in 3 weeks (when you’re 42 weeks)? I was antsy by 39 weeks and wanted to be at home and nest there but remember that your h doesn’t have the hormones making him feel like that yet.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 21/09/2025 16:18

Honestly? Pack up. Go home.

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