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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Abandoned at 6 weeks pregnant - AIBU to shut down?

418 replies

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 14:04

I cannot believe I am typing this but my now ex “partner”of 2 years has given me an ultimatum. Have an abortion and we carry on as a couple, or keep the pregnancy and I will never see his face again. As soon as he said this, we were done!

His initial reaction was apprehensive - I thought it was fair. But I NEVER would have imagined hed do a runner. When I first told him I was pregnant he made it clear that he wasn’t going anywhere - it just wasn't the best time. 3 days later he gave the ultimatum. He was as cold as ice.

He’s being manipulative and saying “don’t let any man tell you what to do, if you want to keep it, that’s fine, but I will not be there”. He had a truth dump and admitted to being a terrible father to his other two kids, beating them, being abusive, and basically not enjoying fatherhood. He loves them “sometimes” but cannot stand the responsibility. The entire time we were together I never met his kids but he claimed to be father of the year, pretending to see them and be with them.

I’ve cut contact with him and blocked him yesterday!

Hes ruined this. He was the one who told me not to take the morning after pill! We agreed we would see what would happen regarding family planning and a baby. Hed go up and down but always maintained it woild be a good thing.

i had a bad feeling that I’ve misjudged who this man is and contacted his ex who I have never spoken to.

she was an Angel and told me he has not seen his other two kids properly in two years due to social services intervention because he badly best their 9 year old. On top of that he was just a terrible terrible partner that financially abused her and beat her. He wouldn’t turn up to visits, ignore them for months at a time. No birthday cards….nothing. He also refused to divorce her and she had to get it done via court order. He told me they were divorced 3 weeks into us dating. The amount of lies exposed in our conversation was something out of a Netflix documentary. He told me she was a housewive….turns out she had 3 jobs while he paid for nothing. When her son was a baby she came home and he had bitten him! Hes a stranger. A stranger. I’m broken.

I basically have been with a compulsive liar and sociopath who saw our relationship as a bit of fun. I ignored a lot of red flags because I’m 34 abojt to turn 35 in December and I’m scared. I’m kicking myself for letting my loneliness consume me.

I don’t want to be pregnant anymore but already had a termination at 31 and cannot bring myself to take the pills. I feel no connection to the pregnancy anymore because of him, and am scared I’m romanticising motherhood out of fear of it not happening for me.

you know how some woman say “F U, I’m keeping it!”. That’s not me! It sounds horrible but I’d love to just have a miscarriage to take the choice out of my hands. I have no desire to be a single mother or raise the child of a compulsive liar. I don’t think I can love this child and heal from his lies. I’m also petrified this is my last chance to be a mum. I guess I’m clinging on to being pregnant - I felt so special and giddy in those short three days before my world was turned upside down.

please give advice and be soft with me. I want to be a mum but not like this. The abortion just feels….wrong. I’m 34 about to be 35. What if I never meet anyone? What if I do but we can’t get pregnant. The abortion I had at 31 was a massive massive relief. This feels like the hardest thing ever. I see no good outcome. Children abandoned by a parent seem to have a lot of trauma no matter how big the village.

my head is saying get rid of it and feel horrible because you deserve to. Deep down inside you knew who this man was and you played with fire because you were desperate. If you don’t have kids after this - that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The other side of my head is saying that I’m just grieving a massive loss and I will forgive him, come to peace with this, and love my child.

please give it to me straight and share your experiences because my brain is fried. I’m 5 weeks + 4

OP posts:
WallyWinker · 24/09/2026 18:07

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 14:28

@LoveWine123 God bless you for your firm but kind response.

I love this. Please listen to us. You have time to meet someone, but this man is not the right father to your baby. He is horrible.

Daisymail · 24/09/2026 18:06

Thundertoast · 24/09/2026 14:11

I am so sorry you are in this position.
My concern is that if he changed his mind, he might end up with access to your child. By having this baby, you would be putting a child in the hands of an abuser. Im really sorry.

This.

Dryshampoofordays · 24/09/2026 18:04

Give yourself a day or two to think things through OP. This pregnancy has been a gift, seeing his true colours and getting him out of your life has given you a fresh start. Reflect on whether you could be a single mum, there’s sperm donation if you are really worried about missing out on being a mum.

You sound like to are hoping someone will make the choice for you, like you doubt yourself. But you have made the right choice in breaking up with him. You are strong! You will decide what the right option is for you, and you can trust your own judgement. I’m sorry that your family aren’t there to support you in the way you want - but maybe that’s another lesson you can learn from this - how capable you are at supporting yourself.

WallyWinker · 24/09/2026 18:04

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 14:13

Hey everyone - him and I are done. Thanks for your responses and I’ve edited my post.

I fairly attractive and social but like many women really struggle to date and meet men so when people say I will meet someone else and have a baby like it’s so easy….it doesn’t make me feel better! I guess that’s why I stayed with 26262627 red flags!

Darling, be prepared for him to want you back once the baby is gone - because you did what he wanted. Please please do not go back. It has domestic violence all over it, from wanting to project a kind partner telling you to not take the MAP then when you ARE pregnant, to get rid of it.

(((hugs)))

StarPyjamas · 24/09/2026 18:02

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 18:00

Hello everyone

Another thought I have is that I keep on saying he is unwell and an unfit father but the truth is I am unwell for even putting up with the things I did for two years. I romanticise motherhood and being a mum because I’m lonely, but what type of mother would have unprotected sex with a man she knew deep down inside was a terrible person, and is only upset that he DOES NOT want to be in their life.

I need help.

Did I know EVERYTHING three days ago? No. But I knew enough! I did. And I still got pregnant. Shame on me. My life is SHIT because of a broken woman and a broken man had me and my 3 siblings thinking “wanting a child” was enough of a reason to have one. They thought they loved us but were HORRID parents. WE DID NOT FIX THEIR LIVES! Their lives didnt magically change or have purpose or make sense when we were born.

I tell myself I’ll be different but in reality I’m sure my mother did the same thing. She was still emotionally abusive, emotionally stunted, and a big woman baby that needed a lot of trauma therapy. Having the family she fantasised about didnt make her a better woman. And I suffered. Look at me now. Obsessed and attached to an evil child abuser, unable to take abortion pills because I’m delusional and weak.

where does it end? I hate myself.

I'm glad you recognised you may be mentally unwell OP, because I thought it very early on but didn't quite know how to say it without possibly causing offence.

Camcam · 24/09/2026 18:01

I would have a termination. I can imagine you will have the social involved giving his previous abusive behaviour to his children.

You will be joined to him for life.

My youngest son’s dad did similar with the ultimatum and I opted against a termination (he hasn’t seen him since he was 6 months old).

However if he had an abusive history like your ex then I would have had a termination without a doubt.

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 18:00

Hello everyone

Another thought I have is that I keep on saying he is unwell and an unfit father but the truth is I am unwell for even putting up with the things I did for two years. I romanticise motherhood and being a mum because I’m lonely, but what type of mother would have unprotected sex with a man she knew deep down inside was a terrible person, and is only upset that he DOES NOT want to be in their life.

I need help.

Did I know EVERYTHING three days ago? No. But I knew enough! I did. And I still got pregnant. Shame on me. My life is SHIT because of a broken woman and a broken man had me and my 3 siblings thinking “wanting a child” was enough of a reason to have one. They thought they loved us but were HORRID parents. WE DID NOT FIX THEIR LIVES! Their lives didnt magically change or have purpose or make sense when we were born.

I tell myself I’ll be different but in reality I’m sure my mother did the same thing. She was still emotionally abusive, emotionally stunted, and a big woman baby that needed a lot of trauma therapy. Having the family she fantasised about didnt make her a better woman. And I suffered. Look at me now. Obsessed and attached to an evil child abuser, unable to take abortion pills because I’m delusional and weak.

where does it end? I hate myself.

OP posts:
IDontCareWhatMyUsernameIs · 24/09/2026 17:59

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 16:32

@IDontCareWhatMyUsernameIs thanks. Stern but needed. I’m surrounded my chaos and poor decision making human beings where a bad way of life has been normalised. My best friend was an affair partner for 22 years (she’s older than me) and shared him with another woman half the week! Had a baby with him who is now 17!!!! Ridiculous.

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to sound stern. I just foresee such a problematic future if you end up connected to him forever.

If you are surrounded by people with chaotic lives or poor decision making skills it can be ever so hard to see the wood for the trees.

Mumsnet is good for this! I hope you make the best choice for you 🖤

Hankunamatata · 24/09/2026 17:59

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:41

@GotTheBluePeterBadge inwill
never see or speak with him again and he is happy with that. He would never ever ever claim this child! He never loved me. He hates being a dad, he has never fought for his kids and never will.

Yeah not that simple. He can easily get a paternity test and get himself onto the certificate through court. Never doubt the obsessive nature of an abuser

malefields · 24/09/2026 17:58

I would absolutely have an abortion, sorry.

Worse than being a single parent is spawning a child from an abusive man. It’s a connection you’ll never get rid of. Don’t do that to yourself or your future children.

Frillysweetpea · 24/09/2026 17:56

I don't have a crystal ball but if you've had 2 pregnancies in the last 3-4 years without actively TTC I doubt your fertility is low. Sever your remaining link with this man and terminate your pregnancy. Give yourself some time to heal emotionally and physically and then actively TTC if you are desperate to be a mum and worried about fertility. Single women using sperm donors are not that uncommon now. Or you could wait - I had a child in my 40s when the right man eventually came along.

Insidelaurashead · 24/09/2026 17:54

OP you CAN do it, but that doesn't mean you have to. It means all of the options are open to you.

If I were in your shoes I would look at accessing counselling, quickly, to try to work through, with the counsellor, what you want to do. How pregnant are you? How long do you have to decide this?

StarPyjamas · 24/09/2026 17:54

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:49

@StarPyjamas hes a compulsive liar. He would never ever ever tell his family he had a baby! He wouldn’t even tell them he was seeing me! His mum was stunned when she met me by accident. Both times we broke up and got back together he refused to tell his family about me but lied and said they knew. Hes not well!

Oh stop it.

You keep saying you know he wouldn't do this and you know he wouldn't do that.

And in the same breath you've told us you didn't know this man at all until you told him you were pregnant.

Go ahead and have this vile piece of shit's baby if that's what you want.

But stop making up a narrative about him never wanting to lay eyes on you and the baby, ever etc.

It's a REAL possibility and one you need to think about rather than deny.

Lifeomars · 24/09/2026 17:52

I think I would have a termination as then start to plan a completely fresh start. I really feel for you, this sounds hellish, to be pregant and to find out that the father is such an abusive and cruel man must be truly awful. My heart goes out to you and I really hope that you have someone in real life you can truly confide in and who will support you

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:49

NewGoldFox · 24/09/2026 17:45

In your shoes I would take a leap of faith that someone better will come along.

@NewGoldFox thanks, such a simple reply but means a lot

OP posts:
NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:49

StarPyjamas · 24/09/2026 17:43

You keep saying this but you cannot possibly know it.

The only way you could be certain is if he was dead.

And even then, his family might want contact.

@StarPyjamas hes a compulsive liar. He would never ever ever tell his family he had a baby! He wouldn’t even tell them he was seeing me! His mum was stunned when she met me by accident. Both times we broke up and got back together he refused to tell his family about me but lied and said they knew. Hes not well!

OP posts:
NewGoldFox · 24/09/2026 17:45

In your shoes I would take a leap of faith that someone better will come along.

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:44

DisappearingGirl · 24/09/2026 17:39

Don't beat yourself up. Men with narcissistic or psychopathic personality disorders can be extremely charming and really know how to reel someone in. They also target kind but vulnerable women. I have two very intelligent independent friends who were taken in by men like this (temporarily, thankfully).

But your replies show that when you're thinking with your brain not your heart, you know he is an absolute bastard.

Also from your earlier post, don't go down the route of thinking he "loved" his ex and "hated" you. He is a shitty man who hasn't really got the capacity to love anyone. He beat his ex and their children. He may well move on to some other poor woman and then become "obsessed" with you. It's irrelevant and you mustn't give any headspace to basing your self-worth on this complete dickhead.

@DisappearingGirl bless you for this answer.

OP posts:
SodaPopBop · 24/09/2026 17:43

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:41

@GotTheBluePeterBadge inwill
never see or speak with him again and he is happy with that. He would never ever ever claim this child! He never loved me. He hates being a dad, he has never fought for his kids and never will.

There are people out there who’ve fought for children only to abuse them or worse. If everything you know about this man is a lie, I really wouldn’t be so confident that he’d never seek contact. And courts will grant it.

StarPyjamas · 24/09/2026 17:43

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:10

@muddyford he would never show his face again, he hates me. I just know we will never cross paths. I fear I’d never be free from him emotionally if I kept it.

You keep saying this but you cannot possibly know it.

The only way you could be certain is if he was dead.

And even then, his family might want contact.

TreatedAsOptional · 24/09/2026 17:42

Abortion, don’t put yourself through this.

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:42

SodaPopBop · 24/09/2026 17:37

I’m not sure I read the OP right - he beat one child and bit a baby?

At this point, whatever desire you have to be a mother is secondary. I wouldn’t be birthing a child to man like that if I had the choice. What happens if he seeks contact via court? No judge will refuse. You risk it being unsupervised, also.

If you just want a baby (and aren’t fussed about a partner), please get a proper sperm donor, not this man. It could cause so many issues down the line. You’re 34/35 and clearly able to get pregnant. Don’t let that be what you base your decision on.

Edited

Thanks darling @SodaPopBop
im just not strong enough but I’m getting there. This man has destroyed me mentally and I keep on thinking it cannot get worse But it does

OP posts:
CinnamonBuns67 · 24/09/2026 17:42

I'm so sorry you are in this situation OP it's shit. Personally I would go through with the termination but this is something you have to decide not anyone else. If you do decide to go ahead, move if you can at least to a different area in the same town or one nearby, preferably to another town far away if theres somewhere you would have support (I appreciate this isn't realistic for most). Do not let him know where you move to, do not tell him when or that the baby is born, not name, not gender, not birthday keep everything about your child off social media, do not stay in contact with anyone that would pass information onto him. Do everything possible to keep this man away from your child for as long as you can.

NattyEagle · 24/09/2026 17:41

GotTheBluePeterBadge · 24/09/2026 17:37

You don't have to name him on the birth certificate which means he has no claim over your child. You can block him and raise your child alone.

It's not ideal, but this situation isn't your child's fault! And I'm sure you will do right by the child should you choose to have them.

@GotTheBluePeterBadge inwill
never see or speak with him again and he is happy with that. He would never ever ever claim this child! He never loved me. He hates being a dad, he has never fought for his kids and never will.

OP posts:
cupfinalchaos · 24/09/2026 17:41

I would definitely have an abortion at only 6 weeks. And leave him immediately. Here’s to you meeting someone worthy of you.

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