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How do I support dd1 here?

18 replies

terrifiedgran · 18/07/2026 21:07

Will probably be long, sorry, but complicated.

Dd1 is 24 years old, and probably autistic. She doesn't have a diagnosis, due to another complicated diagnosis from a gene that she inherited from her dad. But actually I think that's always been a red herring, and she's 'just' autistic, as her main issue. Her dad died from the serious condition when she was 3, and she carries the gene, which she is highly likely to pass to children. She has mild physical weakness, and her main autistic issues are related to social skills and communication.

She got married 4.5 years ago, to her boss, who is 9 years older. I only discovered 4 days before the wedding, which she had been planning in secret, and which involved meetings with the home office, due to his immigration status. My family wanted me to stop the wedding, Eastenders style. Even if that were possible, I absolutely didn't want to alienate her. Of course, I was concerned that it was just for the visa, but there was nothing I could do.

However, over the next 4 years, we got to know this guy, and he seemed to look after dd1 very well. He came to ours for xmas, met the whole extended family etc etc. Lovely chap, with great sense of humour. They seemed really happy together, and dd1 was completely besotted with him.

Myself and DH came into some money last year, enough to buy a house, just not in the area that we all lived in. Considering we were in social housing in a very high flood risk area, I really wanted the security. The only thing tying us to the old area was DD1, but she seemed so settled and happy. She gave us her blessing to move away. We went 2.5 hours away.

She came to visit at Xmas, and announced she was pregnant! Whoa! Ok, not unexpected for a couple who had been happily married for 4 years, but 1) she said she never wanted kids and 2) what about the high risk gene??

She reassured us that she'd had genetic counselling and tests and was waiting for the results. She intended to terminate, if it showed the baby had this condition. The tests came back clear - it's a healthy baby boy!!

Woohoo!! Next question, what are you doing about housing? They live in a small flat, and there's a lodger in the second bedroom. Oh that's ok, the lodger is about to return to India to get married, so the other bedroom will be available. All sorted then...

Except, long story short, they all return from India. Well the lodger comes back, but the new husband hasn't been seen since! And the lodger starts living with dd1's husband as if THEY are married. They work together anyway, and now they spend ALL their time together, and speak almost exclusively in Punjabi. They have even been caught in bed a couple of times, but apparently he was just comforting her during endo pain, and we all believe that unquestioningly....

So her whole pregnancy has been overshadowed by this. And she's attempted to believe him, and blame her. I get it, she's emotionally attached, but she's now 8.5 months pregnant and has now eventually agreed she should leave. I've tried to persuade her to move near us, but she has some local ties that she doesn't want to leave, and I also think she's very nervous of how he will react if she takes the baby away.

Practical suggestions please, of the best way to leave, get a flat, furniture etc in her current state. She has maybe 5k, and we can help her a bit. She has maternity pay from her Starbucks job. I've unfortunately used up any leniency from work this week, and she's waited till now to try and activate things, and I daren't use any more until the baby appears, I'm anticipating needing emergency arrangements then.

TIA, I've got to sort something now, so I'll check back later. I'm not just running away.

OP posts:
Gateappreciation · 19/07/2026 01:47

What a messy situation. To sum it up, your dd is leaving her husband and needs help.

My first thought was woman’s refuge? They may be able to help with temporary accommodation. Alternatively, there may be a local charity providing support.

A lot of charity shops have furniture stores with good quality stuff. Plus you can get it straight away. When my niece moved into her first place, she bought a lot second hand, and the only things new were mattress, fridge, cooker and sofa.

Other people will be able to advise on what’s she entitled to.

some useful links

https://centrepoint.org.uk/do-you-need-help/i-need-help-now/im-pregnant-and-homeless

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/priority_need/children_live_with_you_or_you_are_pregnant

https://lifecharity.org.uk/pregnant-nowhere-live/

https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/mother-and-baby-homes

London based:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/priority_need/children_live_with_you_or_you_are_pregnant

https://www.camden.gov.uk/pregnant-or-with-dependent-children-and-at-risk-of-being-homeless

Person stood with their arms crossed.

I'm pregnant and homeless

It can feel overwhelming to be pregnant – especially when you’re worried about having somewhere to live. You don’t have to go through it alone, get in touch with us and we can help.

https://centrepoint.org.uk/do-you-need-help/i-need-help-now/im-pregnant-and-homeless

terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 03:01

Thankyou so much for those links, I really appreciate it

OP posts:
terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 03:09

I just can't decide if the entire marriage has been a sham, and dd1 has been groomed to provide a baby for them this whole time, or it's 'just' infidelity.

I mean, he was playing a hell of a long game - 4 years - is that a mad theory? But why has she suddenly married a bloke in India, who's never been seen again? And they seem to be keen on telling everyone in their community that dd1 is unstable now, unable to look after a baby. I worry where this is going.

I guess it doesn't matter, she needs to leave. I wish she would consider moving to my area, but she's scared that will make him angry (although he has never shown violent tendencies.) But staying locally she has so little support, she's been immersed in the immigrant community for so long, she doesn't really have other friends.

OP posts:
InspectorDefect · 19/07/2026 08:55

As the baby is a boy, I would seriously be worried that they will try and take him after he's born 😕 also, if he has a child here, doesn't it almost guarantee his visa? I feel she's been used terribly. Her husband may be the person that the lodger is actually married to (in India)!

Silverbirchleaf · 19/07/2026 12:59

terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 03:01

Thankyou so much for those links, I really appreciate it

That’s ok. Hope you get everything sorted.

On reflection, it does look like a long game, sadly.

Did dd’s husband ‘marry’ the lodger in India? Maybe they consider DD’s marriage null and void in India as it wasn’t the religious ceremony (people have been caught out in the UK by having religious weddings which aren’t legally binding here). Just speculating.

TucanPlay · 19/07/2026 16:09

She is scared of making him angry and they are calling her unstable, and questioning whether she can care for her baby. This means she is extremely vulnerable if she moves out and stays in the vicinity alone, where they will be able to manipulate services/ local community when she will be post partum. I know she is saying she wants to stay in the area but I wonder if you can persuade her to come to you and have the baby? She should not tell him in advance as this will be risky. Once she is with you she can let him know that she felt she needed her parents support around the time of the birth. I suspect his reaction will inform her next steps, and I’m afraid I predict she is going to need family around her to navigate this. For now it’s just first steps, being somewhere safe to have the baby and I don’t think she will be safe near them.

terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 17:37

The marriages are definitely all legit. Dd1 got married in our local registry office 4 years ago. They then had a Sikh wedding ceremony in India a couple of years later.
The lodger got married in India in February, which dd1 attended.

The sad truth is that dd1 IS quite unstable now, and potentially unable to manage a baby. She never wanted children, but got talked into it by him. Then she had the genetic tests, which of course was fantastic that the baby is healthy, but I suspect she has felt trapped by this knowledge. She didn't feel like she could terminate a healthy baby when any subsequent events might not be as lucky.

She absolutely will not consider moving to this area.

The only positive thing is that she disclosed the entire circumstances to her midwife early on, who labelled it coercive control, and there is already quite extensive intervention from social services, but at the moment she is still in the flat and spiralling badly.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 19/07/2026 17:40

Obviously it was for the visa.

hard to tell with the baby, but signs don’t look promising. My dd is autistic and would be totally incapable of looking after a baby. I don’t know how capable yours is.

you may find things come to a crisis point and she leaves unexpectedly, with or without the baby.

terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 17:47

Well, she held down a job as shift supervisor at Starbucks, so a bit of responsibility. Does that mean she can look after a baby? Dunno, but I reckon she probably is capable with support.

Of course I thought she had a supportive husband, so I wasn't worried. And if she was a completely single mum, I reckon she'd manage with quite a bit of support. BUT, with an angry ex-husband round the corner, waiting for her to trip all the time? Nope, I have serious doubts that she could handle that.

And tbh, at the moment it doesn't seem like she wants the baby at all. She's just not connected, she's just COMPLETELY obsessed with the woman who has stolen her husband (not him), and she can't get past her anger to see what she's doing. And of course if she didn't cope, he'd be handed the baby, I guess.

OP posts:
Coralsunset · 19/07/2026 18:00

She really needs to move close to you before the baby is born.

But if she refuses, you can’t do anything I guess. Other than let her know she has a safe space with you if/when she changes her mind.

LIZS · 19/07/2026 19:51

The lodger’s “marriage” is a red herring. It may have no legal status here but be a sham for the “groom” socially in India or ultimately a way of moving him over. Is the property rented or owned? First thing might be to confide in mw and gp to access domestic abuse support and social housing lists. Sadly I agree she has been exploited for a visa.

Ethelspagetti · 19/07/2026 19:55

Gateappreciation · 19/07/2026 01:47

What a messy situation. To sum it up, your dd is leaving her husband and needs help.

My first thought was woman’s refuge? They may be able to help with temporary accommodation. Alternatively, there may be a local charity providing support.

A lot of charity shops have furniture stores with good quality stuff. Plus you can get it straight away. When my niece moved into her first place, she bought a lot second hand, and the only things new were mattress, fridge, cooker and sofa.

Other people will be able to advise on what’s she entitled to.

some useful links

https://centrepoint.org.uk/do-you-need-help/i-need-help-now/im-pregnant-and-homeless

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/priority_need/children_live_with_you_or_you_are_pregnant

https://lifecharity.org.uk/pregnant-nowhere-live/

https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/mother-and-baby-homes

London based:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/priority_need/children_live_with_you_or_you_are_pregnant

https://www.camden.gov.uk/pregnant-or-with-dependent-children-and-at-risk-of-being-homeless

Agreed this would be the most supportive and safest way to escape.

Ethelspagetti · 19/07/2026 19:59

terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 17:47

Well, she held down a job as shift supervisor at Starbucks, so a bit of responsibility. Does that mean she can look after a baby? Dunno, but I reckon she probably is capable with support.

Of course I thought she had a supportive husband, so I wasn't worried. And if she was a completely single mum, I reckon she'd manage with quite a bit of support. BUT, with an angry ex-husband round the corner, waiting for her to trip all the time? Nope, I have serious doubts that she could handle that.

And tbh, at the moment it doesn't seem like she wants the baby at all. She's just not connected, she's just COMPLETELY obsessed with the woman who has stolen her husband (not him), and she can't get past her anger to see what she's doing. And of course if she didn't cope, he'd be handed the baby, I guess.

How many weeks is she? Is it early enough for a termination? Because she is spiralling already at the thought of being a single parent and this child will tie them together for 18 years. If it were me and it was early enough, I’d chose freedom.

TucanPlay · 19/07/2026 20:01

I’m so relived the midwife knows, and the coercive control is recognised. A refuge is definitely the safest option if she won’t come to you. If not she needs an IDVA assigned and legal advice ( which the IDVA can arrange) about civil orders to keep her and the baby safe. Hopefully the midwife has referred her to the local DA service for this support.

terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 21:10

Ethelspagetti · 19/07/2026 19:59

How many weeks is she? Is it early enough for a termination? Because she is spiralling already at the thought of being a single parent and this child will tie them together for 18 years. If it were me and it was early enough, I’d chose freedom.

She's 37 weeks.
She did know early enough to get a termination, but after she'd had the genetic tests, she couldn't then face getting rid of a healthy baby. She was SO excited that she had this chance to have a baby with her husband, who she clearly worshipped. She knows this might be her only chance.
Additionally her husband lied to her months that the lodger was moving out, which of course she believed because she wanted to believe it. He was always DREADFULLY upset that she didn't trust him. And she felt so guilty for that, and that their visas were at risk, and she's always pretty dreadful for procrastination anyway. And now she's past the point of no return.

OP posts:
terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 21:11

TucanPlay · 19/07/2026 20:01

I’m so relived the midwife knows, and the coercive control is recognised. A refuge is definitely the safest option if she won’t come to you. If not she needs an IDVA assigned and legal advice ( which the IDVA can arrange) about civil orders to keep her and the baby safe. Hopefully the midwife has referred her to the local DA service for this support.

Never heard of an IDVA. This is useful, thank you, I will look into it.

OP posts:
terrifiedgran · 19/07/2026 21:14

LIZS · 19/07/2026 19:51

The lodger’s “marriage” is a red herring. It may have no legal status here but be a sham for the “groom” socially in India or ultimately a way of moving him over. Is the property rented or owned? First thing might be to confide in mw and gp to access domestic abuse support and social housing lists. Sadly I agree she has been exploited for a visa.

This is how I feel.
But isn't 4 years a dreadfully long time to execute this scam??
Why didn't he try the baby route after a year or so? She told me that she fell pregnant in her first month of trying.

OP posts:
Silverbirchleaf · 19/07/2026 21:32

Four years is a long time, but in many ways, the past is irrelevant. You now have to focus on the future, and how you are going to support your daughter.

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