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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want DH to come to the birthing class?

24 replies

HeidiHole · 05/05/2012 12:51

DH and I are having one on one classes with the midwife covering different aspects of the birth. This is because we are the only people pregnant at the moment so no one else needs to attend.

This week is about pain relief. I imagine they will cover epidural, water birth (which I want), breathing techniques (and how DH should help with that) and side effects of pethedine, epidural etc so we can make an informed decision and know what crosses the placenta etc.

DH is poorly. He has sore head and dodgy tummy this morning and the class is at 2pm. I hoped this morning he would feel better by 2pm but he has gone up to bed. I went to see him to find out if he thought he would get better or if was going to phone our midwife and reschedule. His (grumpy) answer is that he isn't going. I can go alone.

I don't want to go alone. I want to feel, for once, that he has some interest in this pregnancy (which we both planned) I want him to WANT to help me in labour. To know whatever thie breathing techniques are. To know the side effects of certain drugs so that when I'm off my rocker with pain he can make informed decisions about pethadine or whatever.

His attitude is that he will be useless at the birth, what can he do? Why does he even need to know these things? I feel unsupported, abandoned, and like he has resigned himself to being useless and almost like he isn't sure what use he would even be at the birth!

So I said to him "if it gets to 2pm" and you turn around and say you're not coming ut you haven't phoned midwife (he has the number in his phone) to reschedule I'll be so cross. He started shouting why didn't I reschedule if I cared? Surely though if HE thinks he is going to be too poorly with a dicky tummy to come, he should reschedule? Why is it all on me?

I'm 39 weeks, hormonal, tired and fat. I accept I may be being utterly unreasonable. I suspect this comes down to more about my feelings that he just doesn't care rather than the actual phoning or not phoning the midwife.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 05/05/2012 12:54

YABU to not just phone for him. If I was poorly and I had a phone call to make, my DH would definitely make it for me if he could.

Illness aside, are you sure he's not feeling just a little bit guilt tripped/forced to attend these classes?

I have to say I'd rather pull my eyes out through my nose than attend something like that when I was pregnant.

Though I dare say my DH would attend the classes (if he was well enough) if I really wanted him to.

Debeez · 05/05/2012 12:55

YABU. Why does he have to ring. Go alone or reschedule. It's all sounding a bit Emma's diary.

He's probably scared he's going to be useless and scared about the day approaching and feeling rubbish from being ill.

GrahamTribe · 05/05/2012 12:58

"I have to say I'd rather pull my eyes out through my nose than attend something like that when I was pregnant."

Yet again I find myself agreeing with Worra. It's your appointment, which you made and which he doesn't want to attend. If you wish to reschedule you should make the call AFAIAC. Why would you want to guilt someone into doing something they've made it clear they don't want to do anyway?

HeidiHole · 05/05/2012 12:59

Yes I could phone but he didn't ask me to, I think he was just going to wait till 2pm and then not come. It's only after I brought it up with him he snapped that I could phone.

We weren't really asked if we wanted the class more like it's what everyone gets here. He found the first two good and we both learnt a lot so I don't think he feels any more forced than I do.

OP posts:
HeidiHole · 05/05/2012 13:00

Woah woah I didn't make the appointment! The midwife did. With both of us.

OP posts:
WhaleOilBeefHookedIWill · 05/05/2012 13:00

Leave him be. If he's got a dodgy tummy do you really want him infecting the MW with a potential bug she could then pass onto vulnerable patients???
And why do you feel you need one to one birth classes? Most people find group classes lying on beanbags and putting a baby to a knitted breast more than adequate

woopsidaisy · 05/05/2012 13:03

Poor Heidihole. 'Tis shit at 39 weeks...
I think YABU about the phone call, just make it!
But your DH is being a bit of a shit when you are 39 weeks...OK he feels crap, but I'm pretty sure you're not exactly feeling fabulous now either!

My DH was with me for first baby, we didn't do classes or anything. He rubbed my back, gave me sips of water, held my hand....but I knew he was wishing the ground would open up!

So for DS2 my BFF was with me, and DH whizzed over after he was born-we live 10 mins from hospital.She was great, and more "into it" IYKWIM?

Is there an alternative person you could have at the birth who actually wants to be involved? I always say that if there was an opt out clause I'd take it! Unfortunately I have to be there, and 6 months with DC3 now. Have already asked one or two friends about being there...they are thrilled, as is DH,as am I.

HeidiHole · 05/05/2012 13:03

Whale please read my OP. We are the only couple on our tiny island who are pregnant. There are NO group classes because there is no group. Just us.

OP posts:
woopsidaisy · 05/05/2012 13:04

Go easy guys...she hasn't cattle prodded him!

Truffkin · 05/05/2012 13:06

Heidi, if he has willingly attended the others and learned from them, then maybe this is less about the class and more about him feeling ill but with an underlying current of fear about feeling useless during your labour.

I can appreciate how you feel (and everything is 100 times more significant when you chuck tiredness, hormones and general nearing due date feelings into the mix!) so could you talk to him about feeling apprehensive about labour and needing him to know as much as possible so that he can be the best birth partner he can be.

It's such a huge life event that he may, understandably, be feeling worried. So your reassurance may help (and sympathy if he's genuinely unwell!)

Otoh he may just be being an arse. In which case, go to the class and then treat yourself with coffee, cake and shopping rather than going home to grumpy husband (and a row brewing!) Grin

HeidiHole · 05/05/2012 13:06

Ok DH is up and in the shower. I guess he feels better

I will take the group consensus that IABU not to phone but I think he might be coming now anyway! He's not at deaths door or anything he was up and dressed this morning watching tv and eating breakfast

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 05/05/2012 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LindyHemming · 05/05/2012 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bunbaker · 05/05/2012 13:12

It's all on you because you are the one who is pregnant, not your husband. You are probably feeling bad about it because of your hormones, but if your husband is feeling poorly he won't really be thinking about anything other than how rough he feels. I would just suck it up and go on your own. Rescheduling might not be practical if you are so far on anyway.

HeidiHole · 05/05/2012 13:12

He is out of the shower and I apologised and said I was happy to go alone. He said no he really wants to come and feels better. I insisted he stay home, he insisted he didn't want to miss it. So hes coming. We are both happy and I can move onto worrying about the next trivial first world problem in my life! Thanks for the "yabu"s :)

OP posts:
BobbysBeardOfWonder · 05/05/2012 13:13

I think some posters have been a bit harsh to OP - birth is a massive deal (duh!) and I for one couldn't have done it without my DH.
If it was important enough for me to go to such classes, read up about stuff, then my DH supported me each time.
Maybe that's what the OP's a bit Sad about. However it could just be cos he's feeling shit OP and not feeling himself Smile

Truffkin · 05/05/2012 13:23

Glad it's sorted OP and good luck!

Kayano · 05/05/2012 13:28

YABU.

What if
He passed
Something to the midwife who passed it onto babies.

Very irresponsible and you should
Phone!!!

Kayano · 05/05/2012 13:32

X posted

Still wouldn't late him go if he has been ill though

Olympia2012 · 05/05/2012 13:38

39 weeks and only just covering pain relief!!!

HeidiHole · 05/05/2012 13:43

I know olympia but the midwife had to made an emergency dash for a fortnight to the UK because her mum had a fall and then a hip replacement so we had 2 weeks without a class! we would have been finished by now normally :)

OP posts:
HeidiHole · 05/05/2012 13:45

"What if
He passed
Something to the midwife who passed it onto babies."

I don't seem to be explaining myself well (or people are ignoring my posts!) There are no babies. We have the only baby and he is still in utero. The midwife will not be coming across any other babies because they don't exist! We live on a tiny island, we aren't even giving birth on this island as there is no hospital we have to fly (whilst in labour!) to a bigger island with a hospital and it's own doctors/midwifes.

OP posts:
diddl · 05/05/2012 14:04

That sounds like an adventure!

Hope it all goes OK!

Does he really feel out of his depth about being there, or just reacting to not feeling well this morning?

If it´s the first, I hope he manages to talk to someone soon!

My first was so early I hadn´t even started any classes & I somehow missed the refresher course before having my second!

katykuns · 05/05/2012 16:12

Glad it got resolved :)

Perhaps he was just having a last moment of nerves and the dodgy tum was a reflection of that. I'd love to give advice along the lines of 'have a lovely chat about how he's coping'.. but I am 38 weeks pregnant and my partner is very anxious, and I have not yet been able to really help! lol

Totally understand your original post though, I wouldn't want to go alone, and I wouldn't particularly want to phone to cancel either. But then the only thing I want to do is sit and stuff my face in front of the telly

Hope the classes are useful for you :)

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