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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

partner and family against me

57 replies

angel05 · 21/07/2012 14:22

hello everyone. this is my first post and need advice before i go insane! i have been with my fiance for 7years, i was 16, him 18. our daughter is 3 weeks old and was planned. we live at my mums house until we manage to sort ourselves out. basically there has been arguements that my mum has been interfering where she has just tried to help as i have basically had to do everything alone and after a complicated birth with 3litres of blood loss ive been very sick. my partner has started staying at his mums house over night now and again and they are all giving me a really hard time as i do not feel comfortable with us staying there over night as i want baby to be in her own confort zone. i just dont want her to become unsettled as she screams all night as it is as she has constipation and colic. his family are really loud aswell. everyday my partner is having a go at me over it and its really upsetting me. i said why cant we go there all day and come home in the evening but no. him and his family are saying im talking s**t i quote. sorry for such a long story. any comments would be so appreciated! xxx

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 21/07/2012 14:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

naturalbaby · 21/07/2012 14:29

So your partner's family want you to go live with them?
What would be the benefit of moving all your stuff to their place, then moving again to a place of your own?
Where is your partner's priority - his parents or his partner and baby??

PurplePidjin · 21/07/2012 14:30

Let him take the baby and give you a night off? If nothing else he'll realise how bloody hard you're working!

Olympia2012 · 21/07/2012 14:32

Your reasons are flimsy.... Baby will be out if her 'comfort zone'?? At 3 weeks?

TapirBackRider · 21/07/2012 14:39

Your reasons are NOT flimsy - you're staying at your mums, have had a difficult birth (which I imagine you are still recovering from), and she is giving you a helping hand which your partner isn't willing to do.

It sounds as if you are more at ease at your mums, considering that your baby is very unsettled at night, and that your partner and his family are piling on lots of pressure for you to do what they think you should do, rather than what you are comfortable doing.

Do what you feel is best for you and your baby for now, and once you are firmly on the road to recovery, then discuss with your partner the next steps towards a new place to live, if that is what you want.

Olympia2012 · 21/07/2012 14:43

Op said staying overnight, not moving in

Why can't her partners family see the baby too?

TapirBackRider · 21/07/2012 14:47

Nobody said that her partners family can't see the baby - in fact if you read the OP she states that she's happy to go there for that reason, just that she feels uncomfortable staying overnight, and with such a young and unsettled baby I can see why.

Baby is 3 weeks old, has colic and constipation, mother has had a difficult birth; surely the partners family should be the ones making the running, not giving the OP aggro?

angel05 · 21/07/2012 14:53

if they want to see her they are more than welcome to come here or i said we can go there all day and come back at night. i dont want her staying over night as we have to sleep in a room with an untrained german shepard that bites and didnt want to expose but the house is unclean and they shout and swear all the time.

OP posts:
Olympia2012 · 21/07/2012 14:54

Why didn't you put that in your op?

MrsMcEnroe · 21/07/2012 14:56

At 3 weeks post birth with DC1 I was still bleeding copiously and did not feel comfortable anywhere other than at my house or my mum's. I was worried about making a mess in the bathroom, and worried that my colicky screaming DS would upset people, including my ILs. I understand exactly where she is coming from.

OP - you gave birth to a baby 3 weeks ago - congratulations! You sleep wherever you are most comfortable my love. (The baby is too young to have a comfort zone - she just needs to be with you and preferably your DP too - but your security and comfort are very important). Your partner is bloody lucky to be getting a full night's undisturbed sleep at his mum's house! - does he need a decent night's kip to enable him to work the next day, or is he being a selfish arse manchild?

angel05 · 21/07/2012 15:00

i just feel everyone is being selfish. thank u for your reply it has made me feel better. myself or my mum has been doing nights as im still in pain and my partner says hes tired all the time! i didnt realise she hasnt got a comfort zone yet, thank you. in just a panicky first time mum lol

OP posts:
angel05 · 21/07/2012 15:00

i know i should have, sorry x

OP posts:
TapirBackRider · 21/07/2012 15:03

You are not being selfish angel, you are trying to do the best for you and the baby. Your partner however is being less than helpful, it may be an idea to sit him down and explain exactly how this is making you feel.

Fwiw - a babies comfort zone is with you.

G1nger · 21/07/2012 15:05

Can you give us some examples of your mum interfering?

Olympia2012 · 21/07/2012 15:06

Ok, I take back my 'flimsy' comment, sorry for that.

I wouldn't take my baby there... A biting dog, bad language etc. No way. Stand your ground. You are doing well.

angel05 · 21/07/2012 15:15

thank you everyone. my mum interfering such as commenting on babys colic. washing bottles. commenting on anything to do with baby. wanting to help get her wind up as its taking an hour at a time to feed. its just so stressful. if it werent for my mum i would have been back ib hospital i think :-(

OP posts:
Arseface · 21/07/2012 15:17

Sorry you're having such a hard time OP, DPs family do sound demanding but it could be that they're just very keen to be fully part of the baby's life.

Could you explain to them that you're still not feeling very well after the birth and would find it tiring and stressful to stay overnight anywhere except your DM's at the moment?

I think if you make it about you rather than the baby it may go down better. Most of us forget just how disorientated we were in the early weeks of looking after a first baby but can sympathise if someone has had a tough birth.

You could emphasise how much you're looking forward to staying, once you're up to it, and leave battles over the dog, atmosphere, and where you'd sleep till you're feeling stronger and have agreed things with DP.

It'll make life much easier if you can both agree on how you'll handle both families. Perhaps you could find out what your DM is doing to get his back up and tackle that in return for him supporting you about the overnights?

When a new baby comes into the family it can throw up all sorts of conflict - just when you're least equipped to deal with it.
I know it's difficult when you want to feel protected by everyone at a vulnerable time but I think it's very rare that that happens in real life.
Relatives on both sides do feel they have a stake in your child and that can be so hard to cope with. The alternative though, is having family who don't really care and have nothing to do with your DC - I know which I'd prefer.

If you can maintain the boundaries you need to look after yourself and the baby but bite your lip and avoid saying anything you'll regret until things are calmer, you'll be better off in the long run.

Good luck,

G1nger · 21/07/2012 15:19

Do you have the baby blues? You need time to rest. Do you usually get on with your mum? Maybe she's just trying to help?

Re the boyfriend situation, he needs to get on your side. These are very early days for you and your baby - it's his job just to support you and not to go looking for arguments.

diddl · 21/07/2012 15:42

Well if you live at your Mum´s house-that´s where you live!

If you had your own place they wouldn´t be demanding that you all stayed over, would they?

If your husband stays over for whatever reason, that´s up to him-doesn´t mean that you & baby have to do the same.

He needs to stop being such a bully & put you & baby first.

angel05 · 21/07/2012 17:18

i dont think my mum has been interfering. my partner and his family do (the cheek of it) he wanted to take just the baby to stay without me but i cant face a night away from her just yet and they dont seem to understand that. but i will try and stand my ground :-) x

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 21/07/2012 17:23

your mum is not interfering at all, she is helping you, and I think you know this too :)

your partner sounds like a useless git to be honest, and needs to do some growing up..

G1nger · 21/07/2012 17:25

I get you now, angel. I know someone with a 2 year old who hasn't slept a night away from her. And as the protective mother of a 10mo I have to say: are they fucking mental? Your baby goes wherever you go, and on your terms. They can't bully you unless you let them.

angel05 · 21/07/2012 17:27

i think aswell seen as i do everything for her now i dont trust anyone to have her over night away from me especially if they havent had any practice. my mum has been a life saver as far as im concerned. its just childish jealously i reckon x

OP posts:
G1nger · 21/07/2012 17:30

You are the mother, Angel. You don't have to defend your role to anyone. You are your baby's entire world right now (and for some time to come).

angel05 · 21/07/2012 17:32

thank you g1nger. feel alot better now. i thought tgat maybe i was being a cow but i now know that i am in the right. he says shes as much his as she is mine. well i look after her 24hours a day while he has a cuddle here and there. thank you x

OP posts: