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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want him to be excited? Interested? Give a damn?

135 replies

SanitysSake · 28/01/2017 13:56

I won't lie, my relationship has been pretty bad since finding out I was expecting. The partner took the best part of 4.5 months to finally accept and come round to the fact that this was happening, after originally doing everything to suggest we should terminate. The stress and hurt endured in these first few months was horrendous, but things have evened out a bit.

As my belly is really pronouncing itself now (25 +5) and the baby is incredibly active, I am often found to be squealing with shock/horror/fear and delight at all the new things I'm experiencing. We have been told our baby is going to be tall and was practically impossible to pin down during the scan because of the level of activity.

The only thing that is getting me down, is that my partner will make a single reference to the baby that's coming perhaps just once a day. There will be few to no attempts to touch my belly and when I invite him to either look at my belly or touch it because the baby is particularly active; he's just not bothered and says things like 'Yes, I've felt it before, you know!' - Like it's got old already... Or 'It feels different for you inside than it does for me on the outside.' This is making me feel very very sad.

I know money is a bit of an issue at the moment and he's working very long hours. But he ends up having to do these hours because he's not very good at getting up and at it and planning his days effectively. Not that I could ever tell him this, as Ive been unemployed for some time and now I'm pregnant, can't get a job - because who is going to employ someone who is 6 months pregnant?

The heartbreaking thing for me, is that I want to be excited. After the first horrendous months, I want to embrace what's happening and start to plan and perhaps get a few small bits in preparation. I haven't got a single thing (not that I know what I need). Not even a singular baby-gro or teddy. He has said 'it's too early'.. Like some dealer of doom. That perhaps the baby won't come/survive. That in some ways he's still in denial and the only time he'll be 'fit' for it, is when the baby appears. I know he's very single-minded in the fact that he can only focus on one thing at a time, else he becomes overwhelmed; so his work and how tired he feels is the most important and only thing.

It broke my heart yesterday when I saw you could get 4D scans in a very local clinic and said 'Ooh, look, do you think we should get one of these done to see baby's face?' and he shrugged impassively and said 'What for?'

I have two ruptured discs in my back, De Quervains in both wrists and suspected SPD. I'm trying my best to be upbeat through all this and still have space in my heart and head for a little joy at what is coming.. But with his consistent dismissiveness (for example, when my face fell nearly in tears after he said 'I've felt it before!' he replied with 'Oh come on now, don't go there'.. rubbishing my feelings) - I feel very lonely and alone in all this. There are days when I think I'd be better off doing this on my own. But I don't want to. I do love him. He's making me very sad and robbing me of the joy I want to feel.

Has anyone experienced the same?... Can someone tell me that it might get better when the baby comes along? How do I get him to invest and be interested in the meantime? Perhaps see how it matters that he takes an interest and that once in a weekend, rather than sleeping or slobbing because he's tired or hungover, he might himself suggest we go and buy our first baby bits together - something? Anything?

Any experience and advice gratefully received x

OP posts:
AnnieAnoniMouse · 28/01/2017 15:35

I can't imagine being with someone who wasn't excited about the impending arrival of their child. However, some are like that and are good Dads when the baby arrives.

However, it's not just that he's not excited, it's that he's treating you horribly. He's being dismissive & cold. He's not being caring & loving towards you at all.

I don't think I'd hang around on the off chance he has a personality transplant when you have a demanding newborn to look after. I'd rather sort my life out & get sorted for going it alone. Doing it alone is far better than doing it with someone who is resentful of the baby & the time you spend looking after it.

Mummyoflittledragon · 28/01/2017 15:36

Awwwlook. Did you read the bit where op said she didn't think she could get pregnant?

Silentelf · 28/01/2017 15:36

My husband was just like this- couldn't get enthused about me being pregnant with our (planned) 1st baby. I think he just didn't have an emotional connection with an unborn baby. But the difference is I didn't really get upset by this and I also didn't want to buy anything before the baby arrived, so it wasn't such an issue for me. But he was mad about our first as soon as he was born. And actively didn't want our unplanned third, but again he couldn't be without her now, is a great dad, so don't give up hope.

Sabsy1 · 28/01/2017 15:38

He might change his mind when baby is born, or he might not.... you need to wait and see. I have a friend who's husband didn't want a baby, and it's been a problem since the little one was born (10 years old now). They are both unhappy... it's simply not working.
If you see things aren't changing after baby is born, you might need to rethink your options and make a decision.
On the other hand. Both me and my partner wanted a baby, and my partner was engaged and interested in most of aspects of my pregnancy and preparation of baby nursery etc.... but he was nowhere near as excited as me. He wasn't getting involved in details like I was! I was going mad on hormones, i made decisions about majority of stuff just by myself and bought everything myself!!!
Make sure you go to anti natal classes and join baby groups as soon as baby is born, so you have mums in your local area to socialise with, especially if your partner works long days. First few months are really tough and days seems extra long when you are on your own with the baby.
Second hand market for toys/baby stuff is excellent, check out your local selling pages/ebay, you can get absolute bargains.

hoddtastic · 28/01/2017 15:41

you told him you wouldn't/couldn't get pregnant, he doesn't want kids.

i can understand him feeling this way- he didn't lie to you when he asked you to terminate. You can't expect him to be all 'wow, it moves' cooing when it's not what he wants and he's already told you that. I'd be pissed off ending up supporting a woman who wouldn't/couldn't work and a kid i didn't want to be honest.

although men do tend to have a different experience of pregnancy as the concept is so external/abstract to them until it pops out.

EB123 · 28/01/2017 15:41

I think he sounds pretty normal. Loads or men find pregnancy hard to really get excited over because it isn't happening to their body. Add that to the surprise of the situation, the financial burden (particularly if he is the only one bringing in money?) and change of lifestyle that comes with having a baby. It is a pretty daunting time. You also don't mention how long you have been together?
From what you say he talks about the baby, so he is showing interest. Did he come to the scans too?

I had a very unplanned pregnancy, nearly 7 years on we are still together, are married and have 3 children.

picklemepopcorn · 28/01/2017 15:43

Does he ever get visibly excited? Some people have a very low arousal level, he may be one of those. My DH and DS1 are set at teen age boy levels of excitement- Grunt. Grunt. What? Oh ok. They actually avoid excitement.

DH is fabulous with babies though. He actually smiles while holding them.

Try not to worry.

ImperialBlether · 28/01/2017 15:45

While your pregnancy is a earth shattering and exciting change to you, it's unlikely to matter that much to other people. Even your dp.

He is the father, ffs!

SanitysSake · 28/01/2017 15:45

Christ on a bike - what part of I'm NOT walking around screeching like a banshee all the time do people not get? I am, however, allowed to occasionally be surprised by whats happening, aren't I? It also has quite the impact because of my now health issues.

I am crushed at his lack of engagement and am continually crushed because of his reactions - they have diminished my joy and dismissed me and this experience into silence. To experience everything that's happening on my own -its a very lonely and sad place to be. This is when he says he feels one way, but acts very differently.

As for 'neatly not answering those questions' regarding finances. I have my own means, which have been supporting us for the past two years. It's just that he is working now and I am not. My means are significantly depleted - for sure - but he is more than cognisant of the fact that I saw us through.. As a consequence, I don't feel like I haven't 'done my part', when it comes to this area of our life. Answer enough?

Thankfully my world is not limited to the impending arrival. I have other things that occupy my time. Besides, even if I wanted it to be, I already know that the audience isn't really there/interested so what would be the point of sharing in the first instance. Let alone 'oversharing'.

It's depressing and lonely. But and by all accounts, I'm almost deserving of this predicament because he 'clearly stated' that he didn't want the child in the first place and I went ahead with it. If that's the case, then clearly I should leave (despite him saying he doesn't want me to, that he wants the baby now and my loving him) - and if I don't, I should expect him to carry on being his normal disengaged self because that's the bed I've made and I should lie in it?

Maybe you're right. Maybe I deserve that?

Or maybe, as some of you have been kind enough to share, that sometimes, just sometimes, a few men who are disengaged come round and some, do not. But either way, this is how they/ or their friends felt/dealt with it. Thank you for those helpful answers. They're a little ray of light on what feels like a succession of very grey days x

OP posts:
sarebear1983 · 28/01/2017 15:47

I think that the fact that you don't have much family or friends around you is exacerbating the situation. It must be so lonely for you, and because of this, it would have been nice your DH would have made a particular effort to make you feel at ease.
However, it's nice what he is saying when he does, some blokes are just like that, and him being tired etc, unfortunately, he may just be feeling abit sorry for himself, worried for the future, and just taking more time to get used to the idea.
That doesn't mean that he won't be a good dad, and there's no reason for you to put off being excited until he gets his arse in gear.
Be excited, be as happy as you can and importantly, sit him down and explain how you're feeling.
I'm 36 weeks tomorrow and I know that it's hard emotionally at times, but he's not a mind reader, especially with everything that's going on with you both separately at the moment. Come together and have some time together and a really good chat.
Lots of hugs for you hon, I hope things get better xxx

ImperialBlether · 28/01/2017 15:47

i can understand him feeling this way- he didn't lie to you when he asked you to terminate

What? Did the OP say this?

scottishdiem · 28/01/2017 15:48

"He is the father, ffs!"

Yes but he didn't want it, ffs! And yes we can debate the point that he should have been using condoms but looks like OP told him that she couldnt conceive so they didn't bother, ffs!

Yes, he is the father and he will need to accept that responsibility but he doesnt have to force himself to be excited about it, ffs!

ImperialBlether · 28/01/2017 15:48

Sorry, I completely missed that in the first post.

pelicantown · 28/01/2017 15:54

We have 6 dcs dh has been very much on board with the first 5. I got pregnant by accident with dc 6 (I had a coil in). He pushed for abortion I said no. The whole pregnancy he was a total dick. I won't go into it but it very neatly destroyed our relationship.

My dd is 15 months now and he is totally fab with her. BUT it has taken longer for my feelings towards him to recover. I felt that some things he said and did I will never forget.

Chilli1 · 28/01/2017 15:56

My husband wasn't very 'excited' when I was pregnant. He's a really practical man but not very imaginative, I suppose. He was really pleased I was pregnant, and we'd been trying, but there was certainly no excitement or squealing. That's just not his way - about anything really.

I was a bit concerned at parenting classes when the other men said things like 'We're pregnant' or put their hands up when the midwife asked who was going to breastfeed. He was the only one who didn't seem to see it as 'Our Pregnancy', but he's been a brilliant, hands on father since day one. I honestly couldn't have hoped for more.

Stop expecting him to react the way you want him to. He's working hard and doing his best.

SanitysSake · 28/01/2017 15:59

'I think that the fact that you don't have much family or friends around you is exacerbating the situation. It must be so lonely for you, and because of this, it would have been nice your DH would have made a particular effort to make you feel at ease.
However, it's nice what he is saying when he does, some blokes are just like that, and him being tired etc, unfortunately, he may just be feeling abit sorry for himself, worried for the future, and just taking more time to get used to the idea.
That doesn't mean that he won't be a good dad, and there's no reason for you to put off being excited until he gets his arse in gear.
Be excited, be as happy as you can and importantly, sit him down and explain how you're feeling.
I'm 36 weeks tomorrow and I know that it's hard emotionally at times, but he's not a mind reader, especially with everything that's going on with you both separately at the moment. Come together and have some time together and a really good chat.
Lots of hugs for you hon, I hope things get better xxx'

This made me cry. Thank you for your kind words, sarebear1983. All very very true.

I'm trying to remain positive, but it's hard to be positive against someone who largely doesn't want to know about it as he's tired and can only focus on one thing at a time.

He is very self centred. Given what has happened in the last year, I'm lucky I'm still standing. He really doesn't seem to appreciate that fact at all. I don't ask for sympathy for my health situation outside of the pregnancy - long term chronic pain can be boring to talk about. I have got on with it to spare him that tedium. Just to share a bit of joy with me really - that's all I would like.... x

OP posts:
RortyCrankle · 28/01/2017 16:07

It seems you want him to be hyped about the pregnancy 24/7 which is just not realistic, especially as he didn't want a child in the first place. You posted Maybe every second day, he'll come across as excited and say 'and the little Bean'.. or 'what does tapey (tape worm) desire to eat today?'... and I think that's the best he can give as far as investment goes. Sadly, it's not enough for me. So he does instigate some interest in your bump but you say it's not enough - unfortunately it will probably have to be.

I think the more you go on and on about the pregnancy, the more he will back off. Try just having normal conversations about other stuff, maybe he will relax enough to get more interested. I reckon he's on tenterhooks waiting all the time for you to demand his constant fascination and interest in the bump; it's enough to put anyone off.

SanitysSake · 28/01/2017 16:09

pelicantown - this is what worries me too.

The first 4.5 months he was horrendous. Treated me quite poorly. To the point I was actively enquiring about leaving.

He has apologised profusely.. says he's happy.. loves the bones of me.. and repeatedly says sorry for him being a dummy about it all.. but it doesn't feel true when it comes to the child - his actions don't reflect his words. I'm hoping it's fear that is causing the disconnect..

Yes, maybe I'm projecting how I would like it to be onto a man who didn't ever expect to be a father. He did say that he never 'not' wanted it - just that he wasn't ready - because when we found out, he had never ever expected to actually be a father. So yes, the shock was massive and he says he panicked...

However and because the treatment at the start was so bad and I stayed, I can't help but think he does need to represent more - as a means to make up for it? Maybe that's self centred and I should just be grateful that he's there and working (?!!) However, I don't find having my joy completely stamped all over in preference for whinging about how tired he is, really compensatory enough for the treatment in those first 4.5 months.

OP posts:
TheElephantofSurprise · 28/01/2017 16:10

Referring to the baby as 'tapeworm'???

SanitysSake · 28/01/2017 16:12

lol yes.. because I am eating quite a bit and what I fancy eating changes by the half hour!

OP posts:
sarebear1983 · 28/01/2017 16:19

You're very welcome : )
What you're asking for isn't unreasonable in the slightest. If he's tired and stressed, he needs to put himself in your shoes and imagine how you must be feeling. It's bloody hard anyway emotionally, add to that all the physical pain you're in, and it all becomes another level.
It shouldn't need doing, but spell it out to him and hopefully he'll become more understanding.
Things may feel hopeless at times, but remember, you're doing amazing and you should be really proud of yourself and how you're dealing everything xxx

archersfan22 · 28/01/2017 16:20

My husband wasn't outwardly very enthusiastic during my much wanted and tried for pregnancy - def not that keen on touching bump or anything. He got involved after the birth in changing nappies for example, but no crying or gushing with joy or anything, and it was still more my business than his really. It was only once baby was more interactive, could be played with etc that he got more enthusiastic, and now that we have a toddler he's clearly a doting father.
So I'm just saying not to panic if enthusiasm doesn't come straight away after the birth - newborns are quite boring really and really hard work and a lot of people find it hard to generate much enthusiasm while never getting a night's rest.

Personally as long as he's giving you practical support I don't think you can or should force him into showing enthusiasm he might not be feeling.
Also, I was really reluctant to buy anything before the baby was born at all, because I was worried something might go wrong. Obviously I got the essentials but I really tried to avoid cooing over cute outfits etc just in case something went wrong. So that's not really abnormal either.

Cuppaqueen · 28/01/2017 16:23

Aww, OP, I for one really feel for you. I'm 29 weeks pregnant and it feels like so much is happening inside and out that I want to share, especially with my DH. The kicks, the wriggles, the bump growth spurts, the fear that my belly button's going to pop out any day, the feeling of being hungry and yet full all at the same time, the list of baby shopping (although we haven't bought much yet) ...

I know not everyone gets excited about this stuff, but I am, so of course I want to share it with the baby's dad to be. So I totally get why you do too, and I don't think it's unreasonable to ask him to make an effort. I agree with pp that it would be good to sit down and talk to him honestly about how you feel - don't let him brush you off. Or write a letter, email if that works. Let him know what would help; maybe he doesn't realise how he's been hurting you. And give him some credit for the effort he is making after quite a shock - 'little tapey' is very sweet! Try to build on the good things. Maybe you can agree a list of shopping even if it's a bit early to buy things.

Could you also message some good friends and tell them you've been down, need some support - I bet they rally round. My friends are all thousands of miles away but I've been messaging them on FB etc and they've been lovely. Maybe your friends don't realise you're struggling? The forums on here are great too, and maybe you can find some expectant mum groups nearby too. I really hope it gets better and that you find a way to enjoy this unique experience SmileFlowers

SlankyBodger · 28/01/2017 16:30

LTB. Really. My dh was exactly the same and did not get better. He was horrendous and behaved abominably, ensured I was unable to have an independent existence and was completely dependent upon him, which allowed him to utterly destroy me. i think yours sounds so similar.

Go back to your home town. Go to where you will have love, laughter, support and kindness. Doing it alone surrounded by friends and family is different from doing it alone inside a relationship - that is the pits, far far worse.

MadisonMontgomery · 28/01/2017 16:35

It sounds like he is making the best of a bad job - he didn't want a baby and now he is getting one, like it or not.

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