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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be so disappointed in my husband

555 replies

LetItRain88 · 29/09/2017 11:33

So a little over 3 weeks ago I had a horrific birth experience resulting in 4th degree tears. Lost bladder control which is slowly coming back and almost lost bowel/sphincter control but fortunately all seems ok in that department now thankfully.

Still in a fair bit of pain and got quite bad baby blues, but this seems to be subsiding thank god.

Husband and I have been married for almost 6 years, together for 7. We both work full time (me past tense until maternity leave is over). We own our house and wanted to have a baby so we tried and after a number of years I got pregnant Smile I knew it would be hard work, I was under no illusion, but what I didn't expect is to feel like I'm in this all by myself.

I now feel like I have a flat mate who occasionally picks up the baby for a minute or two but other than that doesn't have any interest in him.

I am exhausted naturally from generally having a baby, but the trauma of the birth and the resulting injuries mean I needed a little extra help- but I'm getting literally nothing.

He had taken two weeks annual leave after the baby was born, I presumed to spend time at home helping with DS. But he literally has gone to the gym every single day since the day we came home from hospital for at least 3 or 4 hours a time. If he's not at the gym he is having a nap(!!!!!). And now he's back at work he is still fitting in a number of hours each day at the gym around a full time job. If he decides to have a rare rest day he will spend that time sleeping, not helping with the baby or around the house.

He does cook dinners on the days he isn't on late shift but that was usually what he did anyway before the baby.

Even before he went back to work I've been sleeping in the lounge with the baby while DH sleeps in the bed upstairs. I didn't mind at first because I kinda just presumed that we could take it in turns to do night shifts. But I literally had to ask him if I could please have just one night in bed while he looked after DS (he wasn't at work at this point). He did get a bit huffy but knew he couldn't protest so agreed. I was so excited and thanked him so much so he knew how important it was to me and got myself into bed. He managed it until 4:30am when he came and got me saying it's better to get me now as DS would be waking up for another feed soon so I could just do that and then go back to sleep on the sofa. I protested saying please just let me sleep I need to rest but he got narky so I gave in and got up.

Since DS was born I have asked to sleep in bed twice and both times he got me up at 4 oclock/5oclock ish even tho the second time I asked him to please let me sleep until at least 6am (I'd have loved a lay in but could tell there was literally no point in asking).

I have literally been in tears crying at him this morning because now both DS and I also now have full blown colds. DS can't sleep properly, wakes up every hour or so and I have a massive head ache and sore throat and haven't been able to even wash myself for two days.

He is on late shift today, had a rest day from the gym and instead of saying to me I could have an hour to sleep while he watched DS he had himself a nice long lay in and long shower before getting ready and going to work. His response to my crying was to say "aw babes you're doing a great job". Which is nice of him to say, and he does say it regularly, usually just before he leaves to go to the gym again. But I need physical help.

He says "sleep when baby sleeps", which is easier said than done. I'm trying to get my baby back on breast too (long story to do with the 4th degree tears making it almost impossible to BF at first) and having to bottle feed, wash and sterilise bottles, offer breast to DS and also express. It's like feeding triplets as I'm doing three time consuming things at every feed.

And the house is disgusting. Trying to keep on top of it too while trying to remember to even eat is a task on its own while I have baby blues and pain from stitches and bladder control loss on top of minimal sleep.

I know house work isn't important right now but there is a standard of cleanliness I am not willing to give up on.

I say to him often "I need a bath" or "I've not had a chance to wash since yesterday" or something along these lines but he just goes "oh right" and brushes it off.

I don't feel like I'm expecting too much. An hour in bed here and there, for him to change a nappy for once, offer to do a feed while I eat dinner instead of letting it go cold, not even to run my bath for me but to just say "ok you go get in the bath I'll watch the baby". Maybe do the washing up!?

I mentioned it to him a few days ago that I need more help with the baby and that while I appreciate the gym is important to him his priorities need to change at least for a few months while the baby is so little and I am in such a state while I heal. He got immediately very defensive and quite angry saying he's stressed and it's his only release and he's not willing to stop going or go any less than he already does.

I know there's no point in talking to him about it again, I guess I don't even really know why I'm posting this, I just need to vent I suppose. I am fully at the end of my tether. I don't want to nag him I just want him to know already what is needed- it's not rocket science and he's a clever guy and he does already know, but it's like he's making a point of not letting the baby affect his life in any way.

My mum helps out when she can at the moment but she is moving back to America next week and I have no one else that can help nearby.

Anyway my industrial double breast pump has just been delivered and DS has finally nodded off so I'm gonna go milk myself.

Sleep when the baby sleeps...what a pile of bull Envy

OP posts:
CakesRUs · 30/09/2017 03:54

Yanbu. He's out of order. Giving in on an argument about it won't help you in the long run. Stand your ground. Good luck. Hope you feel better soon.

Catchem · 30/09/2017 04:09

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C0rdelia · 30/09/2017 04:21

What a distressing post. You poor thing. Let your mother know and ask her to delay her move and help you. You need sleep and rest at the very least.

Catchem · 30/09/2017 04:32

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Robots1Humans0 · 30/09/2017 04:53

OP I haven't read full thread of replies but just wanted to tell you what an amazing job you are doing , doing everything for your baby whilst healing from an injury like that. I suffered 3rd degree tear which was eye watering enough, and those first few months with a newborn are tough even if you had all the support in the world. I would be absolutely furious with my OH if he was continuing on like this- he was an avid cyclist before our DS however knows our free time is very much limited now we are parents - your DH's priorities need to change! If he doesn't change , it is only going to go downhill. You need physical and emotional support to heal - make him give you it Flowers

TwoBobs · 30/09/2017 07:39

I think he needs it spelt out just how hard it is and how bad your tear is. I understand you don't want a row so here is my suggestion....
Write him a letter. Explain what a 4th degree tear us like ie imagine having your penis and balls ripped open and then stitched up again. I'm sure if that happened to you, you would be very, very sore and would not want to move. Imagine that it then causes you to piss yourself every hour. How humiliating would you find it? Well that is what is happening to me and I can tell you I am.in so much pain.
Now imagine, your penis and balls have been ripped open, you're regularly pissing yourself but there's no time to rest. You have this tiny human being to take care of. Imagine surviving on 6 hours of BROKEN sleep when with your injuries you should be resting. You say 'sleep when the baby sleeps'. That's a lovely idea but, in reality, I'm too busy expressing. Yes, it's great fun having your boobs squeezed and squashed a 1000 times on each one. It takes half an hour 8 times a day to keep the supply up.
How about you trying that machine on your nipples for half an hour 8 times a day, including night time to see how that feels? I'd love to sleep when the baby sleeps but between expressing, washing up, sterilising , making up bottles, washing and feeding myself then that would leave me about 10 minutes of sleep. Then don't get me started on the state of the house.....
On top of that, I have a husband who says nice things which I really appreciate but I'm afraid actions speak louder than words.
I currently feel like a single parent, I might as well be one as you are not pulling your weight. Do you not think I would love to pop out and have some down time for a few hours every day? Do you not think how nice it would be for me to have more sleep?
Think about what my body has been through, how much pain I'm still in, how much my body needs the sleep to recover (imagine how you would feel if you had to push something the size of a melon out of your bum!)
If you want me to develop Post Natal Depression, you're going the right way about it. I feel like I've given up my whole life for our beautiful son while you just carry on with your sleep and gym sessions. I'm not saying 'no gym' but I'm afraid, until our child is older, it is most definitely 'less gym' or I also get to do my own thing a few hours a day (so you come home at 6 o clock, I go out until 9, you watch our son and then you can go to the gym).
I need you, our son needs you and if you can't step up and do some proper night shifts ie until 8am, NOT 5am then we will need to pay for a night nanny.
So, today, I am out for the day and possibly the night, I haven't decided yet. Enjoy spending time with your son. While you're sat there exhausted in the middle of the night, imagine doing this with your penis and balls ripped open and stitched back together, imagine how you'd feel having done this day after day for the whole of our son's life, imagine having done this after squieezing a melon out of your bum, pissing yourself all the time and then try doing the hand held breast pump on yourself for 30 mins each side 8 times a day. Then, be grateful you're not the one who gave birth and start doing more baby bathing, night shifts, nappy changes, sterilising and feeding or.......I might as well be on my own!

TwoBobs · 30/09/2017 07:42

Then swan off to a hotel for the day/night. Tell him your just popping out to the shop, leave baby with him. Call him later to tell him there's a letter in his coat pocket for him to read. The parting shot is. I'll come back when I've had a proper sleep....whenever that is!

TenForward82 · 30/09/2017 07:44

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TwoBobs · 30/09/2017 07:46

He really needs to experience the exhaustion that you've felt. He currently has no idea. He also needs some thinking time. Prompt all family members so he can't leave the baby with them to get some rest.

LoislovesStewie · 30/09/2017 07:52

TwoBobs; you have expressed exactly what i have been thinking! You said it so well.

TheCatsMother99 · 30/09/2017 07:55

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endofthelinefinally · 30/09/2017 08:01

The thing is, op, you probably feel as if you cant risk leaving your son with him. So you feel trapped.
He really is a piece of work.
I think you need to buy in some help if you can afford it.
At least take the equivalent of his gym membership to pay a cleaner.

4evernamechanging · 30/09/2017 08:23

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HidingBehindTheWallpaper · 30/09/2017 08:23

He’s not going to the gym to get away from op and the baby though. He was going to the gym like this pre baby.
He just doesn’t see why anything in his life should change.

SonicBoomBoom · 30/09/2017 08:35

I think he's selfish, yes, and maybe feels guilty and inadequate and that is manifesting itself as even more selfish and inadequate behaviour.

kaytee87 · 30/09/2017 08:48

What a load of shite you're talking catchem

peanut2017 · 30/09/2017 08:59

What a dick! Seriously what you have been through and he thinks he can treat you and your baby like that!!! I'm so sorry this is happening to you. What a shit

Actions speak louder than words. And we wonder why women can get PND and find it difficult to breastfeed.

You are doing amazing! I would be on the ground if I was you without my oh getting stuck in

He does realise that it's his baby too

Try and get things sorted now otherwise it will be harder to change things when he is used to being useless

LouHotel · 30/09/2017 09:05

OP i really hope the reason your not replying is because youve shown your DP this thread and he's spent the day grovelling, cookijg, cleaning and helping with the baby. But im going to assume not.

He does not deserve your forgiveness right now for how he is acting, mainly because he's clearly happy with how things are going. He needs his actions spelled out to him and few different fronts.

I think write a letter, speak to your HV and also ask your mum to say something before she leaves.

He doesnt get a free pass OP, eventually things will be easier because babies get easier to handle from a few months (mostly) and he will take this natural occurance as the fact he behaved appropriately. HE DID NOT.

I also think on a side note this once your feeling up to it you might want to speak to your doctor about talking through what happened to you in labour, i know women who this really helped and might be an idea for your DP to hear from professional what happened to his partner while he was gyming.

This post has made me so angry and i really hope you have some friends to speak. Can you get yourself to a latchon class in your area? They tend to be smaller groups, will be able to help you with stimulating breastfeeding and offer a shoulder to cry on.

bonjourbear · 30/09/2017 09:19

People seem determined to exonerate this man and find a benign explanation for his behaviour: He's traumatised. He's on the spectrum. He's got OCD. What if he's just selfish? Men like this do exist, unfortunately. My sister has OCD and was traumatised by her first child's birth, because it was traumatic. She then got PND and severe mastitis. Did you stop caring for her child? No, of course not.
The op said early on that this man had no friends. Maybe because he's very, very selfish? I honestly think we're doing her a disservice encouraging her to stay with this person. He shouts and gets angry when she tries to put her point across: this is abuse. And now she's expected to divert her energy - when she should be healing and caring for her child - into managing his behaviour and trying to bribe him to act like a decent human being with the possibility of sex!

We give women advice like this, then we wonder why they don't leave abusive relationships.

LoislovesStewie · 30/09/2017 09:20

Please can I remind you that if he becomes abusive; you fear for your safety , he becomes violent you should call the police (999) and you can talk to Woman's Aid/ Samaritans just to ask about your options to be safe in any case. I'm not saying he will be like that but from where I'm standing ( and having worked as a homeless officer for many years) pregnancy and just after birth is when some men become controlling/violent. There are many men who are outwardly charming but are bullies at home. Childbirth seems to be the catalyst for some.

guinea36 · 30/09/2017 09:34

Another thought - If he can afford the gym, he most certainly can afford a cleaner. If you can get someone to come in for an hour twice a week even if it's only during the first couple of months that could really help

JamOrCreamFirst · 30/09/2017 09:38

I hope you're ok OP.

Mittens1969 · 30/09/2017 09:38

He sounds very manipulative, calling her 'babe' and saying what an amazing job she's doing just before leaving her to go to the for hours. Horrible.

GoodEnough1 · 30/09/2017 09:54

I really feel for you, and agree with others that he's worse than useless right now. But at the moment you urgently need help and maybe should think about spending energy on getting that form elsewhere and deal with DH later when you are stronger, which you will be soon. Does your mother know, and is she able to delay her return to US? Do your friends know, close friends can do amazing things if you let them in and don't pretend things are rosy. Perhaps a cleaner for a couple of hours, a babysitter etc. Get a friend to take DS for a long walk while you sleep. Most important now is you and DS, not fretting about a useless man. I wish you well.

StaplesCorner · 30/09/2017 11:38

Hope OP is ok Sad

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