Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
scootinFun · 29/09/2017 11:55

Leave him, demand help, speak to parents but you need help! You will have a breakdown if this continues! Massive medical issues and and he's behaving like this. I'm surprised he hasn't started bring up when you're going to start having sex again! He's a drain on you - let him go!

ShowMePotatoSalad · 29/09/2017 11:55

Oh here we go. It's called a difference of opinion and another perspective. I'd rather try to actually help OP - presumably leaving her husband when she has a tiny baby is a suggestion she wouldn't find all that helpful. I'm not saying for sure he has depression nor am I excusing his behaviour or minimising the impact it is having an OP. I'm saying it's a possibility to talk to him about. God sakes.

unfortunateevents · 29/09/2017 11:56

Is there any way that your mum could stay a bit longer? Otherwise, can you get the Health visitor or GP to call him. You are in serious need of help. If he doesn't step up, do you have money for a cleaner/maternity nanny/whatever kind of help you can get? Otherwise, leave and go to a hotel with baby. Someone else will do the cleaning and cooking and then you CAN sleep when baby sleeps. Something drastic needs to happen. The situation is completely unacceptable.

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 29/09/2017 11:57

What was he like before the baby arrived? This behaviour is absolutely appalling.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 29/09/2017 11:57

Is the baby actually sleeping on the sofa with you? If so, that is a major SIDS risk and needs to stop, now.

As to the rest of it, I'm with the LTB chorus.

Giraffey1 · 29/09/2017 11:59

Why are you sleeping on the sofa with baby downstairs? Why don't you have the cot in the bedroom with you and your H? If it wakes him, tough.

That;s just an aside really, he needs to get a grip. This is his baby too, and his responsibility as well as yours. Can you sit him fdown and have a serious conversation with him - tell him what you are telling us!

Sistersofmercy101 · 29/09/2017 11:59

OP report everything to your midwife /hv and/or GP... Get it logged officially. This is totally unacceptable, you desperately need recovery and healing time for the sake of your short and long term health and for your child! Again my sympathies Flowers

ItWentDownMyHeartHole · 29/09/2017 12:00

At the very, very least you need to be in the bed. From tonight. Permanently. No questions or reasoning from your partner (of sorts). There's no negotiation. The bed is yours now.

This man isn't going to offer any help with the child so he needs to do everything else possible. You are not failing in any way here. With a tiny, ill baby and your healing injuries you can't clean the house or do all the cooking as well. Either he has to or he needs to pay for a cleaner. Gym membership money should cover it.

This bit of child-rearing is incredibly hard. He'll ruin your future relationship if he can't be persuaded to care for you properly now. Good luck.

NotThereEileen · 29/09/2017 12:00

Struggling to believe what I've just read.
YOU and baby are relegated to the lounge while cuntface gets a bed Shock
What an utterly useless piece of shit. The best thing you can do is leave

HumphreyCobblers · 29/09/2017 12:00

I too did not suggest leaving him. But IME people who are not coping do not manifest this lack of coping by behaving like a massive twat unless they are a massive twat.

Seeing clearly what his behaviour actually IS will be helpful to the OP, I hope.

user1495451339 · 29/09/2017 12:01

Sorry but you should be in the bed and if he can't sleep he can sleep on the sofa. Really, you are on maternity leave and he should be helping you. Those 2 weeks off he had were not for the gym.

Have you got family to help you at all so that you can get a few hours sleep in the day?

I would have a chat with him about what you expect from him. Please don't feel that as you are on maternity leave you should do everything. I mean you haven't had time to shower and he is off to the gym for hours?

My husband thought he would go and play golf for the day when he was on paternity leave, I told him otherwise!

WineGummyBear · 29/09/2017 12:01

OP I'm so sorry to hear this, it's horrendous behaviour. Does he have any male friends or relatives who he can chat to. It sounds like he thinks that as he is the man he has a free pass that his pursuits are protected while you go through the trucking mill. That's not teamwork!

Perhaps if he spoke to a couple of sensible men (who do their share and support their partner whose body needs to heal and recover) it might give him a wake up call.

It also might help him to hear it from a health care professional or his parents (assuming they'get it's).

All the best.

GoldenOrb · 29/09/2017 12:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

guilty100 · 29/09/2017 12:02

This is extremely upsetting. I have rarely read a thread on Mumsnet with such a totally clear-cut case of utter selfishness on the part of a new father.

I'm sorry this is happening. You should feel supported and helped right now, and instead your partner is behaving despicably.

I am not sure what to suggest other than you recruit all the real life help you can. Tell his mother, his family, his friends - and all of yours - what is happening. Recruit moral help, as well as practical, in getting him to hold up his end of this. If I heard a brother or son of mine was behaving in this way, there would be stern words supporting you.

LetItRain88 · 29/09/2017 12:02

I feel I didn't quite make it clear about the sleeping on the sofa, I had had SPD through pregnancy so I slept on the sofa as the bed was too soft and the sofa actually helped some how. Since having DS I told DH I am happy to stay sleeping on the sofa so he doesn't get woken when he has work the next day which is fine as I find it quite comfy. DH offers to sleep on the sofa with me sometimes when he's not working the next day but it's just easier if he's not downstairs as he doesn't actually help and sleeps through it, if I say can you please make him a bottle while I do his bum he will go make a bottle and then go back to sleep and won't offer to do the actual feed. We have a perfect prep machine so making the bottle takes less than a minute so really it's no great help him doing it anyway.

I am close to his mum but she's very unwell at the moment with blood cancer and think it would be too much for her to worry about right now. I don't want to stress her. DH has no close friends I can confide in and ask to talk to him.

He is very sweet to me with the things he says. When I was having a real low day the other week he put on the music channel and got me up and made me dance with him. He tells me I'm beautiful even tho right now I look like a greasy drowned rat and says I am doing an amazing job and he thinks I am so strong for what I went through with the birth. So he says all the right things, still kisses me and gives me hugs. But when it comes to the baby he just switches off and becomes the most selfish man I've ever met. It's like two different people in one guy and it's so confusing. It's not how I expected him to be.

I am trying to be understanding as I think maybe he's got a touch of the baby blues too?? But at the same time I feel like I am being a door mat. I just don't have the emotional energy to deal with an argument at the moment which is what I know it will turn in to.

I am stuck 😔 xx

OP posts:
Shadow666 · 29/09/2017 12:02

Wow! What a piece of shit. I feel so sad for you. I don't know what to suggest, I suspect a complete personality change is unlikely. He's just really, really selfish.

blackteasplease · 29/09/2017 12:03

What the fuck wouldn't he be coping with? He's not doing anything! I agree it's borderline abusive - maybe not even borderline.

As a bare minimum you and baby should be in bedroom and him on sofa if he must absent himself on work nights.

This really needed nipping in the bud ages ago while he was off work. I know it was and is a vulnerable time and can see why you didn't.

You now need to sit him down for a really serious talk about how this is not on at all. Be prepared to ltb if needs be, but there's hope to turn things around!

RatRolyPoly · 29/09/2017 12:04

I would have full blown LOST MY SHIT at this dickhead LONG before now, OP.

I know you're tired, but it's time to get angry. Rally the troops. So his parents visit? Tell them what a douche he's being, see if they can't talk some sense into him.

Honestly if I knew where you were I'd be talking some damn sense into him myself! It shouldn't be like this OP, it's really not okay.

GinnyWreckin · 29/09/2017 12:04

I also only got as far as you're sleeping on the sofa.

For fucks sake woman, get back in your bed and recover from the birth.

I would ring everyone I knew and get them to put pressure on your DP to pull his weight.

I have never heard such blatant selfishness in my life.

You poor poor thing. Omg. Congratulations on your baby. I'm sure you're being fantastic. But crikey, you need to lay out some ultimatums for your partner. He's being unreasonable, selfish and cruel in the extreme.

I feel terribly sorry for you. I know it's not popular to say that, but I really cannot imagine how stressful this might be for you and how emotionally awful this "babymoon" is for you. It should be so very very different. You deserve so much better. On the sofa, for fucks sake. Omg. So shocking.

4evernamechanging · 29/09/2017 12:04

Obviously do NOT leave him with the baby as a pp suggested, he's clearly incapable so that would be ridiculous!!
Seriously, you're doing it all on your own anyway so why are you with him? This isn't about what he is or isn't doing as much as it's about his attitude towards you. He's literally watching you in pain, sleeping on the sofa, struggling for sleep, without having washed, crying (literally for help) and the best he can do is cook you a dinner every now and again. That's the treatment homeless people get.
Leave him PLEASE. This situation is not good for you or your son! As the only parent that cares for this baby, do what's right for him x

ReanimatedSGB · 29/09/2017 12:04

What was he like before you had the baby? Think hard - did he pull his weight with household chores, was he kind to you? If you were already in the habit of letting him have his own way because it 'made life easier' then things are not going to improve, because he fundamentally believes that he is the person in your household, and that you and the baby are basically props that exist for his benefit.

If he has always been a lovely, generous partner it's possible that he is struggling to adjust to the change in your lives (and it is possible, if the birth was really bad, that he has been traumatized by seeing you suffer and/or being scared he might lose you, the baby or both, so all this gym-visiting is a way of blocking out the distress.)

But I agree you need to be firm with him. You need much more support from him than you are getting, and he must accept that right now, his wellbeing is lowest priority - you and the baby come first.

blackteasplease · 29/09/2017 12:04

X post 're the sofa but still OMG 're the rest.

It's just utter selfishness.

Knittedfairy · 29/09/2017 12:06

I wouldn't be 'disappointed' in my husband if he'd behaved like yours; I would be incandescent with rage and fury. I was mad enough on your behalf before I got to the part about you sleeping in the lounge but that was enough to tip me over the edge! Reclaim the bed in the first instance. Somebody needs to have a 'come to Jesus' talk with him. I hope you heal soon; take care, OP

HeteronormativeHaybales · 29/09/2017 12:06

But again, is the baby actually sleeping with you on the sofa? And it's not the kind of sofa you can turn into a (proper, safe) bed?

As for the sweet talk - it's a lot easier to say the right things than to do the right things. He's trying to establish that this is how it's going to be - he's trying to grind you down into accepting that you do everything. If it's this bad now it's unlikely to get any better by itself.

KurriKurri · 29/09/2017 12:06

If he needs his time at the gym because he is stressed, how does he propose to allow you equivalent time (or slightly more) because you are both stressed and injured ? I find the selfishness he is displaying quite inredible, it's his baby too, it's not 'helping' you it's looking after his own child, that he made a conscious choice to create, can he not see how much pain you are in? what an absolute prick he is being.
You need to rest and you need to make sure you can bathe or shower every day otherwise it will slow up your healing.

I think a PP mentioned getting the MW or HV or even GP to have a word with him and spell it out. Sometimes people like this will listen to a HCP even though they dismiss your pleas for help. I'm sorry but I honestly cannot imagine watching someone I love struggling, in pain, exhausted and not want to do everything I could to help. And not letting you sleep in your own bed ? - Unbelievable, selfish, selfish selfish. Angry

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.