Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think he's being vile?

52 replies

wtf1875 · 29/08/2018 23:02

For context, I'm pregnant and sickness seems to be hitting me at night so I'm not sleeping very well.
DH snoring terribly last night (not his fault) so I didn't get much sleep and he's aware I'm super tired today.
Been throwing up a lot this evening and went to bed, just dozing off and DH comes in and wakes me up, I can handle that. I explained I'm trying to get back to sleep and DH puts on YouTube videos on his phone and keeps laughing loudly.
I say I'm going to sleep on the sofa as I am really tired and need some quiet .... DH goes crazy and says "get a grip you moody bitch"

I didn't respond as I was so gob smacked.

I'm now on the sofa too mad to sleep!!

So what do you think? AIBU to expect quiet and perhaps a little consideration in the bedroom when I'm trying to sleep after being sick... and we have a whole house for him to watch videos in, or should I lighten up???

OP posts:
sourpatchkid · 29/08/2018 23:38

I'm so so sorry but you honestly need to start planning a life without him. Parenting is hard, the early days can destroy the best of relationships, nevermind the one you have with this complete wankbadger. I predict he will get worse, you deserve better.

garethsouthgatesmrs · 29/08/2018 23:38

Hugs for you. He sounds horrible. Maybe he wiĺ have a good explanation for you tomorrow but honestly I don't think my DH (who can be a grumpy old man) would ever let me sleep on the sofa pregnant while he spread out in our double bed. We go through annoying snoring phases when DH has a cold and HE goes in the spare room.

wtf1875 · 29/08/2018 23:39

Thank you all for your replies. At least I know I'm not going totally bonkers!

Someone's reply just made me think of this, not sure if it has relevance. We had the hospital today as I have had some bleeding so had an early scan (luckily everything was ok), and in the waiting area there was a toddler screaming, not crying just casually screaming as they do sometimes. And he winced and I jokingly said "you'll have to get used to this" and he said "don't tell me what to do, I'll get used to it when I'm ready". I did think it was weird but I did actually forget as I was more concerned with how the scan would go. Maybe he is freaking out after all.

OP posts:
Babdoc · 29/08/2018 23:40

Monitor this closely, OP. Pregnancy is a common starting point for domestic abuse, starting with verbal and progressing through emotional to physical violence. If your partner is beginning to escalate this behaviour, get him out as a matter of urgency before he harms you, the baby or both.

Emma765 · 29/08/2018 23:40

Even if you weren't pregnant, he would be well out of order.

I'm pregnant and I've nearly murdered my husband in his sleep just for his heavy breathing bless him. He's being very understanding. It sounds like you also have been more patient than I would have been.

There must be something going on if he's not normally like that. My husband is a 'doer' and a 'fixer' and has really struggled that it's pretty much all on me at the moment and he's limited in how he can help. Feeling a little bit helpless. Obviously doesn't excuse your husband's behaviour but there might be something like that going on.

ReanimatedSGB · 29/08/2018 23:42

Unfortunately a lot of abusive, woman-despising men only show their true faces once you become pregnant, or once the first child arrives. Sometimes they think that now you are pregnant you are trapped, so they needn't bother pretending to be nice any more. Sometimes it's a matter of making sure you 'know your place' and won't forget who your lord and master is once the baby arrives.

If your relationship was previously 'happy' as long as the man got his own way all the time, and you had fallen into the habit of not bothering about little things ie never disagreeing with him, then things are only going to get worse.

AnneLovesGilbert · 29/08/2018 23:44

Oh OP Flowers

Once they’ve started behaving like that they get used to it. It’s not your fault. He’s being a complete arsehole.

You’re NOT a bitch. No one gets to speak to you like that, least of all your husband who you’re having a baby with.

It’s well known that some men start or escalate abusive behaviour when their partner is pregnant thinking you’ll have to put up with it as you have fewer options to leave the relationship. You do have options. I am so so grateful I didn’t have children with my ex and was able to just walk away. I wish I’d gone a lot sooner than I did but I was starting to get so miserable I started to forget I deserved any better.

Embrace your anger. He has no right to call you a bitch. He’s bang out of order to be so awful to you. You’re pregnant but you’re not trapped there and you’re potentially at a critical point where you need to draw a very clear line and tell him how unacceptable he’s being and if he doesn’t stop you’re off.

wtf1875 · 29/08/2018 23:51

@ReanimatedSGB I think you've hit the nail on the head there to be honest, and I can't believe how naive I've been.

Yes we used to be happy and nothing was too much for him, he couldn't have treated me better although had a lot of unsolicited trust issues and used to accuse me of things a lot. We talked this through and it seemed to come from a lack of confidence on his end, which I have worked a lot with him on and he says himself that he feels a lot more confident now.... and actually it's since he got more confidence his attitude towards me has changed. I do actually think he's starting to think he's too good for me, and now I'm pregnant I need him more than he needs me perhaps?

OP posts:
hmmwhatatodo · 30/08/2018 00:13

What do you mean you’re going through a bad patch because you’re having to defend him here? You write as if you are doing everything to keep the peace. You can deal with him waking you up?! Why should you deal with his childish nonsense? Who messes around on YouTube next to an ill person? He’s an arsehole. And he’s going to get worse.

WhyIsntGeorgeCalledPeterOrPaul · 30/08/2018 00:19

My DH has never spoken to me like that and if he did it once, I guarantee it would be the last time he ever did.

Italiangreyhound · 30/08/2018 00:23

OP He sounds selfish and vile. You work a busy job, you do most of the housework, your pregnant, sick and he wakes you up with his snoring and video watching and calls YOU moody!

"... there's no reasoning with him at the moment."
Some men react badly when their wives or girlfriends or partners are pregnant.

Would he come for counselling?

5LeafClover · 30/08/2018 00:31

YNBU

It is not ok to call you a bitch or to act like you are not 'good enough' for him.

ashtrayheart · 30/08/2018 00:35

I would read the red flag thread and see if you can identify with some of it, because there's plenty from what you've said.
I'm sorry but it doesn't bode well for when the baby arrives, I would think about escape plans in case things escalate Sad

NasdaqYouTwat · 30/08/2018 00:35

I'd start planning a future without him.

Motoko · 30/08/2018 00:41

It does sound like the progression of abuse. Of course he wanted you to get pregnant, that's how they trap you, keep you having babies so you can't leave.

And they do start off being lovely, or it wouldn't get any further than a few dates.

Do you have anyone you can talk to? If not, tell your midwife. In fact, tell her anyway.

AnoukSpirit · 30/08/2018 00:49

He's changed because the pregnancy means he feels he has you trapped, that he can tighten the screws without risk of you leaving. Sadly, I suspect that was why he was so enthusiastic about ttc. But that's already been explained better than I would have done.

a lot of unsolicited trust issues and used to accuse me of things a lot

My heart sank reading this. It's a classic warning sign of domestic abuse. They accuse you to keep you on the back foot, and so that you'll be easier to control. It has nothing to do with trust or confidence, but everything to do with control.

he said "don't tell me what to do, I'll get used to it when I'm ready"

I understand why you're trying to come up with different explanations, but this isn't somebody who's "freaking out" about the pregnancy, it's someone who is controlling and is very firmly putting you back in your place. He tells you what to do, not the other way around. He was annoyed that you challenged his position of power.

That's why he came in and woke you up: it's a power play. He decides when you sleep and for how long. He will not be told what to do, hence the nastiness and anger when you challenged him. Controlling (abusive) men commonly use sleep deprivation to maintain control. It's a lot harder to see what's really going on or feel able to do anything about it if you're exhausted.

Abuse isn't about violence or 24/7 cruelty, it's about power and control. Any nastiness is just the tactic being used to gain or retain power and control over you when he feels that you've challenged his authority or resisted his control.

You can't reason with him. You can't persuade him not to be driven by his desire to control you. He will get worse. He believes he is entitled to behave this way.

Www.freedomprogramme.co.uk - if you want to understand what we are seeing, they will help you without judgement and without telling you what to do.

AnoukSpirit · 30/08/2018 00:52

Do not, ever ever ever, go to joint counselling with somebody who has at any point been abusive and/or controlling. It goes against all professional advice and best practice. Go by yourself by all means, but do not go with him. He will manipulate it so you end up in a worse situation. They always do.

OctaviaOctober · 30/08/2018 00:54

Some men get annoyed that the pregnancy isn't something that is under their control, so they act like it isn't affecting her either.

It might be time to start working on a mental tally. He's rude to you, inconsiderate, childish, selfish, passive aggressive, doesn't pull his weight around the house. He lets his pregnant wife sleep on the sofa after his noise keeps her awake and calls her names. What does he bring to your life? And could you manage (or even flourish) without him? Just think about the plus and minus columns.

ReanimatedSGB · 30/08/2018 00:58

Yes, definitely time to get rid. Have you family or friends who will support you? In particular, family or friends who you have been seeing less of because either they told you that they didn't like this man, or because he made it difficult for you to maintain a good relationship with them (abusers like to cut you off from anyone who will take your side).

Fishface77 · 30/08/2018 01:00

This is his true self coming out.
He’s actually a vile abusive piece of shit.

NasdaqYouTwat · 30/08/2018 01:05

Will you be going back to work after having the baby?

Branleuse · 30/08/2018 01:07

He knows exactly what hes doing

Italiangreyhound · 30/08/2018 01:07

AnoukSpirit yes, I agree. To be honest my comment 'Would he come for counselling?' was probably out of place. I think you may be better thinking of a future without him.

thebewilderness · 30/08/2018 01:19

Bad time to find out you are married to an emotionally abusive ass,
I am very sorry he did this to you.

tostartpressanykey · 30/08/2018 01:23

Leave him op. He's going to get more abusive as the pregnancy progresses and will no doubt be unsupportive and nasty when baby is born.

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.

Swipe left for the next trending thread