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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

H has turned into a monster after DC's birth

87 replies

sheepo · 08/01/2020 01:27

Posting here for traffic as not sure if it's me and my hormones or whether or not my 'd' husband actually has turned into a monster after our second child's birth.

Husband has had a rough childhood and is very LC with his parents. I'm NC- they're a very toxic family. When our first child was born, I experienced PND and high levels of anxiety. Instead of support me, husband claimed to be suffering from depression himself (nothing wrong with that and I'm not disputing he didn't) but I felt my husband upped the ante so to speak by making things harder for me- leaving a very needy child all to me to sort out- feed, sleep, handing him over and at one point leaving him crying in a sleepyhead (on the floor by my bed) because he was struggling to soothe the baby and I was in deep sleep so didn't wake up straight away, starting arguments and then gaslighting me, etc. We've spoken at length about the first time and I thought we were determined to avoid the mistakes we made then and to change things this time so we were all a bit more settled and calmer. We started off okay but a week in and my husband is repeating some of the same behaviours as last time :( we're lucky we've got a baby who sleeps this time around and is generally low maintainance. I've also felt a lot more at peace with myself and am fighting hard not to slip into depression again. My biggest motivation is to provide as much consistency as I can for my toddler who is naturally struggling to adjust to the newest addition to our family and is acting up a bit. My husband has responded by starting loud arguments when he's felt overwhelmed, accusing me of nagging him or shouting at him or overwhelming him when I've asked him to do something- eg. Take the rubbish out, etc. I feel nothing I say/do is right. I'm fed up of arguing with him- we can go round and round in circles for hours. If I refuse to engage with him, he'll keep at me until he gets a reaction and I'm ashamed to say- out of frustration, I can give him as good as I can get. I'm shattered as it is and feeling guilty I can't be as hands-on with my toddler as I've been up until now and my husband is adding to my stress levels. I've got a HV coming over in the morning to check up on me. Would IBU if I mentioned my husband was being a shit? Or would I be opening a can of worms and risking our family being reported to SS? Help.

OP posts:
Durgasarrow · 08/01/2020 01:32

Yes, mention this. Get help. This is not acceptable. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. I understand that babies and young children can be frustrating, but they are treasures who deserve love and good care. And so do you. None of you deserve cruel and abusive treatment. You deserve justice. You deserve safety. This is a dangerous situation and there are people who can help.

Disquieted1 · 08/01/2020 01:36

Whoa! Try to calm down.
You're exhausted, DH is exhausted, everything is fraught. It is often not easier second time round, despite best intentions.

Sleep on it. If you want to offload to HV then do so, they have heard it all before.
You do know that it does get better.

ATB

DQ

sheepo · 08/01/2020 01:36

I should add, he's been an absolute star with our eldest while I've been in hospital. He's delivered and then some (toddler has been glued to me since birth and wouldn't go to anyone other than me before I went into hospital). However, I came out of the shower this evening and asked if he'd mind just giving my back a bit of a rub and he said he'd do it but he didn't feel like it because I'm hard work and always picking on him. I feel so upset- it feels like everything I do is perceived as either bossy, nagging, picking or bullying him.

OP posts:
Mads123 · 08/01/2020 01:38

I would mention it to the HV as they may be able to offer some support or counselling. It is not acceptable even if he has mental health issues but at the very least he should try to get help if he's struggling.

sheepo · 08/01/2020 01:41

During one of our arguments a week before I gave birth, husband admitted that he found me a burden (we'd both agreed I'd take a few years out to raise the children) and that sometimes he felt like he'd be better off walking out on me but it was the thought of leaving DC1 behind that stopped him from doing that. As ever, we can talk through most of our issues and come out the other end stronger but recently, nothing seems to work or help us resolve or issues and move on. I don't know what's happening.

OP posts:
sheepo · 08/01/2020 01:43

Sorry not trying to drip feed- just adding as I remember things.

Husband is currently having counselling. His last session is next week.

OP posts:
Disquieted1 · 08/01/2020 01:50

No one knows enough to advise you.
Generally I'd say: it's tough. It's not your fault and it's not his fault. The situation is just tough. Try to stick together and muddle through. There is no magic wand that will solve everything, but it will get better.
Have a good night's sleep. It will look a little bit better in the morning.

Mads123 · 08/01/2020 01:58

Babies can be really really hard on any relationship but it sounds like he resents you for having his child (which is ridiculous). If he's already in counselling then the next thing would be antidepressants which can really help. If he's great the rest of the time and you can see he is trying then fair enough but if this is the last straw then telling him so wouldn't hurt if you meant it, as it would either kick him into shape or bring about the end. Sorry your going through this.

Italiangreyhound · 08/01/2020 02:12

You poor thing. He sounds like very hard work.

Gas lighting you with number one! "... felt my husband upped the ante so to speak by making things harder for me- leaving a very needy child all to me to sort out- feed, sleep, handing him over and at one point leaving him crying in a sleepyhead (on the floor by my bed) because he was struggling to soothe the baby and I was in deep sleep so didn't wake up straight away," Horrible behaviour.

Telling you he has thought of leaving and sees you as a burden!

"My husband has responded by starting loud arguments when he's felt overwhelmed, accusing me of nagging him or shouting at him or overwhelming him when I've asked him to do something- eg. Take the rubbish out, etc. I feel nothing I say/do is right. I'm fed up of arguing with him- we can go round and round in circles for hours. If I refuse to engage with him, he'll keep at me until he gets a reaction..."

Yes, babies are hard work, so are older kids. Honestly, teenagers are bloody hard work too. But he is an adult, he needs to get help for whatever depression he has.

Because that's not nice or normal behaviour. He needs to get things sorted otherwise I think he may one day find himself on his own!

"Husband is currently having counselling. His last session is next week." I'd strongly recommend if he has come to the end of counselling and is still behaving like this then he does need more counselling.

I'd like to think things can get better for you both but it sounds like he has the problem, OP.

I am not sure if asking your health visitor is the best thing or not. I am afraid I might even be calling Women's Aid in your shoes because arguments that go round for hours when you have just given birth to your second baby sounds abusive to me.

Justtryingtobehelpful · 08/01/2020 02:17

Check out Bancroft Lundy's book 'Why Does He Do That? docdro.id/py03

It covers a number of the issues you've mentioned. For example goading you until you snap them using it as a stick to beat you into submission.

Definitely mention it to HV. Did you flag it with your midwife team too? They are ready to deal with DV issues as baby being born as key times for escalation.

I'll bet he was great when you were in hospital as there were others around meaning he got kudos and praise for being such a wonderful dad!

Now you're at home, there's no one to impress so it's back to normal meaning you'll be picking up all the slack.....

sheepo · 08/01/2020 02:23

@Justtryingtobehelpful- gosh, you're spot on. He's an absolute charmer and openly acknowledges this. He really plays to an audience and is good company when around others. Seems like he's begin to save all the crappy stuff for me and then complains when I complain :/

OP posts:
sheepo · 08/01/2020 02:26

@Italiangreyhound- I've always avoided the 'abusive' word because it's so strong but since the birth of DC1, he has distanced himself from me emotionally and can be very, very cruel towards me. Luckily, I know how to defend myself and will call him out when he does this and either he'll apologise or the circular arguments will start with him deflecting, projecting, denying, etc. I've also suspected some financial abuse even though he's never refused me anything. He definitely cares more for himself and his needs than he does for me.

OP posts:
sheepo · 08/01/2020 02:29

@Mads123 - I've mentioned several times how i don't have to be with him but choose to instead and we've also mentioned separating and more recently divorce (when he made me cry in front of the toddler by swearing at me and saying deliberately hurtful things) but I know he's not been like this from the beginning of our relationship. He changed once DC1 was born 15 months ago :'(

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 08/01/2020 02:31

sheepo only you know if he is being abusive to you. but then again we cannot always see what is under our noses. if one of your children were in a long term relationship and their partner behaved as your partner does, how would you feel?

He is getting counselling so there may be hope he can change this but only if he admits what is going on, to himself and to the counsellor.

"...has distanced himself from me emotionally and can be very, very cruel towards me..." It's not really a good thing for him to be at a time when you really need his love, compassion and support. Maybe he doesn't like himself much because he sees what he is doing and maybe in some way he blames you for that! I don't know. But I do think he is the only one who can change this.

If you think he is being financially abusive, please get to the bottom of this safely too. Being financially dependent on someone who is not kind must be very hard.

Italiangreyhound · 08/01/2020 02:34

Apparently men getting abusive when their wives have a baby is well known thing.

I am very sorry for you. If you do decide to leave, please get legal advice before telling him.

Bowerbird5 · 08/01/2020 02:52

This isn’t a happy home for the two children to be in. Definitely speak to the HV.

CJsGoldfish · 08/01/2020 02:55

..when he made me cry in front of the toddler by swearing at me and saying deliberately hurtful things

You know that the toddler will be taking all of this in right? Even if he doesn't quite understand anything other than this is what 'normal' life looks like?
You may not want to leave but I do hope that at some point you do what is right for your children to grow up knowing what a healthy relationship looks like. Whatever that may be.

Creepster · 08/01/2020 03:03

When the baby is born is the point at which most abusers feel they are secure enough to be themselves and no longer need to pretend to be good men.
The men in Lundy Bancroft's abuse group discussed among themselves how long they should wait to begin the abuse of their partner. The consensus was either two years or when the baby is born.

malificent7 · 08/01/2020 03:13

Am i the only one here who thinks he sounds like a complete knob?

Sultanaofping · 08/01/2020 03:32

He sounds resentful and 'hard done by' and I think counselling can make that worse with some people. He doesn't like that new babies take the attention off him so he 'punishes' you by making your life harder than it needs to be. He's probably getting some validation of his 'poor me' role from his counsellor (because they're only hearing his side of things) so that makes him all the more sure that he is right and you deserve to be punished.

A PP suggested you read Lundy Bancroft and I think you'd recognise a lot, here's a link to a pdf version if you want to have a look www.docdroid.net/py03/why-does-he-do-that.pdf

Bubs101 · 08/01/2020 03:35

He sounds like a twat. It's very well known that abuse tends to rear its head when a woman has a child, maybe they feel like we won't leave. But please understand that whilst having children is testing to even the strongest relationship, making you cry in front of your toddler is not normal. And the fact he called you a burden and that he wants to leave when you sacrificed your body and your mental health to give him 2 beautiful children is taking the piss. Please evaluate what you want out of life, don't be trapped in marriage with a thoughtless, heartless men because it seems better than being alone, because trust me, he doesn't sound like he's worth fighting for.

lborgia · 08/01/2020 04:03

From memory, 40% of domestic abuse begins during the 1st pregnancy or soon after...

I would also suggest that he's having the wrong kind of counselling. He sounds as if he is getting worse not better.

Everything you have said sets off my spidey senses. These are not your average chaotic small children arguments. I vicky remember the hours of circular arguments, mostly based on what was wrong with me.

You're in a very difficult position, but if he can put on a game face for everyone else and behave appallingly towards your, that's not depression, that's abuse. Yes to health visitor, and read some of the resources from above.

It's shit having to deal with this right now, but I feel you need to error on the side of very very cautious, esp with 2 such small kids around.

Before you know it they'll be at school, and this could be your new normal. Flowers

lborgia · 08/01/2020 04:04

error....jobs.

lborgia · 08/01/2020 04:05

Argh!! Err on the side of caution, ffs!

Lilymossflower · 08/01/2020 04:54

Omg he is abusive

Seriously

So, so many things you say are textbook

Please tell to health visitor about it

See if they run a local baby group you can go to for support

Please take this seriously you deserve better

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