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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I asking too much? ...new parents

433 replies

Becca95 · 24/07/2022 22:40

I didn't know where to post this or what to ask and I was going to wait for the health visitor to come on Tuesday. I think I am being unreasonable or maybe I'm postnatal I don't know.

I have a 5 week old baby. She's amazing. She has colic. I can cope with the crying, I don't care if she meowed or sang Christmas carols but it's her little face going bright red and the tears. She's in pain and I can't help her, all I can do is cuddle her.

I had a difficult pregnancy. There was blood loss at the beginning. Then she had fluid around her heart. Then she was measuring too large. All of these things turnt out fine...the fluid disappeared and she was born a healthy weight (their measurements were way off) after an ELCS.

Her dad. My partner. I've been with him for 8 years. I mean anyone can cuddle a baby right?

He won't take turns in the night. When he does he's mad that I've asked him to. He will wake me up on his turn (he's a teacher he has 8 weeks off work at the minute) to ask me to put the Muslin on his shoulder correctly incase she spits up he doesn't want it on him.

She's actually and okay sleeper. She will wake up at 3 ish then about 6ish. I get up with her at 6 and stay up with her and he wakes from his pit around 12. I'll ask him to do her bottle. He says he can't he's having breakfast. That's fine I do it.

Today for example. I woke with her at 6. She was unsettled this morning. Very windy and the poor thing is doing really uncomfortable poo's. He got up half 12. I'd not eaten yet. I made her bottle (breastfeeding didn't work for us...long difficult story feeling incredibly guilty) and asked if he would feed her. No he needs his breakfast. He has his breakfast. Spends ages washing up. We're now at 2....I ask can you watch her. No he wants to do his teeth ....okay no worries. 3pm comes along....would you mind watching her I've not had a coffee or anything to eat....no it's Sunday I want to go to Tesco before it closes.....okay no worries. Gets home ....could you watch her I want to get some food and maybe my coffee .... no I want to do a poo...takes his paper and disappears for his poo. He comes out and I just lost it with him. But before this May I add, I asked him to watch her whilst I made a bottle. I came back through he's watching cricket and instead of holding her he's put her on the bed and she rolled onto her front ! And he just said "oops" and then holds her. So I've said right I'm going to Costa .... alone. But I didn't I was outside the house with my coffee in my corkicle flask....I was outside for 55 agonising minutes. When I come in my babies inconsolable, so I've cuddled her and I said to him she can pick up on this toxic environment . And he said to me "she would do when her mum f**ks off for 3 hours" ....so I show him my ring doorbell footage. I was just under 56 minutes in total....suddenly "it's not about the time" and that if I'm going to complain about it I should've have become a mother. I wasn't ready to be a mother and all this poison he's come out with.

I've told him to leave. I said to him when I stop needing you it's one thing, but when she stops needing you your nothing but a squatter.

His response is if you want someone who goes out and cheats or slaps you about then go and get it, it could be worse.

Is he just laid back or is he a prick.

OP posts:
TartanGirl1 · 24/07/2022 22:58

He is being a prick and very selfish!

GrinAndVomit · 24/07/2022 22:58

He is a piece of shit. You and your daughter deserve better.

HairyScaryMonster · 24/07/2022 22:59

You know, you're entitled to demand a break.

TartanGirl1 · 24/07/2022 22:59

I also want to add I had a baby with colic and it does get easier.

woolwinder · 24/07/2022 23:00

Louisa4987 · 24/07/2022 22:43

He sounds like a dick. You may as well be a single parent if that's his attitude! You got this, you don't need an extra baby to look after.

You are going to be single soon, best cut the cord now.

JenniferBarkley · 24/07/2022 23:00

Becca95 · 24/07/2022 22:52

@ShirleyPhallus

I've made an appointment for next week with a sling library so I am definitely going to invest in one. She loses it when I put her in the bouncer and turns the air blue if i put her on her back whilst she's still awake. I've questioned reflux but the GP is saying it's colic and continue with Infacol.

As an aside, have you tried without the infacol? It makes reflux worse and your posts are reminding me of my DD who had silent reflux.

Talkingabouttea · 24/07/2022 23:01

Prick. He needs to go for at least a while.

More generally, hopefully the sling library will help you get some time with free hands to eat etc.

Also, have you looked at baby massage to help her digestion? You don’t need to do expensive courses. Have a look at books/online.

Apologising if you already know about this and they don’t work for you.

SisterA · 24/07/2022 23:01

He sounds awful it's definitely not you and 100% him. He sounds so uncaring.

Also please don't feel guilty about not breastfeeding. You quite clearly didn't have the support and it's so difficult to establish without a good support so tbh that's on him too. She will grow to be perfectly healthy and happy no matter how she's fed and she's lucky to have you.

MaybeIWillFuckOffThen · 24/07/2022 23:01

@Becca95

@Ishacoco she's inconsolable if I put her down when she's awake

My first was like this. I too couldn't bear to let her cry, even for a minute, when I knew I could stop it by picking her up. I completely get it, but from the perspective of now having had two you actually need to prioritise the basics for yourself, especially as you're getting nothing from your arsehole husband. You cant pour from an empty cup.

By the way my first port of call if I were you would be to look at CMPA. That was what was causing the trouble with my baby. When I cut out dairy she became a completely different child. Hard to get the diagnosis when formula fed as hard to test but do pursue it with the GP, they never seem to talk about it but it's surprisingly common in babies (some stats say 1 in 10!).

NDandMe · 24/07/2022 23:02

woolwinder · 24/07/2022 23:00

You are going to be single soon, best cut the cord now.

Yep.

You'll be amazed at how much easier your life will be the moment he leaves. You'll breathe easier and think clearer.

OutDamnedSpot · 24/07/2022 23:02

There are two separate issues here.

  1. he’s a prick. Did he leave when you asked him to? Stick with that plan.

  2. You know how on planes you’re told to put your own mask on before helping others with theirs? You need to apply that rule here: you have to look after yourself in order to be able to look after your dd. That means eating and drinking properly.

Becca95 · 24/07/2022 23:03

@ShirleyPhallus

This is what's kind of baffling me to be honest, so In the Moses basket I've been using sleep bags because she shuffles all the way down so I've woke up and just seen toes in the air and her bum at the bottom, so I started swaddling but she is so wriggly she was breaking out so I brought Velcro ones. With these she would force her little hands and arms out and had all marks from them and managed to push the material up! She just seems so unsettled on her back! So the midwife when we still had her suggested elevating the Moses basket but all that's done is make her shuffle down even sooner

OP posts:
FlyingPandas · 24/07/2022 23:03

He is a monumental arse OP and the seriously depressing thing is that he’s also a teacher! So this kind of twat is actually responsible for the education of young people? Christ, how utterly, miserably grim.

I suspect you already know this but you and baby DD deserve a lot lot better than this. He needs to get out and stay out.

On a separate note though, there is no need to starve yourself or not have a drink just because you’re looking after a baby. Put her down. Go and have a shower and get yourself food and drink. Even if she cries. Babies can survive without being held 24/7 even if they have colic. You have to take care of yourself. Better let her cry for a few minutes three or four times a day so that you can eat and drink and do a bit of self care, than run yourself completely into the ground.

But definitely kick the awful partner out!

MintJulia · 24/07/2022 23:03

Yanbu. whose house are you living in? Because with that attitude, he's going to be worse than useless and just a extra burden to you.

I Suggest you start planning for single motherhood. If he suddenly improves, that will be a bonus but I'd start planning now.

MaybeIWillFuckOffThen · 24/07/2022 23:03

GP is saying it's colic and continue with Infacol

Colic isn't a diagnosis it's a collection of symptoms. Something is causing it. Remind your GP of that, and insist that they actual pursue a proper diagnosis and a solution. Drives me batty how shit primary care is about this kind of issue in young babies.

ladydimitrescu · 24/07/2022 23:04

He's a piece of shit! You and your little girl deserve better! You're doing a great job, you're a lovely mum x

Lolliepoppie · 24/07/2022 23:04

Lots of questions:
Why is he still in bed at 12pm?
What happens if you wake him at - say 8am?
Did he not offer to make you breakfast or coffee when he made his?
Has he always been like this?

This sounds unbelievably hard for you 💐

Just10moreminutesplease · 24/07/2022 23:06

He is a nasty prick and both you and your lo deserve so much better Flowers.

mrs55 · 24/07/2022 23:06

Op he sounds awful tell him to leave you'll find it easier on your own !

mrs55 · 24/07/2022 23:07

And congratulations! Motherhood is channelling but so worth it.

Blueberrywitch · 24/07/2022 23:10

He’s a total and utter prick!!! I also don’t understand why he is only getting up at noon?!?

GLTM · 24/07/2022 23:10

I'm sorry he's treating you so badly. Can any relatives move in with you to help?

I can't understand how you can love someone and leave them tired and hungry with a baby for so long and for no reason. I would have woken him up way before 12, 8.30/9am at the latest. Unfortunately unless he gets help and changes I don't think he's a keeper.

Drs can be reluctant re reflux, so if it gets too much demand to try omprezale (gaviscon may work but sometimes enough).

Good luck and congratulations on your daughter.

Ihaveoflate · 24/07/2022 23:10

I'm not sure my marriage could ever come back from this kind of behaviour. I have to say this, but it's probably doomed.

You'll never be able to see him as anything other than a selfish prick, unless he sees the error of his ways pronto and starts making amends.

Honestly though, he sounds like a monumental c**t.

user19888891 · 24/07/2022 23:10

Issues with your partner aside (he sounds like a prick- sorry but I think you know this) as other posters have said you need to look after yourself.
it’s sometimes difficult to do simple tasks like getting food etc when you can’t bear to hear your baby scream. In which case you need some food which you can eat easily- premade sandwiches, apples, smoothies, cereal bars etc which you can grab with baby under arm. If LO is 5 weeks hopefully soon she will take some comfort from the sound of your voice and you can place her down and talk to her while you do some basic tasks
Your partner is not pulling his weight and is making this special (albeit difficult) time so much harder for you. I’m sorry he hasn’t lived up to your expectations. You and baby deserve better

Fluffymule · 24/07/2022 23:11

"His response is if you want someone who goes out and cheats or slaps you about then go and get it, it could be worse."

This guy is a teacher?

And yes, obviously he is a Prick. A nasty one at that. Both you and your daughter deserve better.