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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Pregnant again and said no to sex - who’s being unreasonable?

55 replies

IslandGirl5 · 31/10/2022 21:17

So when me and DH first got together we had a great sex life. Both had high sex drives and it was a lot of fun. We now have a DD who has just turned 2 and I’m 22 weeks pregnant with the next. Since being pregnant with DD number 1 I just lost interest in sex. We still did it during that pregnancy I’d just sometimes say I didn’t feel like it and it was never an issue. Then I EBF, DH would sleep in another room to make sure he got enough sleep for work etc, I ended up bedsharing with her for the sake of getting as much sleep as possible for everyone. So through hormones and the situation we never got back to a crazy busy sex life but we would still do it. It never went past less than once a month, more around once a week or 2 weeks. We were just so tired and busy.

So roll on to now. Pregnant again and similar is happening, I just don’t want it but know how much and how often he does. I say I don’t feel like it when I can’t even muster any enthusiasm for it but when I feel like I could, or a compromise we have is that I don’t have to have sex but he would be happy with me pleasuring him and having that connection, then I say yes. We’ve got into a more consistent rhythm with it these recent weeks/months and he’s been a lot more attentive and caring etc. But this last weekend I’ve had bad hip pain, definitely got bigger, feel generally achy and absolutely exhausted so I’ve said no all weekend and again tonight with these reasons. He clearly wasn’t thrilled even though he said he understood so we talked about it and it ended up in a raging argument. He works 45 hours a week and I work 30 and have DD all the other time and then weekends are usually spent together apart from the odd day he might have to work. He basically said we’re “back to square one” when it’s only been a week since we last had sex! He said he’s been getting what he needs so he’s been happier and that’s why he’s been more attentive etc but when he doesn’t get it he doesn’t see the point in giving me what I need. I’m absolutely raging tbh and feel like when your other half is pregnant at least you should be more understanding than this?? He said he’s just sick and tired of it and we’ve had these arguments plenty before today and tbh so am I. He said that because we had so much sex to start with that set the expectation and the compromise is always him not getting what he needs. But take sex out of it I still don’t get half as much rest as I need, or time to myself, or much else, but I know to just kind of expect that while I have small kids and it won’t be forever but I just feel spread so thin when he expects me to “service” him before I even get chance to put my feet up on a night.

im just at a loss I guess. Am I being unreasonable or is he?? I honestly don’t know anymore. Thanks if you got this far, I feel like I’ve just ranted and ranted.

OP posts:
Puppers · 31/10/2022 22:22

C1N1C · 31/10/2022 22:02

By the way, this is NOT my view... but throwing another angle into this (devil's advocate).

You meet someone and they like activity x. It is common ground. You marry thinking activity x will continue, it doesn't... who is at fault?... person who doesn't feel like activity x, or person who was mislead into believing x would continue?

I know sex is different, to most people at least... some see it as a casual emotionless activity, for others it is incredibly serious. I know this could easily lead to the "he's forcing you emotionally into it" train of thought, but for this argument, let's consider it as just "common interest".

You like travelling and meet a man that lives travelling, but he loses interest in it after you're married, and you cannot live without travelling... would you stay? He has money and goes poor, he has good looks and goes ugly, he is nice and gets mean, he is smart and 'deteriorates'...

It shouldn't be transactional but subconsciously, many of these things are, and people will disagree, but there isn't a human around that would stay after enough of that person (and that initial expectation) has changed.

As for my opinion, he is being unreasonable... your body has gone through a lot and you need rest. Don't be forced into anything, if he is only happy when he gets it, it doesn't bode well. I'm hoping you have enough other common interests to see you through this...

These examples don't really work. There hasn't been any ""misleading" going on. It shouldn't be a surprise to any grown up man that the frequency of sex is likely to temporarily decline during pregnancy and the baby years. I'm sure that most of the couples who have shared interests like travelling and playing sports will also see a marked decrease in these activities during pregnancy and with babies and young children.

OP's husband isn't being reasonable whichever angle you approach it from.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 31/10/2022 22:23

He is not a good person.

lemmein · 31/10/2022 22:48

compromise we have is that I don’t have to have sex but he would be happy with me pleasuring him and having that connection,

I agree with @momtoj, this is a really shocking thing to say OP and it's concerning that you don't seem to see that. Your language is very passive 'I don't have to...' 'he would be happy with me pleasuring him...' - why does his orgasm trump your feelings?

Imagine your DH was in pain, but you were horny - can you ever imagine saying to him 'well, ok you don't have to have sex but as a compromise can you sort me out please?!' Really? Can you ever imagine yourself saying those words to someone in pain; or even just someone who wasn't in the mood? It reinforces the idea that sex is something you give and he receives, not mutually pleasurable - once you've gone down that road it's difficult to get back to a place where sex is something you both enjoy.

I understand having a child and being pregnant makes you particularly vulnerable in this situation so I get why you're wanting to believe he's a 'good one' but he really isn't. I hope you find the strength to leave him one day.

Wiluli · 31/10/2022 22:53

To be fair I can see both sides , he is frustrated and probably feel put aside and you obviously feel tired and don’t feel like having any, and that off course it’s ok too .
you shouldn’t feel the need to just please him for the sake of it , I’m sure he can survive a few months , but maybe consider what can be done differently once the new baby is here ? Like is sleeping in different beds really needed , I ebf my daughter who is now 1 and my partner never left our bedroom , even where we didn’t do anything or the baby slept between us it was good to have the intimacy of giving hands or being able to reach out to each other .

DonnaBanana · 31/10/2022 22:56

He sounds like he could do with an extended break from sex to really figure himself and his attitudes towards the relationship out. He needs to learn sex is a nice extra, not a mandatory requirement when he’s meant to be your long term loving partner.

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