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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Struggling with marriage during pregnancy - need perspective

219 replies

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:01

NC as don't want posts linked

Expecting our first child and having serious concerns about my marriage, but really want to make it work. Recently came off antidepressants and recognise I could be more sensitive or even possibly seeing things in a distorted way - looking for honest feedback about whether these concerns are valid regardless of my mental state.

My husband works hard and helps with practical things like DIY that he chooses, but seems completely disconnected from the pregnancy. Out of many appointments (high-risk pregnancy), he's attended just one after I really pushed for it - the 12 week NHS scan. He declines to listen to baby's heartbeat at home when offered, saying "later" or "tomorrow" but never does.

Some concerning incidents that I know happened regardless of my mental state:
Recently, he locked us in a room with a broken door before an important meeting to "test" if we could get out. When I said I'd be late for work and didn't want to, he locked us in anyway, then mocked me when I panicked and made fun of the way I was crying, which felt cruel even if I was overreacting.

He refuses basic hygiene requests (like hand washing after using bathroom for poos), and when asked will sometimes intentionally touch kitchen surfaces before washing. When I ask for help with things like taking bins out or car issues while feeling unwell, he'll do it but make it very clear it's a massive inconvenience. I was really unwell last week and he couldn't even wash the dishes instead he piled them up because he says I'm messy and he refuses to clean up after me (absolutely but when I'm flu and pregnant I think it's cruel),

My mother has attended more appointments than him, and when I express hurt about his lack of involvement, he suggests the baby is mainly my thing because I'm the one getting excited about it. He won't engage in discussions about names except to make jokes from fantasy books, and says I can "call it whatever." He did make some purchase recently as his way of showing interest but day to day he doesn't acknowledge I must have put in about 100 hours in appointments, travel etc for this child and so much as an acknowledgment would be nice, or a cup of Tea or fetching me something from the supermarket.

I know my mental health isn't great right now - I can get emotional when frustrated, probably text too much when trying to communicate, and being off medication makes everything feel more intense. Some decisions I've made haven't worked out well, which he points out frequently and brings up in unrelated arguments.

He says I'm being overly dramatic, hormonal/irrational, taking things too seriously, not appreciating what he does do, and bringing up issues too much. When I try to discuss concerns, it usually ends in arguments where he tells me I'm crazy or threatens to block my messages. He refuses to consider counseling.

The only time I consistently see kindness is during intimate moments, which worries me. Despite contributing equally to our life together, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells most of the time.

I don't want to leave him - I want to fix this. Should I just go back on medication? How can I communicate better? What's normal partner behavior during pregnancy vs concerning? Even accounting for possible mental health issues, are some of these behaviors objectively concerning?

Note: Looking for constructive advice on making things work, not suggestions to leave.

OP posts:
Popcorn23 · 28/10/2024 22:14

OP, your partner seems very unkind. It also seems to me that some of his behaviours are abusive, for example locking you in a room and then mocking your reaction and also gaslighting you by calling you crazy.

Was he like this before the pregnancy? Some men change when their partner becomes pregnant and begin to show a nastier side. He might well be one of those.

Either way his behaviour is unacceptable. This has nothing to do with your medication, he is not treating you well.

It might be worth you having a chat with an organisation like Women's Aid if you are unsure whether he is abusive or not. They may also give you advice about communicating with him or getting further help for yourself.

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:20

@Popcorn23 I'll look up women's and thank you.

It's been an ongoing issue to be honest for some years but seems to have got worse the last 12 months.

He says he loves me but these things make me question, I have just spent this evening alone crying because there's no one I can talk to about this (my family would just start disliking him and his family tend not to get involved in anything remotely controversial).

Another thing that's relatively minor too but upsets me and I've told him this, he often ridicules me at family gatherings with his family but makes lies - for example last week he said I'm eating multiple cakes a day to make me look bad and also says things that just aren't true. I call him out but he insists I'm lying and I then have to stop it otherwise they'll just think I'm strange it almost forces me to leave it as a lie. They're only silly lies but often ones to make me look bad and wind me up. If I'm upset by and don't find it funny I have no idea why he'd do this.

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 28/10/2024 22:21

Note: Looking for constructive advice on making things work, not suggestions to leave.

But surely the only thing that would make things work is a personality transplant for your husband? I’m not sure it’s possible to turn a complete arsehole into a decent person. If it were, someone would have bottled and sold the remedy by now.

Does he even want the baby?

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:25

@Butchyrestingface I'm not being naive but why do you call him an arsehole?

It's like a cycle, I don't help but getting angry and having blood swings but he then does things to trigger me and I don't deal with being triggered very maturely

His main gripe with me is that I don't do enough housework, I don't but I work a massively pressuring job, as does he - but we pay a cleaner so don't know why I have to do housework on top? We have dogs and they make a mess but they're his dogs not mine so again, he should do more

OP posts:
marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:27

I often just feel like he treats me like dirt not like his wife and mother of his future child

Even down to sharing pregnancy news despite miscarriages he could tell telling people after being told strictly not to, and then because I had told people (long story but I needed support early on as he wasn't coming to anything) he'd hold it against me and say we need to tell the same number of people and to leave him alone as he's excited (I have no idea what excitement had to do with it) but I just couldn't believe someone could be so childish and he claims to be excited but isn't interest in any of the health and appointments

OP posts:
marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:28

I really don't know how to fix this as it seems like resentment is building but I really want this to work

OP posts:
AutumnFroglets · 28/10/2024 22:35

He says I'm being overly dramatic, hormonal/irrational, taking things too seriously, not appreciating what he does do, and bringing up issues too much. When I try to discuss concerns, it usually ends in arguments where he tells me I'm crazy or threatens to block my messages.
He is abusing you. He is probably the reason for your worsening mental health. Get the hell out of there.

Recently, he locked us in a room with a broken door before an important meeting to "test" if we could get out. When I said I'd be late for work and didn't want to, he locked us in anyway, then mocked me when I panicked and made fun of the way I was crying,
Read that back to yourself. No sane person would lock another person inside a room against their will, and the police would be very interested in hearing about this. You should seriously consider reporting it.

I repeat. He is abusing you.

SunsetlovIng · 28/10/2024 22:36

He’s immature and is bullying you. I wouldn’t try to fix this if I were you as it will likely get worse once you have the baby. Speak to your mother and ask for help.

Lammveg · 28/10/2024 22:37

It feels like there's some disconnect here for you OP. You're describing some really awful behaviours here from your husband and when PP describe him negatively it's like you want to defend him.

If you read your posts as if it was a friend writing them, what would you say? What would you think about the husband?

You don't need to accept this treatment from him. You don't have to blame your emotions on anything other than the fact that he's being vile.

Please reach out for some support 💐

SunsetlovIng · 28/10/2024 22:38

I echo every part of @AutumnFroglets advice. Do not delay OP.

Merryoldgoat · 28/10/2024 22:38

Note: Looking for constructive advice on making things work, not suggestions to leave.

I’m sorry but you’re in denial. You’re with an abusive man who doesn’t care about you. You should leave before the baby arrives. Things will be much harder if you stay.

Teaortea · 28/10/2024 22:39

You going back on your medication is not going to make him treat you any better. I understand that you want to feel better, but literally medicating yourself is not a long term solution.

When you say that you can't talk to your family because they'll start not liking him- is this because you know they want the best for you? Deep down, what do you believe is the best for you? For you and your baby?

You need to find some one irl you can talk to for ongoing support, I'd not your family perhaps your midwife or GP would be a good place to start. Tell them what you've told us and ask for help and support Thinking of you 💐

Bedtimewoes91 · 28/10/2024 22:40

He sounds awful and it's not going to get better once baby arrives...sorry.

Didimum · 28/10/2024 22:43

Note: Looking for constructive advice on making things work, not suggestions to leave.

The women on this website are very accurate in seeing abusers. They won’t be complicit in encouraging any advice to stay in this awful and damaging relationship.

StormingNorman · 28/10/2024 22:44

OP people who need antidepressants are infuriating to live with when they aren’t on them. I say this having been on both sides of that particular coin.

I would go back on your medication and get therapy for yourself. You won’t be in a position to work on your relationship until you know what’s real and what is just your mind running away with you.

fashionqueen0123 · 28/10/2024 22:46

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:27

I often just feel like he treats me like dirt not like his wife and mother of his future child

Even down to sharing pregnancy news despite miscarriages he could tell telling people after being told strictly not to, and then because I had told people (long story but I needed support early on as he wasn't coming to anything) he'd hold it against me and say we need to tell the same number of people and to leave him alone as he's excited (I have no idea what excitement had to do with it) but I just couldn't believe someone could be so childish and he claims to be excited but isn't interest in any of the health and appointments

You asked why someone said he was asshole. You just described why.

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:47

I just want to explain the door things as I perhaps made it sound more dramatic and whilst I genuinely aren't defending him I also want to ensure I'm being unbiased;

Basically my spare room door was broken, I asked him to fix it, we were arguing about something unrelated and I said not now as I was late for work as he said he wants to test it.

So instead of one of us being outside the door in case we couldn't exit he locked us both in to try and fix it. I screamed at him and said why would he do that and panicked and he said because I refused to help.

I got hysterical and then after a few minutes he got us out and then mocked how I was crying as I was uncontrollable. I thought that was real nasty and cruel, and he got so angry.

I still think it's cruel but perhaps not quite as bad as initially he wasn't randomly picking in for no reason at all.

He then fixed the door the next day

OP posts:
fashionqueen0123 · 28/10/2024 22:47

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:28

I really don't know how to fix this as it seems like resentment is building but I really want this to work

You can’t fix him. There is no personality switch for him. I would get out now and have the least time spent with him as possible. I wouldn’t want that example for my child

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:48

@StormingNorman I know but I'm just trying to do best for my baby and felt taking a break from them would do that - I've been on them a year or so now and don't want to be on them forever

OP posts:
SunsetlovIng · 28/10/2024 22:50

Stop making excuses for him about the door. He was cruel, nasty and mocking just as you say. The fact that you’re no longer on anti-depressants has nothing to do with it. You’re not imagining this.

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:50

@Lammveg because sometimes I think is it me due to being off my meds and unable to see wood through trees? I can't. Work out reality. I also think thought that no one deserves this even if I am being "crazy" due to my meds, I'm also pregnant so shouldn't he just try to be kind irrespective during this period. Acknowledge the work I'm doing to grow our baby? He doesn't say anything like he's proud of me or anything - just says millions of women do it.as if it's nothing

OP posts:
SunsetlovIng · 28/10/2024 22:52

Trust your judgement. It’s sound. Listen to us.

thesunisastar · 28/10/2024 22:57

His main gripe with me is that I don't do enough housework, I don't but I work a massively pressuring job, as does he - but we pay a cleaner so don't know why I have to do housework on top? We have dogs and they make a mess but they're his dogs not mine so again, he should do more

Can you clarify this OP? So you are currently both working full time, yes? Does he share the housework? Or does he expect you do it all?

Bangwam1 · 28/10/2024 22:58

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:20

@Popcorn23 I'll look up women's and thank you.

It's been an ongoing issue to be honest for some years but seems to have got worse the last 12 months.

He says he loves me but these things make me question, I have just spent this evening alone crying because there's no one I can talk to about this (my family would just start disliking him and his family tend not to get involved in anything remotely controversial).

Another thing that's relatively minor too but upsets me and I've told him this, he often ridicules me at family gatherings with his family but makes lies - for example last week he said I'm eating multiple cakes a day to make me look bad and also says things that just aren't true. I call him out but he insists I'm lying and I then have to stop it otherwise they'll just think I'm strange it almost forces me to leave it as a lie. They're only silly lies but often ones to make me look bad and wind me up. If I'm upset by and don't find it funny I have no idea why he'd do this.

You’re likely dealing with someone with npd. He does it because narcissists enjoy hurting people. Pregnancy is largely when the mask slips and they start to devalue you much more intensely. He gaslights you and has all the other signs. You need to do some reading because if it’s true, they just get worse.

marriagehelpplease · 28/10/2024 22:59

@thesunisastar no he doesn't expect me to do it we sure most of the general stuff like cooking washing up etc.

We have a cleaner and then he says (which I don't believe e) he cleans the once for an hour every day!? When it's just two of us !

He's the one with the messy dogs so if more needs doing it should be him as far as I can see, I

OP posts:
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