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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask new partner to move in to help with our baby?

111 replies

DizzyDrone · 27/01/2026 23:04

First off, I've been with my partner since Feb last year. I have a 7 & 8 year old from a previous relationship, dad not involved & hasn't been for year's. He has a 6yo, he's widowed and has been since just after his son turned 2.

We met when the boys were 3 at the school nursery, they're now Y2

I got pregnant very early on, I'm sure I'll be judged. I don't take contraception like the pill/implant as I physically can't, I haven't found one that works for me. We were using condoms, he had no issue with it and we were when baby was conceived. There was no time we didn't.

We were both initially shocked, but we got our heads around it and decided to keep the baby, his late wife's family have been incredibly supportive too which I appreciate.

I gave birth to our baby last week on the 22nd. Through an emergency c section, we went into hospital for reduced movements, baby ended up in distress, the cord was around his neck. DP lost his wife during childbirth and their little girl, so this was obviously triggering for him. I've told him he can talk to me, he assures me he's okay but I can't help but worry for him and feel guilty in a way.

Anyway, he's been great with our baby, we got home the next day on the Friday, he stayed the night and sorted the kids etc. Then Saturday, my eldest was at respite for the day and overnight (he's autistic and was already planned) and his late wife's family offered to have DS as well as his son like originally planned. I didn't expect this at all but they are close and Bothloved it. It was just us and baby all day Saturday and overnight, then Sunday the kids came back. After he'd picked them up, he got back here and cooked dinner, they all got into their pjs here and we watched a movie, he put my eldest to bed (eldest wanted him to) and took his son home.

Yesterday, he came here in the morning to pick up DS2 and left his car here and took both boys to school, and spent the day here with me and baby and then picked them up, made dinner and went home etc. Today he did the same except he didn't make dinner because his son had swimming and I obviously didn't want him to feel pushed out, DP told me to text him if I needed anything but I've stupidly lied.

Today I've struggled as eldest’s school transport was late and delayed which put Him on edge for the rest of the day, I'm in pain still and really struggled with dinner. I had to get my 7yo to. Help put things in the oven and get them out as I can't bend down. DS1 was crying saying he wants daddy. I know calling him that isn't ideal early on, he's got limited words and he hears his son call him that.

Would it be unreasonable to ask him to move in/at least stay over more? His son has a bed here, we got bunk beds for him and DS2 as they were staying over during pregnancy, not all the time but we did days out and things.

OP posts:
Diarygirlqueen · 28/01/2026 10:51

I do remember your last thread and dont believe you didn't post before.

Congratulations on your baby but I remember being worried about his little boy. I think hes doing right by him especially with all these big changes.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 28/01/2026 10:57

DizzyDrone · 28/01/2026 10:39

Yes, he's on paternity leave right now

So where is he then if he's not at work?

PermanentlyExhaustedPigeonZZZ · 28/01/2026 11:18

He's on paternity leave. He should be with you at least during the day, prepping meals and sorting housework.

Don't know about staying overnight etc, would be ideal but depends on how the children manage e.g. your autistic child has a lot to handle right now already.

Wakemeupinapril · 28/01/2026 11:19

Paternity is for men to assist in the early days..
Not as days off..
He is taking the piss..

District66 · 28/01/2026 11:23

So he’s on paternity leave, but he’s not actually doing the paternity bit ?
Companies will start to pull this option if this nonsense continues

liveforsummer · 28/01/2026 11:25

why don’t you just do as he said and text if you need any help. Contrary to some OP’s I don’t think it’s a no brainer to just move him in. Maybe for you but not for the existing dc, especially his. He sounds great and will think you are managing fine if you don’t tell him.

liveforsummer · 28/01/2026 11:29

PermanentlyExhaustedPigeonZZZ · 28/01/2026 11:18

He's on paternity leave. He should be with you at least during the day, prepping meals and sorting housework.

Don't know about staying overnight etc, would be ideal but depends on how the children manage e.g. your autistic child has a lot to handle right now already.

Read the thread - he’s been there all day every day and done school runs and meals. Only didn’t once as he rightly took his little boy to his swimming lesson.

DizzyDrone · 28/01/2026 12:24

As I said in my OP, he's here during the day.

I should know whether I've posted previously or not, and I haven't.

OP posts:
Bimmering · 28/01/2026 12:38

It needs more thinking through.

You don't say much about his son. What's your relationship with him like?

How well do the two boys who would be sharing a room get on? How would room sharing work for them both long term?

It's fairly clear you expect him to be daddy to yours (a year in and they are already calling him that) - but what role do you expect to take in his son's life?

His son went through a huge trauma losing his mum at only 2 years old - it's a big deal for him to get a new baby sibling, move house and share with a step brother. That decision needs to be made very carefully.

You need support and help with your C section recovery and you should get it - but the moving in decision needs to be considered far more carefully

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 28/01/2026 13:03

I can understand the caution re actually moving in together tbh. You have to consider the effect on your older children, messing with their certainties etc

I do think he should be staying with you (with his son) in these weeks immediately after the birth in order to share the load equally though. Then see where you are.

You’re right that his son should definitely be taken to swimming and hobbies though- but doesn’t mean your partner can’t stay with you.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 28/01/2026 13:06

DizzyDrone · 27/01/2026 23:38

He stayed over Friday & Saturday, Sunday was pretty much ok as he didn't leave until about 8pm, and yesterday seemed much better than today but today I've been in a lot more pain than I was as well as eldest being on edge from this morning. It's been a struggle.

We didn't really discuss it no. The c section was unplanned and he told me to text if I needed anything, he's also here all day from when he drops off the DCs at school, he's also been doing dinner but today he couldn't as his son had swimming and I'm conscious on him not feeling pushed out so I think telling him he wasn't going to be taken to his swimming lesson would've gone badly.

He can stay/help even if there is swimming can't he? Much as he would if you lived together, he just goes out for the activity and comes back.

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:10

DizzyDrone · 28/01/2026 10:39

Yes, he's on paternity leave right now

What is he doing now then if he's not supporting you and his child?! He can't have it both ways. Plus it's not helping -it's parenting so the quicker he grasps that the better

liveforsummer · 28/01/2026 13:10

Barrenfieldoffucks · 28/01/2026 13:06

He can stay/help even if there is swimming can't he? Much as he would if you lived together, he just goes out for the activity and comes back.

Edited

Sounds like he would have if op had communicated that she needed him to. I imagine the little boy will need a bit of breathing space where possible though. The first couple of days after a section at her worst then things improve pretty rapidly if you keep being gently active so shouldn’t be an issue for long

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:10

District66 · 28/01/2026 11:23

So he’s on paternity leave, but he’s not actually doing the paternity bit ?
Companies will start to pull this option if this nonsense continues

I see where you coming from as in effect it's fraud

District66 · 28/01/2026 13:13

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:10

I see where you coming from as in effect it's fraud

A young lady posted on Instagram about 12 months ago about her ex husband/baby daddy/ex partner whatever he was. she was up north. He was down in Brighton had been informed of her pregnancy never laid eyes on the child but he’s taken 12 months paid paternity leave from Natwest. She tagged Natwest in the post. My friend is an employment lawyer and she was of the opinion that actually there’s nothing that Natwest can do. They can’t even ask for proof that the child has been born or proof of paternity.

JanuaryJasmine · 28/01/2026 13:15

Why doesn't he want to?

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:21

District66 · 28/01/2026 13:13

A young lady posted on Instagram about 12 months ago about her ex husband/baby daddy/ex partner whatever he was. she was up north. He was down in Brighton had been informed of her pregnancy never laid eyes on the child but he’s taken 12 months paid paternity leave from Natwest. She tagged Natwest in the post. My friend is an employment lawyer and she was of the opinion that actually there’s nothing that Natwest can do. They can’t even ask for proof that the child has been born or proof of paternity.

Edited

Really? My husbands employer asked for proper paperwork from my midwife before signing the whole thing off

liveforsummer · 28/01/2026 13:22

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:10

I see where you coming from as in effect it's fraud

Why. Because he left early one day to take his other child somewhere- come on now 😆

District66 · 28/01/2026 13:24

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:21

Really? My husbands employer asked for proper paperwork from my midwife before signing the whole thing off

That is for maternity
As he’s always the case, it’s different rules for men
they cannot and should not have asked for your private medical details in relation to your husband’s leave. They had no right to that information. He shouldn’t have provided them with it.

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:26

liveforsummer · 28/01/2026 13:22

Why. Because he left early one day to take his other child somewhere- come on now 😆

It’s 1pm in the middle of term with a school age child so l doubt he’s caring for his other child. If l phone in sick from work then go work elsewhere or go to a Take That concert then they can investigate for fraud and sack me.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 28/01/2026 13:26

I do think that employers should be able to ask for a report from the mother of the child, and if the father isn’t doing his bit they should be able to recall him into work.

It is a species of fraud morally if not legally

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:27

District66 · 28/01/2026 13:24

That is for maternity
As he’s always the case, it’s different rules for men
they cannot and should not have asked for your private medical details in relation to your husband’s leave. They had no right to that information. He shouldn’t have provided them with it.

Edited

So my husbands employer did the paperwork for my maternity leave?! That 100% didn’t happen and we work for totally different organisations

Rickrolypoly · 28/01/2026 13:31

Not really the point of the thread but I can't believe they discharged you a day after having a c section.
Can he tell his DC that they are moving in for a few weeks to help with the baby and then reassess the situation again? Sorry I don't have much experience with blended families and ideally you'd wait longer to bring kids into the picture etc but you cant change the situation now.

liveforsummer · 28/01/2026 13:33

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:26

It’s 1pm in the middle of term with a school age child so l doubt he’s caring for his other child. If l phone in sick from work then go work elsewhere or go to a Take That concert then they can investigate for fraud and sack me.

Yes but it was posterd last night, after he’d spent the day there and done the school runs for his and her dc. He the left to take his child swimming. She said he’s there in the day!

BernardButlersBra · 28/01/2026 13:37

Rickrolypoly · 28/01/2026 13:31

Not really the point of the thread but I can't believe they discharged you a day after having a c section.
Can he tell his DC that they are moving in for a few weeks to help with the baby and then reassess the situation again? Sorry I don't have much experience with blended families and ideally you'd wait longer to bring kids into the picture etc but you cant change the situation now.

It’s what they do these days unfortunately as maternity services are under so much pressure. I got discharged 26 hours after a c section with twins and l couldn’t even do stairs (due to the fluid retention from the pre-eclampsia).