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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DP chose to hide our baby from his ex girlfriend/best friend until after I miscarried. AIBU to feel so exposed now?

145 replies

NMac25 · Yesterday 15:00

Hi everyone, I need some objective perspectives while I process this. I am physically recovering from a traumatic miscarriage earlier this week where I almost died. My mind is currently overwhelmed with hormones, grief, and total exhaustion.

For context regarding his female "best friend":

  • I have never met her. She lives at the bottom of the UK.
  • They met on a working holiday in Greece years ago and started sleeping together while she had a boyfriend. She eventually broke things off with my DP, he was gutted but they remained "best friends."
  • She has been through multiple partners since, and DP has said that "none of them have treated her right."
  • DP's phone lock screen is still a goofy picture of the two of them, and he still wears friendship bracelets from that holiday.
  • Up until now, I’ve tried to be mature and tolerate it, rationalizing that she lives far away and he was just romanticizing a past chapter.

When we found out I was pregnant, DP was thrilled. He eagerly told his parents, colleagues, and mates early on. However, he hid our pregnancy from her the entire time the baby was alive.
Last night, he finally messaged her and told her about it—and the fact that we had lost the baby.

I just don't understand how he found it impossible to tell her he was going to be a dad, but felt comfortable telling her once our baby was dead. It feels like after the commitment of having a child with another woman was gone, he finally felt he could tell her and maybe get sympathy without their relationship changing?

I broke down and asked him why he kept our baby a secret from her while telling everyone else in his life, his excuses were:

  • "I don't know."
  • "I was going to tell her after that last scan." (Even though he told everyone else weeks before any scan).

Because everything feels so raw right now, I don't know if I'm hyper-sensitive from the physical trauma and post partum hormones, or if I'm seeing red flags that I previously excused.

OP posts:
Anendlessseriesofunfortunateevents · Yesterday 17:24

How can he claim to be head over heels for you, whilst having her on his phone screen and his wrist and not telling her he's expecting a baby!

Im so sorry for your loss OP.

This man isnt yours. Hes still on the hook with her and harbouring feelings.

Purplecatshopaholic · Yesterday 17:25

I’m really sorry op. If she wanted him back, he’d go in a heartbeat. You deserve more. Dump him and move on, he’s being very unfair to you,

Wadsworthy · Yesterday 17:35

There are so many red flags with your DP @NMac25 Do NOT have DC with this man. Really, don't.

To have behaved this way and then used your miscarriage as a reason ... words fail.

I hope you have good support re your loss, and see this as a moment that shows you what sort of man your DP is.

Good luck Flowers

5128gap · Yesterday 17:37

I think you have very insightfully worked out yourself why he did this. He doesn't want her to think he is committed to you or has any ties.
This is an appalling time to have to reflect on your relationship, it will keep until you're stronger.

whippersnapper55 · Yesterday 17:41

I'm so very sorry for your loss OP 💐

I think you are right to be concerned about his friendship. There's a reason he didn't tell her about the baby and him saying he doesn't know why just doesn't cut it. He knows why and he just doesn't want to say it out loud to you - that he knows she'd be jealous that your relationship was changing from being his girlfriend to being the mother of his child - a much more serious prospect.

I think it's fine for a man to have female friends - my DH has a few from school and Uni and I've had boyfriends before who have close female friends. It's never been a problem. But I think a close female friend who is essentially an ex girlfriend is a different matter. Especially when he's still using her as his screensaver and wearing their friendship bracelets (how old is he! 🙄) If I were you, I'd be very wary of planning a future with him, given his strong emotional attachment to another woman.

You are in the midst of grief and loss and you don't have to do anything now. Focus on your self care and lean on family and friends who love you. Give yourself grace and time to come to terms with your loss.

When you're feeling stronger, that is the time to deal with the issue of his friendship with this woman and your feelings of betrayal. You will get there x

GrumpyButOk · Yesterday 17:41

MrTiddlesTheCat · Yesterday 15:26

I'm sorry for your loss. I think your grief is shinning a light on things you haven't wanted to face before. This man still holds a torch for his ex and would be back there in a shot if she beckoned. That's why he didn't tell her, because he didn't want to close the door on the chance she might have him back. Now he's told her hoping it'll reel her in closer.

This x 100

So so sorry for your loss OP.

Sadly, your bf views you as the second best option because he can't have his first choice. The screen photo and the friendship bracelets make that very clear, and are massively disrespectful to you in any case. You don't deserve any of this. 💐

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · Yesterday 17:41

NMac25 · Yesterday 15:39

Thanks guys,

I think it's pretty clear that I'm in big trouble. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with him about this and explain how uncomfortable I feel. I've just got this fear where it looks like I'm a hormonal woman being possessive over a man that has girl friends. I hate to be that insecure but I guess I am.

I don't think you're insecure.
I think he'd treating you very badly.
I would be very suspicious about this friendship and would be thinking about ending my relationship with this man.

I'm very sorry indeed about your baby - it's a tragedy.

ScaramoucheCanYouDoTheFandango · Yesterday 17:42

Ask yourself two questions OP -

If he went to visit his friend for a couple of days and she was receptive, are you confident they would not sleep together?

If his friend connected to him and told him she made huge mistake finishing with him before and does he want to give it another go, are you confident he would say no?

If you can't immediately answer yes to both those questions without any doubts, something is very wrong.

GreyBeeplus3 · Yesterday 17:44

@NMac25
He's still carrying a torch for this other woman
And I think it's a case of making do with "rebound" you because she made another life for herself.
And was he really happy about the pregnancy; in which case he should've been shouting it from the rooftops?
Or was he putting on a very good act?
Things may've turned out not quite as "his friend" imagined so she may still be absolutely keeping him on the back burner knowing he's still keen
This thing about them dating then becoming
"Best friends" afterwards; really?
There are so many red flags here
His screensaver should be you not her?
You miscarried/nearly died and he told her afterwards when baby was no more?
What's it to her?
Honestly
If I were you
I'd get myself better then leave him
He's never loved you
Probably very secretly relieved.
Good Luck For The Future My Love XXX

mishmashmess · Yesterday 17:46

How often does she message him rather than the other way round, I wonder? Sounds like he is still mad about her, but she's either at best oblivious to his devotion or at worst, keeping him around for an ego boost. Either way, you are better off out of it.

ginasevern · Yesterday 17:53

I'm so sorry for your loss OP. But it has actually opened your eyes to the situation. This isn't his best friend, it's a woman he's still in love with and would return to if she lifted her little finger. You've only known him for less than a year. Get out now and do not have a baby with him.

Christmasbird · Yesterday 17:54

Screensaver of the ex? Absolutely not hun.

Katalica · Yesterday 17:56

I’m very sorry for your sad loss. Take your time to grieve and don’t feel you have to do anything immediately.

However, it sounds like you’ve had a horrible sudden wake up call rather than feeling a bit insecure or it being your hormones.

No decent bloke would keep a pic of the ex girlfriend on the front of their phone and refer to them as their ‘best friend’ when they’re in an exciting new and loving committed relationship. Sadly, it’s taken this horrible event for you to see more clearly through your foggy Rose tinted specs.

You will get through this and it will be ok.

NovaF · Yesterday 17:59

I am so so sorry for your loss. What a lot to have to think about and deal with.

it sounds like he is much more vested in her then she is in him. He needs to move on, and that means him being honest about his feelings towards her and more than likely cutting her off.

this is so much to deal with though, losing your precious baby, almost dying as a result (and still physically recovering) and this. Do you need to deal with this right now? can it wait two weeks while you physically recover (emotionally this will take a lot longer). How can you prioritise you right now?

gratefulmezze · Yesterday 18:01

She is the reason they aren't together, he would be with her if he could.
OP you need to run like your tampon string is on fire.

Crudd99 · Yesterday 18:05

TFImBackIn · Yesterday 15:05

I'm so so sorry you lost your baby. That must be incredibly painful. Flowers

Having said that, I don't think this man is right for you. He has one foot in that woman's life and I think if you hit tough times together he'd be off. He can't justify his behaviour. She'll always be there - I'd cut my losses and try to find someone who wasn't still connected to his ex.

Agree.

Comeonbabylightmyaga · Yesterday 18:07

Sorry for your loss @NMac25 .

If he dares to blame your hormones he’ll have all of us to deal with.

None of his behaviour is normal. He’s not over his holiday romance.

Sodthesystem · Yesterday 18:08

I’m sorry for you loss.

Unfortunately this guy is not a keeper. Not even close.

And please be careful not to get pregnant with men you’ve only known a short time. It’s not safe. Three years minimum. And ideally, get married first. Not becuase of old fashioned rules but becuase men don’t necessarily see kids as a commitment. At least if they marry you it’s more likely they are actually committed. Where as if you have their kid, they could still put minimum effort into raising it.

ThatLilacTiger · Yesterday 18:11

NMac25 · Yesterday 15:19

He's told me, he's kept saying "I don't know how to tell so and so" or " "I can't believe I see till haven't told her yet". He's very open about her, he's kept no secrets about how he values the relationship, though I don't know why she has a best friend title when they live hundreds of miles apart and speak semi regularly.

We've been together less than a year, though we fell hard, which is rare for me, not so much for him. I've never felt this openly loved before, but now my emotions are out of whack and feel like I'm sharing him.

You aren't sharing him; he's hers. He's still mentally in a relationship with her and didn't want to tell her because he knew it would be a nail in that coffin.

Please please please don't get pregnant again with this man. The absolute disrespect to be fully emotionally involved with another woman right in front of you and to cause you this pain in your grief.

Out of curiosity, have you told any friends and family that he still has her picture as his lock screen?

letmebetheone · Yesterday 18:13

Sorry for your loss.

But-

You should be his best friend
You should be on his phone screen

She should be an old friend not his best friend

TheIceBear · Yesterday 18:14

It’s not you overthinking it’s weird he has a photo of them together as his wallpaper and it’s weird that they are “best friends “ when he used to sleep with her and was heartbroken .

Vulturesoverhead · Yesterday 18:15

Sodthesystem · Yesterday 18:08

I’m sorry for you loss.

Unfortunately this guy is not a keeper. Not even close.

And please be careful not to get pregnant with men you’ve only known a short time. It’s not safe. Three years minimum. And ideally, get married first. Not becuase of old fashioned rules but becuase men don’t necessarily see kids as a commitment. At least if they marry you it’s more likely they are actually committed. Where as if you have their kid, they could still put minimum effort into raising it.

Edited

I agree with your reasoning.

NorthernPaws · Yesterday 18:16

I’m so sorry about your baby loss.

I’m going to offer a slightly different perspective, in that in the past I was sometimes guilty of being a bit like your partner. I used to even hold off sometimes on telling certain male friends and aquaintences that I was in a relationship. I can see now that it was a psychological issue I had, in that I subconsciously didn't want to ‘let down’ a person who might have feelings for me, or even just a person who was lonely themself. It’s really hard to explain! It was almost like I needed to keep everyone happy… or that I subconsciously felt they would only want to know me if they thought there was a chance that they might be able to be with me. Very messed up, I know!

So maybe this could explain his weird behaviour. One the other hand, I feel keeping a pic of him and her on the phone lock screen is pretty disrespectful to your relationship. I think you need to focus for now on healing from the miscarriage, then have an honest talk with him. If he’s a decent guy and there’s a possible future with him then he should understand and be able to be respectful to you.

Bigcat25 · Yesterday 18:21

Prioritize recovery, no need to rush into action either way.

Pinkflamingo10 · Yesterday 18:21

Sorry for your loss. In your grief you are seeing things for what they are. Your partner is in love with his ex. She’s on his lock screen. He wears her bracelet.
you are not insecure. Insecure is suspecting things that are not there. This relationship with his ex is real.
he can’t fully commit to you and be everything you need and deserve until he has moved on

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