Please or to access all these features

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Husband's mental health - pregnancy

10 replies

InNeedOfHelp25 · 19/08/2018 23:02

Hello,

I have bad changed for this as it will be quite outing I think. I think this will be quite long, sorry in advance.

My husband has been struggling with his job for a while. It is extremely stressful and includes him doing a lot of further training to quality further. It is hard work and I try to support him. We moved for our jobs years ago and he commutes and is so busy, he doesn't really have any friends where we live.

He is a few years younger than me, I am early 30s. We got married a couple of years ago. Lovely wedding, he always says he loved getting married. He did worry about getting engaged before as he felt he was too young but he is so pleased with it all and can't imagine anything different.

We have been discussing children for years. His further training is taking him longer than we thought. I was also recently diagnosed used wth PCOS and had discussions about fertility with specialists. They said it might take us a while to conceive.

Ideally my DH would have waited a few years he said but we agreed we'd go on a couple more holidays then try. We went to a country with Zika and had all necessary tests afterwards. He happily did all of this. So we stopped contraception and conceived the first month to everyone's surprise.

Since then his mood is becoming worse and I'm really worrying for him.

He is constantly low, excluding me from his life and to be honest quite snappy. He is currently working towards another qualification and I know he finds it tricky. He now says he will never finish his courses, we won't manage financially (both in good jobs and reasonable maternity package), won't have any freedom and so on. Thing is we discussed these things before and of course things will change. He agreed to start trying, didn't use any more contraception. I did in no way coerce him, this was a joint decision. Of course if he had a younger partner maybe he'd have waited another ten years, but this is not the case.

I'm finding it so so hard to deal with his depression now. He is so down on everything. We went to an early scan and I thought it might help him bond. I asked him what he thought afterwards and he just said it was 'alright' and then talked about lunch. I have to say it was quite hurtful somehow.

I now feel he actually feels this baby is going to ruin his life. He is so down on everything and this always comes back to the pregnancy. A baby we both wanted.

It's meant to be such a happy time and I feel so shit. It's horrible. Everyone is asking whether he's excited and I am lying. I feel so embarrassed. It feels as if this is an accidental pregnancy the way he reacts, not something we have planned and actively tried for.

I know I sound a bit selfish with all of this, but in addition to the morning sickness, the fatigue and the feeling hormonal this is so hard to cope with. Our sex life has died (hasn't been great for a while to be fair but always thought it was stress, now thinking maybe related to depression?). I just feel really really lonely and as if what's meant to be a happy time is becoming really sad. I love him so much and I'm sorry he feels the way he does. But I can't not have this longed for baby to keep him, right? He's not asked me to abort obviously but the way he is so down makes it hard not to think it.

Not really sure what I am trying to get out of this. After another night of no conversation or anything and him just going to sleep (we're on holiday) I now can't sleep and am pondering where this is all going and how I will ever cope with it all. I don't feel strong enough for all three of us at the moment.

OP posts:
InNeedOfHelp25 · 20/08/2018 14:38

Anyone?

OP posts:
Singerleon · 20/08/2018 15:08

Sorry that no one has replied yet OP.

I haven’t experienced what you are describing but my DH has reacted in unexpected ways over pregnancy. I’m maybe simplifying this too much but for a lot of men it seems that they don’t really engage with the pregnancy/baby until closer to the birth or after. When it becomes a real person rather than an idea.

Also even if a pregnancy is planned it can still be hard to get your head around and scary thinking about how life will change.

Basically, what he is expressing may just be at the higher end of normal but you know him Best and if it’s more than that then maybe he needs to speak to someone. Flowers for you

InNeedOfHelp25 · 20/08/2018 20:54

Thank you so much for your response. It really helps to hear other husbands are not too dissimilar somehow.

I do think maybe his general depression just makes it all that bit worse and more extreme? Hard to say really.

I do really worry that he will feel this is spoiling his life somehow. But maybe that's just part of his negativity just now?

He is nice sometimes. Makes lovely comments about the baby and me. But then suddenly it all changes again.

He is usually a fantastic husband and I can't imagine life without him. He's my best friend, too! I feel sad that he isn't happy about our lives together but I know that's irrational and partner of his depression.

OP posts:
Lauren6298 · 20/08/2018 21:11

@InNeedOfHelp25 I can totally relate to this! Our stories are almost exactly the same.

When we got married my husband and I agreed we would try for a baby the December 2 years later to allow us time to get settled in our careers and save up money etc. It was always planned for then and we both had loads of time (2 full years!!) to get our heads round it.

I got pregnant the first month of trying and he totally freaked out. He basically felt that his life was over and told me so. I felt so gutted, not just for me but also for our poor baby who I felt was being betrayed by one of the two people who should love and protect him most.

We argued about it loads to the point that my midwife got concerned about mine and the baby’s health and basically banned us from discussing it anymore! Everyone was so on his side and saying how scary it is for men etc and it infuriated me - surely we’re the ones who need the pity and support?!

Anyway, I eventually realised that he would never act like this maliciously. He is an amazing man and husband and he was really struggling and didn’t want to hurt me, but couldn’t help the way he was feeling. It was definitely depression. I bought him a support book for dads and found a group at the hospital that is just for dads. There’s also counselling helplines for men in this position. I’d really recommend you looking into different ways of supporting him.

Our baby is due next month and finally my husband seems to have calmed down. Sometimes I even catch him getting a bit excited about stuff Smile. I know that once the baby is here, my husband will be besotted. However, it has been a horrific few months and I’ll always secretly resent him for the stress he’s put me under and the fact he’s taken away the joy i should have felt throughout it. We’re getting there finally.

Sorry for such a long post! I just wanted you to know that I’ve been there and I really feel for you. My husband and I aren’t out of the woods yet but we’re getting there and so will you.

Lauren x

SpottedTiger · 22/08/2018 07:01

Just wondering if your husband has seen his GP about how he is feeling or is on any treatment for depression? If not this is a good place to start.

InNeedOfHelp25 · 23/08/2018 05:54

@Lauren6298. Sorry it took me a while to respond, I was abroad and internet was really bad. I can't thank you for your post enough. In a weird way it is so reassuring to read that you had a similar experience, even though I'm obviously super sorry this is happening during your pregnancy too!

I think what you said about your husband never doing this maliciously has really hit home with me, mine wouldn't either. He is usually the most supportive husband one could wish for! He still talks about uni as the 'best years of his life', it almost feels as if the depression means he's started his midlife crisis extra early. The silent resentment also feels very familiar.

@SpottedTiger, he has spoken to his old GP but we recently moved to a new town and the ball needs to start rolling again. I might see whether we can sort it out this week, it's just been so stressful recently it's not happened yet. I do think he'd benefit from counselling. In a weird way I'm scared the counsellor might agree with him though that he is trapped by me and baby and should have more freedom? I know that's irrational though.

OP posts:
onetimeposter · 23/08/2018 08:23

Hi no advice but i felt like this with my pregnancies to the point of resenting them. It is true your life is over in a way and a new one will begin but he doesnt know that yet.
Hold on and things will improve. Dads are parents too.

InNeedOfHelp25 · 24/08/2018 08:39

@onetimeposter, thank you for your response. I know life will change, but does it really feel like it's ending? I don't feel like that somehow, but maybe it's just my perception.

OP posts:
onetimeposter · 24/08/2018 09:13

Hi op, yes. Life over, go to bed and sleep forever. All decent stuff has gone, nothing to look forward to, may as well not be here.
No point getting up or doing anything. Why bother? Life is over anyway.
He wont be like it when its born. But any enjoyment at the pregnancy will most likely be faked which takes huge effort, so you stop seeing people.
Its an awful time for people and i know youre excited but i cant describe how awful it is.
I wanted to jump off a bridge, didnt as i was pregnant and scared the baby would die and is live and people would hate me.

Fluffybat · 24/08/2018 11:20

OP I didn't want to read and run. My experience isn't exactly the same as it was me who felt like your dh rather than my dh. I think it is completely normal for one of the parents to feel like this. My DH was so ready but I suddenly wasn't. Even though we planned it. My point is I accepted it eventually and enjoyed the last part of pregnancy and now am so much in love with my ds I wouldn't change a thing. Once you have scans and classes he might calm down. I'm sorry you're experiencing this but it will be okay x

New posts on this thread. Refresh page