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Would you be comfortable with your partner going on holiday for 10 days 5 weeks post birth?

80 replies

Byamumx · 10/01/2024 15:42

Hey mamas x

Well my boyfriend is booked on to an holiday abroad for 10 days, 5 weeks post birth our baby (depending if baby arrives on due date) As we know there's up to 2 weeks over due dates.

His 1st & my 2nd. I have a 3yr old, full time no bio father/family input, due to serious DV in the past.

Now this holiday was booked before hand I am taking this into account which is causing me to feel bad.
We dated 3 months and then we have been officially a couple in a relationship 5 months. It's all happened very quickly!

So I am partially feeling super torn up because of the conflicting factors around this in various ways.

I am feeling super disheartened that he still very much wants to go, because he won't get this opportunity again.

If it was the other way around I wouldn't be leaving him with a newborn & toddler, he's acting like he wouldn't have a problem with this because being tired/exhausted is part of the parental package... Yes it is, yet he's not the one doing all the physical work and healing post birth either.

I don't usually mind about him going holiday and I accept this a part of who he is and what makes him happy and I wouldn't want to change this about him at all.
Its with this time frame, I don't feel okay about it...
I found newborn stage super hard last time being on my own, I had issues breastfeeding, there was health checks ongoing which meant hospital visits, I had PND, my 1st was admitted into hospital near the 5 week mark for 4 nights, and I have a spinal disability which impacts my mobility and was really affected post birth (lifting car seat, pushing a pram, holding baby etc) I lost so much weight fast due to the cluster feeding from 1st i wasnt eating well, drinkng well or sleeping, I was in a bad place.

I don't have a supportive network, my family are very limited and preoccupied with their own lives, it's extremely rare i am able to have some input. I barely have friends and those I have also have kids/families to look after

I don't drive, which my partner does, so I feel as though him being available during the first couple of months is important - like I feel sick at the thought of possibly no coping so well mentally/physically and he's videoing calling me in some hot country relaxing, or seeing photos or if baby is unwell and needs any kind of medical input, he won't be here to help with travel or with my 3yr old...
I feel very vulnerable around birth/post, because it can be so unpredictable! If I was to need an emergency c-section? Then recovery on top of a disability?

I am waiting to start adult ASD assessment for me and my son likely has the same, it can be challenging with him most days. My own mental health is delicate, (I do regular therapy)

Apart of me is upset because I feel there's still time to transfer another name on to the holiday (it's an all inclusive hotel) and this way he is choosing his partner/family 1st over a relaxing holiday (like he complains about spending long periods of time with his family anyway that's going, 3 members, he said he will be off doing his own thing most of the time because 10 days it to much with them, its just theyve paid for him)

I am struggling to accept that what is important to his wants in his life (travel) are more significant than his partner/newborn/family during a vulnerable time frame OF need

Its creating a massive gap between us at the moment.
I am spiralling into thinking I am selfish and unreasonable, yet I am not naive about how life changing a new baby is And the numerous nights I feel would have helped having a supportive partner

I have suggested that even we could save up for the same place, it might take a bit longer to go, but our children would get to go, plus he'd have a few days to still explore and then I could have a day while he looked after littles

And while I totally understand other people's circumstances in the sense that some people have partners that work immediately away post birth, etc and that must be hard, I wouldn't sign up for that Kind of relationship.
Yet to me career and luxury holiday are two entire different matters.

My 2nd baby dad is a full time uni student & runs a business himself, I support him and I am so happy too and take care of our children, he's got another 3yrs left of uni, so I know it'll be me doing most of baby raising anyway.
It's more that I feel like he's upping & going on a holiday break at a time I feel I will need him... and it hurts and no matter how disheartened I feel, there's nothing I can do. it just worries me about what standard I am setting for the long term of our relationship or getting myself iinto if I just submit and give in to his wants etc

And I've said even if he stayed behind and nothing major happens, then we have a week (that's already booked off work for him) to do things a family of 4, which could be as joyful & great!

I want to know how others would feel about this, I feel alone in my relationship atm, like I'm not part of a team and I am fearing that my objectives is pushing him away but at the same time I feel unsure about staying close to a man who may not have his priorities in check

Do i just let the fact that it was booked prior override how things have changed now? How ive also had to sacrifice opportunities as a mother/parent. I wouldnt be able to leave a 5 week due to breastfeeding, its not like he could feed baby etc and then theres not being able to pump until 5/6 weeks due to everything needing to regulate

Anyway, I will stop, I think you get the point I am upset and my head is all over. Sorry about the long length xxx

OP posts:
plumberdrain · 10/01/2024 15:44

the fact he even wants to is the most alarming thing.

Even if he doesn’t end up going, you know that he is self absorbed and thoughtless enough to want to do this. To be away from his partner and very new baby.

A bad sign op

OttilieKnackered · 10/01/2024 15:45

It was booked before you met? I think that does complicate things.

He shouldn’t go but frankly if there is a holiday booked that is older than your relationship then why is there a baby on its way?

plumberdrain · 10/01/2024 15:46

It's all happened very quickly!

No surprises there then

DuploTrain · 10/01/2024 15:47

Absolutely no way.

It doesn’t matter that it was booked before. You’re going to be making big changes to your life now you’re pregnant, missing a holiday is a tiny sacrifice to make.

I have a lot of family support and I still wouldn’t be happy with this.

Also as pp said it’s not a good sign that he actually wants to go. Would he be happy with you going away for 10 days and leaving him with a newborn baby?

plumberdrain · 10/01/2024 15:48

you work?

Dacadactyl · 10/01/2024 15:48

It'd be a huge no from me and he wouldn't be going if I was in a relationship with him.

MILTOBE · 10/01/2024 15:49

I would judge him severely on this. It's his first baby. You are his lover and he plans to go on holiday with his mates when you've just given birth? Utterly selfish, thoughtless and heartless.

Aquamarine1029 · 10/01/2024 15:51

All of this is way too much, way too soon, and I doubt this relationship will even last until you give birth. Sorry, but I'm just being honest.

How far along are you? You need to think very carefully if having another baby with this man is the right thing for your existing child.

RiaOverTheRainbow · 10/01/2024 15:53

I would plan for single motherhood, if he can't put you first as the mother of his newborn he never will, and the relationship won't last. When you say you're supporting him, I hope you don't mean financially?

YouveGotAFastCar · 10/01/2024 15:53

In normal circumstances, he'd be a dick.

In these, it's more complicated... You've been together for five months. The holiday has been booked for longer than you've been together...

Where is it to? Is it a once-in-a-lifetime holiday? Could you go too, with baby and toddler?

I think the best case is that he decides he doesn't want to go once his baby is here.

ToriTheStoryteller · 10/01/2024 15:54

I don't think he'd be coming back as my partner if that's how he prioritised both me at my most vulnerable, and his baby at a unique time that he can never get back.

lilyborderterrier · 10/01/2024 15:56

Absolutely no.
I’m surprised he still wants to go.

Byamumx · 10/01/2024 16:00

Yeah, I said this to him, if putting a part of himself aside for a tiny amount of time 10 days is a huge deal, then sticking to contraception would have been absolutely insisted on.

When children come into our lives, pictures of most things change/adjust, plans don't always go ahead or they have to be post poned etc. But for me, I'd rather be with my newborn baby & family unit than on any holiday especially if that holiday is with family members i dont have much interest spending a lot of time with anyway! I can think/plan for holidays later on.

OP posts:
NoCloudsAllowed · 10/01/2024 16:04

He's not going to be a reliable partner. He's either selfish or immature or both. I suspect he doesn't have the slightest idea what he's letting himself in for.

You can't stop him from going, ultimately. If you deliberately conceived a child a few months into a new relationship, that's pretty reckless. It's takes time to build a stable relationship and get to know someone.

Byamumx · 10/01/2024 16:10

@DuploTrain He reckons that he would be very happy for me to go away 5 weeks post birth (& this is just the threshold because baby could be 4/3 weeks depending if I go over or not)
He says he believes it would do me the world of good to go away and he would even help fund it for me!!

In hindsight doesn't sound realistic because he hasn't been carrying baby for 9 months, then he isn't recovering from birth nor has a physical disability that already impacts mobility as well as a toddler that is still very much a big dependent

Also what has me anxious is the unpredictability of birth, if I suddenly needed a C-Section, then there's this weighing on top hes about to go away - the recovery process.

He said the "if you was single you would have to cope" card, which ultimately made me feel cross and upset! Because I can't comprehend how you would allow to let a mother "cope?"

Being single and having a partner is two different circumstances in my eyes. When it comes to your baby, you want a mother that is at her very best self she can be, not hanging on by a thread, even if it is just "10 days".

OP posts:
AppleTree16 · 10/01/2024 16:12

on no level would I agree to this. I’d be reconsidering the relationship full stop if he insisted on going. He’s meant to be your support during this time!

Allthingsdecember · 10/01/2024 16:15

Him even considering going would be enough for me to rethink the relationship. That’s unbelievably selfish.

Byamumx · 10/01/2024 16:22

@RiaOverTheRainbow No I don't support him financially, we haven't moved In together as of yet, we wasn't planning on until he completed his Doctorate, everything is separate.... I mean I support him with his full time uni life/running his business, it's a lot for him to handle and I couldn't do this, so I'm more than happy to take care of our baby (& my toddler) so he can fulfill the path he's already began in terms of the career he wants to persue. This will require him to be absent at times as it is, due to a huge workload, but I appreciate that this is for his livelihood & his child/ren best interest of future etc. Meanwhile, my life and dreams are on hold because I'm mothering to a baby/toddler and I said early on it might be that once his career takes off in the future, we will switch roles so I can have opportunity to do something I'd like to while he picks up the childcare.
I'm disheartened that he can't sacrifice 10 days.
And if baby had been 9 months + when he was going away, I wouldn't mind at all, I'd feel less in the newborn vulnerable deep end & I'd probably have started to find my feet/plus healed from birth etc.
It's more the unpredictability of it all outweighs me feeling okay about this. Baby could be 3 weeks old if shows late...

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 10/01/2024 16:26

No

He's obviously still in 'boyfriend' mode

Jingleballs2 · 10/01/2024 16:27

Aquamarine1029 · 10/01/2024 15:51

All of this is way too much, way too soon, and I doubt this relationship will even last until you give birth. Sorry, but I'm just being honest.

How far along are you? You need to think very carefully if having another baby with this man is the right thing for your existing child.

Agree 🫣

whatevss · 10/01/2024 16:29

Everything you have said indicates he isn't committed to you or your baby. Why would he be? He barely knows you.

This is why women usually wait a few years before they stop insisting on "sticking to contraception". It's not a foolproof technique, but it certainly helps.

You can try to force him to stay home, but it won't change his underlying lack of consideration for you, which is what you are or should be most concerned with.

Maybe he'll develop more care for you over time. Who can say? You didn't give the relationship a chance to develop before intentionally getting pregnant with him. Now, all you can do is keep your fingers crossed that things go in the right direction.

Byamumx · 10/01/2024 16:30

@YouveGotAFastCar Yeah I wouldn't go to the extent of calling him a d!ck, he's not awful in any means, he just doesn't see that in this scenario he is thinking for himself period and it seems his independence is threatened by not going 🤔

It's an all inclusive hotel, to tennerife, Spain. He has already said how his dad, stepmum and stepsister will probably stay around the hotel mostly, but because he doesn't cope spending long periods of time with them 3, he will probably go off exploring himself most of the time that he's there.
His stepmum paid for it - which is where the "opportunity" factor comes in, he won't have another holiday paid for again.

His brother who has 2 children but lives miles away (their very close still), isn't going or had a space paid for.

I suggested he ask his brother if he'd like the opportunity and for him to leave his 2 kids? Since it's "not a huge deal" his kids would be 1 & 3

I wouldn't mind if our child together was 1, because there's usually more stabilisation by this point compared to the newborn stage and in terms of health, newborn babies health can go downhill faster & there's more complex factors that can arise at the beginning.

OP posts:
whatevss · 10/01/2024 16:34

"in terms of health, newborn babies health can go downhill faster & there's more complex factors that can arise at the beginning."

Yes, he doesn't care. He's already told you so. Are you listening?

auntyElle · 10/01/2024 16:35

He reckons that he would be very happy for me to go away 5 weeks post birth... ) He says he believes it would do me the world of good to go away and he would even help fund it for me!!

He said the "if you was single you would have to cope" card, which ultimately made me feel cross and upset! Because I can't comprehend how you would allow to let a mother "cope?"

He's not just a dick, OP. He's an self-obsessed, waste of space prick.

auntyElle · 10/01/2024 16:36

his independence is threatened by not going

No, his independence was threatened when he ejaculated inside you without contraception.