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Parenting

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husband not copeing well

18 replies

mazdi · 14/06/2012 00:28

we just had a baby girl 7 weeks ago i love being a mum but my husband cant seem to cope looking after dose not seem to like the fact are lives have chang how can i help him to get in to being a dad and enjoy are littel girl it make me so sade that he dose not seem to like be a dad and being with me and eve

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MagnumIcecreamAddict · 14/06/2012 07:02

It's so hard when your OH doesn't click with the baby and has a bit of an extended toddler moment themselves. I'll tell you my tale in the hope it helps you know you're not alone and maybe give you some hope, but first and foremost you have my huge sympathy, at that stage I had started to wish I was a single parent.

My DH never really wanted kids, but we sat down and had the chat before we got married and we both agreed to kids a few years down the line (already past 30 when married and he was 37 so not young). The few years past and after a bit of pushing started ttc and were very fortunate to conceive first try. My DH ignored the pregnancy as much as possible, gave me no consideration for being exhausted and was generally behaving like a spoiled brat who'd had his favourite toy taken away. I was seriously worried but everyone told me how much hed'd love DS as soon as he arrived. But he didn't.

Got home from hospital and he told me he felt nothing for DS. That was almost more than I could bear at that stage. Told him to try until he felt something, or leave, surprisingly calmly actually.

First 3 months horrific. DS was a non-sleeper, waking every 30 mins to an hour to feed. DH refused to help at all (and i mean nothing - no night duties, no nappies, no walks, no food/drinks/clearing up for me) and in fact made things harder by creating mess, sulking and whinging. Would have been easier alone, but I was too exhausted to find the energy to leave or battle it and really didn't want my son to grow up in a single parent family. I used to wait til DS was having a good moment and then put him on DH for a quick cuddle.

By 3 months he would occasionally ask for a cuddle. By 6 months he was engaging with my DS for play. By a year he was helping loads during the day and doing bath duties at night and it was very clear there was a strong bond developing. My DS is now just 2 and DH takes a day off a week to look after him, is helping with our current night issues (just moved to big boy bed), adores DS and at Christmas announced out of the blue that he'd really like another and to do it right this time, that he regrets being an arse so much.

Now, I'm not saying I was right to put up with all that, and I'm sure lots of people would flame me for it. But I was getting 2-4 hours broken sleep a night and could barely find the energy to breathe, never mind get a divorce. My DH is inherently a bit selfish but he has lots of wonderful qualities too and I think it just took a long time for him to see the benefits of DS being around and didn't have that hormonal rush of love I had. It could have gone the other way, and if I hadn't seen any improvement I'd have kicked him out.

I have no doubt that DH would now walk over hot coals for my DS and really loves spending time with him. We have never been stronger but it took me a very long time to forgive him.

So it can work out, it can be as wonderful as you hoped. Or maybe reading this you'll think your DP isn't that bad!! Hang on in there and try as much as you can to try to enjoy your baby. FWIW I would advise encouraging physical contact between your DP and baby, skin to skin if he will, but don't push it, let him come round in his own time. A lot of men do seem to bond properly once the baby can give something back (smiles, laughs etc) it's just most support their partner whilst waiting for the bond! Bath time, with dp in the bath cuddling baby is very helpful. Get help elsewhere if you can, from parents or friends. Get out to groups and talk to a trusted friend about what an arse he's being, it'll help.

Very best of luck.

Jac1978 · 14/06/2012 07:32

Post natal depression is widely recognised in women but the reality is that dads too can feel overwhelmed by the new responsibility, feel disconnected from their baby and grief for the life they had before. If you appear to be coping well he might find it hard to talk about how he's feeling so grab a time when she's asleep and give him a cuddle and ask how he's feeling. Maybe if you talk about the things you sometimes miss or the things that worry you it will encourage him to open up a bit. Try to listen and not get angry or hurt and hopefully by keeping that closeness between you, you can work through this. Encourage his involvement with everything - feeding, nappies, bathing her, taking her out for walks, choosing an outfit for her to wear etc and praise him and thank him for things he does to help, resist the urge to correct him too much. The key is to build his role as a father so he feels he fits into this new life and that he can enjoy it. Maybe have an hour each evening and call it "daddy time" where he has her to himself. As she gets more responsive and starts smiling and making noises he will probably find it easier to interact with her, it's hard when they're very young and just crying and sleeping. It might be an idea to have a couple of hours together as a couple if you can get a babysitter and go for a meal or a walk or see a film, something you used to do together that might make things feel "normal" again for a bit. Don't worry this isn't a permanent thing, with your support and encouragement he will learn to overcome his feelings and bond with his daughter

CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/06/2012 08:06

I'm sorry but I have zero sympathy for him and I don't think you should be leading him along by the hand. He's an adult male, not a kid, and if he's sulking because his life has changed he's simply being selfish. You need a heart to heart about what you expect from him and how you expect him to behave. He may not have an instant 'rapport' with a very small baby but that doesn't mean he should excuse himself from looking after both of you and acting like a decent, normal human being.

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FoxyRevenger · 14/06/2012 08:11

Cogito who says he is sulking? Aren't Dad allowed to find the adjustment as difficult as women do?

For my own part, my husband struggled I would say for the first...8 weeks maybe?

He didn't not like being with my daughter, but he was just very nervous around her, he thought she was so breakable and delicate. He would come home from work and get stuck into housework, leaving the baby with me.

Eventually we had it out and he admitted he was just really nervy with her; I said...tough! And so we switched roles. When he got home, he's have an hour with her then bath time, in which time I'd do whatever I felt like.

It really helped, and the stronger and more communicative she grew the closer they got. By the time she was 6 months old he'd have chopped off his arms for her.

AbigailAdams · 14/06/2012 08:18

When women find it difficult to adjust (apart from rare exceptions) they still manage to look after the baby. This man is absolving himself of responsibility of the baby and just leaving it to his wife. Would that we could all do that!

OP agree with Cogito, this man needs to step up.

FoxyRevenger · 14/06/2012 08:32

But the OP doesn't even say that? Confused

CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/06/2012 08:33

"dose (sic) not seem to like the fact are lives have chang" (sic)
"dose (sic) not seem to like be a dad and being with me and eve"

Doesn't sound like nervous man to me. He resents his life changing and doesn't even like to be with his wife. You said 'tough'... and I think the OP should do exactly the same thing.

Iggly · 14/06/2012 08:36

Well he can't deal with being a new dad and that his life has changed? I'm with Cogito.

He could be supporting his partner and making sure he's ok. It sounds like he's not around at all. That's a seperate issue from bonding with baby.

Iggly · 14/06/2012 08:37

*she's ok not he's

ButtonBoo · 14/06/2012 08:38

My experience wasn't quite as extreme but we had the 'now or never' conversation and I was pg within 2 wks. I think dp would've liked a little more time to get used to the idea. He was great during my pg but I think he felt quite disconnected. To begon with I think do found it hard when she was born. I was ebf and when the colic set in he found it hard that she cried when with him (she also cried when with me with colic!) but he felt that he wasn't doing things right. Babies don't do much until 6mo. Really it's just feeding, pooping and sleeping! Our DD is 8mo this week and dp has really started to bond with her. She saves all her best smiles for daddy and laughs at his silly noises etc. She gets hyper when he comes home and gives him a big wet 'kiss-kiss' each night before bed. He bathes her every night for their one to one time. It's free time for me to tidy up the toys etc and it's something just for him. I think some men just don't know how to be with new babies and find it easier when they become a little more interactive.

I certainly wouldn't advise pushing him to do stuff with dc. It'll just freak him out and he'll get the fear that he can't do it/isn't as good as you/as he expected...a bad father! Let him go at his own pace and hopefully it'll all just click. 7 wks is still really early. You've had 9mo to love and bond with this baby. He's just got to catch up! Good luck!

wfhmumoftwo · 14/06/2012 10:52

my own experience was very similar to Magnums. Perhaps not so extreme as he did try to help out a little but found it very difficult to engage or be interested in the baby. By the time our DS was maybe 9 months and was more 'interesting' he had completely changed. Our 2 are 5 and 4 and DH loves them so much, helps out with everything (we both work) and really enjoys playing football, biking etc and generally spending time with the children. He would do anything for them
I'm not making excuses for your husband, just saying that it can be hard for men - often they don't know what to do, or feel pushed aside, and haven't had 9 months of bonding with baby before arrival. I think it is more 'acceptable' for a mum to say she is not coping or not bonding than for a man imo
Personally i would encourage him to be with baby but not force and see how it goes. Of course its hard for you in the meantime but i think 7 weeks is too soon to say that this is how he will always be.
Good luck

CoffeeDog · 14/06/2012 10:57

My Dh 'cared' for the twins when they were babies - he fed them changed them drove them around in the car to get them to sleep did all the thing he was 'suppose to be doing' ...... but he didnt really fall in love with them till they we up running about and launching them at daddy when he got home from work ;)

As he put it babies are dull .......

drappel · 14/06/2012 14:24

Mazdi, is it possible that your partner isn't actually resenting the change but actually is fearing it? Fear can be a dangerous thing and many men fear having children as they actually think they will fail at being a good dad. Unfortunately many men will also never admit to having this fear because they feel inadequate at not being able to cope. Right now he sounds like he has his head buried deep in the sand.

I agree with Jac above and think you should sit down with him and have a talk. Try and understand what he says offer support when you can. He may be afraid of saying anything as he knows exactly what you have been through with the pregnancy and birth and could think that he will sound ridiculous.

I know several fathers that were rubbish for the first few weeks or months but all got there eventually. Good luck.

mazdi · 16/06/2012 13:56

Thank you everyone i had a talk to him and he is much better with her now seems to got over what was bothering him which was not having any time to him self now he has he is much better for it so i am feeling better too

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CogitoErgoSometimes · 16/06/2012 14:01

And how much time do you have to yourself mazdi? Equal, I hope. If he has a few hours doing his own thing, make sure you get a few hours baby-free to even things up. Be careful that you don't end up making allowances to keep him happy only to end up picking up all the slack & doing all the work. Happens a lot.

mazdi · 16/06/2012 14:10

he has started to fed and bath her make me happy to see the together at last his job was getting him down to which did not help thing i still dont think he should not take it out on me and eve but he dose seem be trying to make it up to us i am trying to forgive and forget but it is hard.

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CogitoErgoSometimes · 16/06/2012 14:27

What do you meant 'take it out on me and eve'? No matter how much someone's job is getting them down it does not excuse them behaving badly towards the people they are supposed to be closest to. So what does this free time of his look like?

mazdi · 22/06/2012 20:12

He gose out with friend and drinks or sleep over at his bother's house i am not getting much time to myself and when ui do i a always hurry up by him i feel really feed up now just wont a brake from time to time

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