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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Unplanned first pregnancy, horrible timing & I’m terrified

53 replies

aubreystar · 11/03/2019 01:09

Hi, this is my first post here and I feel a bit silly but I do hope someone can help me..

I’ve just found out I’m pregnant (clearblue says 3+ weeks but I’m not actually sure how many weeks I could be because I haven’t had a period in over a year). It’s come as a huge shock and I have so much backstory/complicated circumstances my head is spinning Confused. I have no idea where to start with any of this and this will probably be a huge ramble but here goes..

I’m 26, in a relationship and I have a reasonable job with solid pay and benefits. My boyfriend and I have not been plain sailing. We were together for about 5 months, split for 4 (both pretty heartbroken), got back together 3 months ago, but even then it was rough for the first month (so much fighting..). He has a lot of past trauma physically and emotionally from his childhood and previous relationship so we have to work really hard at the little “normal” things people take for granted. He’s been doing incredibly well recently, recognised a need for professional help and he’s been much much happier (as have I!). The last month or so has been as pretty near to perfect as it gets for us.

He’s not the only one with difficulties. I have a life-long and fairly serious mental illness. I’ve been in and out of mental health services for 15 years. Finally got a correct diagnosis 4 years ago but to this day I’m in therapy to keep it manageable (I will say that I am doing very well at it currently, most people with my illness can’t work at all, and I work full time at a high pressure legal job), but I still struggle with a separate eating disorder (periods of heavy restriction & laxative abuse between short periods of regular eating when my boyfriend keeps me on track).

So between us, we have some significant mental health difficulties. Not only that, my boyfriend still lives at home with his parents (saving for a deposit), and earns minimum wage. I earn much more than than him, so down the line I would have to return to work full time (though god knows what we’d do about childcare). That’s even if he hung around when I eventually have to tell him..

And on top of that, I’ve recently been evicted and had to scramble to find a place I could afford to live and literally signed a 6 month lease a week ago (for a place that is fine for a single adult to live, but absolutely not with a baby).

Everything just feels all wrong timing wise. I’m terrified of telling my boyfriend because although he/we is/are doing well, it’s only very recent and fragile and a revelation of this magnitude could easily completely derail him and I can absolutely see myself having to face this alone.

To add even more to the pot; I was told a few years ago that i’d struggle to conceive naturally after damage was done to my uterus by a severe infection, so conceiving was always a worry for me and now it’s happened I’m completely terrified.

I can’t talk to my mum about this because she adores kids (I’m one of many many siblings) and absolutely can’t wait to be a grandma. I know she’ll react with excitement and it will crush her if I decide not to continue with this pregnancy. She had a termination nearly 40 years ago and she still gets upset about it.

.. on the subject, I also accompanied my friend to a termination when she was 11weeks pregnant and it was one of the most emotionally scarring things I’ve ever witnessed (I can’t imagine what it was like for her, my heart aches thinking about it).

This is so long and I’m so so sorry, I just needed to worry/word-vomit it all somewhere. As you can see, I’ve got a lot going on and I simply can’t make sense of it. My initial gut reaction is “this is all way too much at the wrong time, I can’t possibly continue this pregnancy” but there’s a little voice in my head reminding me that doctors told me there was such a small chance of this happening and how could I possibly throw that away Sad

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
aubreystar · 03/04/2019 21:01

Hi everyone,

I know it’s been a loooooonnngggg time since I last updated you, not sure if anyone will still be reading but it’s cathartic for me to write!

So much has happened I’m not sure where to start. I’ll bullet point list below for clarity (so sorry if I repeat anything I’ve already said, it’s been a while!):

  • I met boyfriend’s mum, it was a strange scenario in which to meet her for the first time, but she seems nice.
  • I ended up in hospital on the day I was supposed to move house, essentially due to a virus and excessive stress. I had a scan (first one!) and discovered that I’m now 9 weeks. I also saw baby’s heartbeat which was really emotional!
  • I did eventually move house. It’s a bit scary living alone while pregnant, especially as I’m now living in a studio flat (in a kinda dodgy building, with lots of strange neighbours), across the other side of town. But it’ll be okay for 6 months. I’ll have to move again before baby comes because it’s an attic room and not big enough or safe for a baby.
  • I managed to get through our busiest period of work with having a total breakdown with everything else I’ve been dealing with, which is a miracle!
  • Things have...slightly progressed with boyfriend. He’s very supportive, caring, affectionate towards me. Tells me he loves me all the time. Can’t do enough for me. But refuses to talk about pregnancy/baby and gets very off/angry/quiet/annoyed if I bring anything up. Had a minor breakthrough the other day when he discussed whether a pram could fit in my car and he made some jokes about how to hold a baby. But as of today, we’re back to angry/resentful of the situation and deciding whether he wants to stay or go. I’m sticking to the 12 week deadline though.

I’m portraying him at his worst but I do love him, he’s not a bad person. He’s been through a lot of trauma in his life and it’s really messed him up. He needs treatment (which we’re making progress with). I do, however, understand that these are not excuses for some of his behaviour and I still need to look after myself first. I’m working with my own therapist to maintain some boundaries to keep me and baby healthy.

Anyway, enough rambling! Thank you again for all your support/comments/suggestions, I’ve read them all and really appreciate every single one x

OP posts:
UterusesBeforeDuderuses · 03/04/2019 21:18

Just wanted to say that I read through your previous posts and you sound like such a strong determined person and whether it's with or without your boyfriend, you're going to be a wonderful mum x

NewFitMe · 03/04/2019 21:25

I didn’t want to read and run but my child’s father was similar to yours. Very slow to get excited about the baby. I think he fully understood it maybe a week after we got out of hospital. Didn’t really get hands on till the baby was about 6 months. He’s now 2.5 years old and I’ve separated from the father now. He’s not really bothered about seeing his son though he lives like half a mile away.. he only sees him when I ask him to look after him so I can study. He never asks to see him. Maybe some people are like that. Hopefully your boyfriend is more hands on but it can be difficult for men to understand they are about to be fathers. Anyway I wish you all the best for the future 💐💐

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