Desperately want another baby, husband says no. Heartbroken.

[cremecaramel27]

We have a son who is nearly two and I love him dearly. I have always wanted another child, but my husband says no - he doesn't want to go back to the no sleep stage, and other excuses such as we don't have space, it's a financial burden, another mouth to feed... I'm completely heartbroken and devastated - we had always agreed on two children. I'm in my mid-thirties and considering leaving him as I don't think I can live with a life of resentment towards him. I don't think it's fair to bring up our boy with a mum that resents his dad, but then i also think is it fair to bring him up as a single parent? I don't know what to do. Please help!

[EllenRipley]

Wow. Still feel a bit cheated I missed it. That's nothing @Dahlietta , I once got so confused with the mumsnet app (I'd just downloaded it) that I replied to my own zombie thread from six years prior. I didn't even realise it was me that had started it. I'm much smarter these days...

[Dahlietta]

Sounds awesome. I never get to these resurrected zombies in time to see the codswallop that was posted (and why don't people just weirdly spam threads that are active?)

[BertieBotts]

Nah, it was just someone who'd done a web design course circa 1995. Moving background, odd fonts, random looped video of some skulls on fire

[tribpot]

Zombie thread

[TheBadgersMadeMeDoIt]

Selfish maybe, but not as selfish as someone who feels that way but still brings another baby into the world and isn't prepared to be an adequate father to him or her.

Exactly what I was going to say, Tumble. OP, I think your DH is being honest and responsible. Everyone has the right to change their mind, especially if they made the initial decision without knowing all the facts. And nobody knows all the facts about being parents until they've done it themselves.

That's not to say that you don't have the right to try and change his mind back, of course. But do it openly, calmly and honestly. You are partners, not competitors. And just because you have opposing views does not mean that one of you has to be "in the wrong."

[EllenRipley]

Ooh @BertieBotts I didn't look at the website, what am I missing? Does he cast spells in his silk boxer shorts?!

[MummysMaison]

I wrote a post very similar to this last year. My circumstances are slightly different in that this is 1 second marriage for both of us and my DH had a vasectomy a while ago. He always said he didn't want any more children, when for me this was all i wanted! I had to choose between wanting a baby or being with my DH. Obviously I chose my DH as he is my world and a great man.It took me a while to get over the fact that i wouldn't be having anymore children. It was very hard. I saw babies everywhere. But i got over it, I realised what i did have and threw everything into this.

Fast forward 3 years into our relationship and out of the blue my DH has said we can try for a baby. I was gobsmacked! So it is not necessarily the end of the road for you. Look at what you have got, think about what and who is most important in your life. The best thing is not to pressure your DH into anything. I found the more I pushed the subject, the more he put up a barrier against it.

hugs xx

[BertieBotts]

Ouch, that website my eyes!

Who falls for this shit?

[EllenRipley]

Perhaps you should publish an advert for the great Wizard Priest Ade on a thread that's not four years out of date? Or does he cast retrospective time travelling spells? They're my favourite kind of wizard, so actually, where do I sign?

[downindorset]

I'm not sure I want another DC - we have one DS, nearly 3. I'm 42 and the thought of the baby stage again is not enticing. We're at the stage now where I'm back at work, enjoy nights out with friends and DS stays with GPs for several days at a time a couple of times a year. It's a good balance between adult life freedom and motherhood and I'm not sure I want to rock the boat.

On top of that, finances are not that easy (although we don't struggle) and we only have 2 bedrooms. DS would have a lot more options from a money point of view if we only had one.

None of means we couldn't do it but all of it combined means I'm not gunning for another.

I can relate to the OP's DP tbh.

Is it worth leaving him for? Only she can answer that.

[AlwaysOneMissing]

Perhaps it is these early years that your DH isn't keen on, and when your DS is able to talk, walk, run, have a conversation, play football etc with your DH, he may decide that he could have another DC after all.

A small baby/ toddler is hard work and pretty all-consuming. Once you both come out the other side your DH may get more enjoyment out of the relationship with your DS.

I agree with the pp who have suggested you wait a year or so then re-evaluate things.

Easier said than done though, I totally understand the strength of maternal pull when you crave another baby.

[tumbletumble]

This is a really tricky one. I think it's a bit harsh for posters to assume your DH has checked out of the relationship. I mean, that is one possible explanation but it seems more likely to me that he's just found parenthood more than he bargained for and isn't keen to add to the burden. Selfish maybe, but not as selfish as someone who feels that way but still brings another baby into the world and isn't prepared to be an adequate father to him or her.

[Mu1berryBush]

@ maleview70, I think that is different because you said upfront you didn't want children and you've already compromised by having one. And that is more of a concession than a compromise really.

I'm 42 as well and far from envying men my age that they can go on having children, I feel sorry for them!! I know it's different for women my age who might be trying still, and not have children, but I'd hate to go back to nappies and all of that. I would HATE it. I want to enjoy what's left of young-ish adulthood.

In the OP's case I think it's different. It's not his second time around is it? He only announced after they were married with one child that he didn't want another. tbh in the op's shoes I think he was mentally checking out.

[mumzy]

I'm struck by your phrase "think the issue might be him competing for my attention - with one child it's hard, but with two I think he thinks it would be impossible.". A male relative had a baby with his dw and then changed his mind about a second one for the same reason. he had a pretty ropey childhood and was very insecure in relationships. He found it hard to cope with how much their life changed with having children and couldn't go through with it again. However eventually they did have a second child and he couldn't cope and then had a nervous breakdown. I think your husband isn't being selfish but very honest about his feelings having dc is a major life event which we never known how we will react to it until it happens

[CoolaSchmoola]

"it's difficult when you feel like your husband is withholding a baby from you for purely selfish reasons."

I totally understand the desire for a second child OP - but he could also argue that you want another child for "purely selfish reasons".

You want your husband to do what you want - and are calling him selfish for wanting the same.....

[VoiceofUnreason]

I'm with Cabrinha on this. Everyone is entitled to change their minds several years down the road in any relationship. Because things change and people change over time. It's not a situation where he led you to believe he wanted children, married you and then said "I don't ever want children". And I don't think it's necessary fair to call his REASONS for not wanting another child EXCUSES.

You presumably love this man and wanted to be with him for the rest of your life? That's why you married him I assume. Or can you only love him and be with him if he gives you everything you want?

[Cabrinha]

It does rather sound like you want counselling in order to get him to change his mind!
Yes, there might be more to it - but equally, his reasons are enough. He has no less right to say no, than you have to say yes. In fact, I think "no" has to trump "yes".
I'm sure that's very hard for you - but this talk of resenting him? Do you otherwise have a successful marriage? If your desire for a second child is so much more important than your relationship with him, I think that means you're not in a strong enough relationship where you should be contemplating more children. I know that's very blunt.
I think the age of your child doesn't help - he's growing out of baby age, plus it's when people around you all seem to be pregnant again. I would stop over thinking the resentment and see how you feel in a year's time.

[janelikesjam]

Agree, v. tricky one. I can see how this is hard for you OP, as you both have such a different outlook on this. But if your husband is clear he doesn't want another baby, even if he has changed his mind, I don't think you can "force" him tbh, as he will probably resent you. If its not what you want then perhaps you need to think about other choices...

[maleview70]

Tricky one isn't it.

I am on the other side of this. My DW wants another one. I don't.

When we got together we had a discussion. I said I didnt want anymore children (I had one from first marriage). I therefore said we should split up as it was unfair to expect her to have no children. After a month apart We then discussed things again as she didn't want to break up. I thought about things and agreed that I would have one if our relationship worked out. We married and had a beautiful little girl whom I love very much. I don't however want anymore. I am 42 and just don't want to go through it all again.

I think it's unfair that she keeps bringing it up. I feel like you in a way but the other way. We had a deal and now it's being challenged.

Frustrates me and I'm sure it must frustrate you the same.

Who is right? Me or her and in your case you or your DH?

Like I said a tricky one.....

[AndLibbyMakesThree]

I was in a similar position to you - had one son, really wanted another child, but DP said no. We ended up splitting up, because I knew that I'd resent him so much and didn't feel I'd ever be able to be happy with him - I would just see the man who denied me the second child I wanted so much, and the brother/sister I wanted DS to have.

However, I have to say that at the time our relationship was ok, but not great. If I'd been happy with him in nearly every other way, I might have made a different decision and felt it was better to be with him with only one child rather than leave him and break up our family.

In my case I think leaving DP was the right thing to do (although I knew I wouldn't have another child with anyone else as I was already over 40).

I think Cogito has given good advice, and I'd also second the advice of others and see if you can persuade him to go to counselling - it's got to be worth a try.

[Mu1berryBush]

@heyherewegoherewego, I'm afraid I thought that the 'd'h might not be committed to a future with his wife. He might be thinking that maybe the future is a divorce, not another child and happily ever after with more kids. But a man can't SAY that when the thoughts are still sorting themselves out.

[Mu1berryBush]

Just to pick up on a point you've made, it's not "unfair" to bring him up as a single parent you know. That's not some form of abuse . IF your husband is a good Father he can carry on being a good father from a few hundred metres further down the road.

[lilacbaubles]

unless he will go for counselling and at least dicuss it - then have to have another

Surely there is no have about it, for two people in a relationship it's a joint decision and not one that can be imposed on one person by the other. However, an accidental pregnancy is a different matter to a planned one.