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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Is This Domestic Abuse?

10 replies

gentlemansfamily · 22/08/2017 01:07

Hi Everyone,

I am new here and need some advice as I am at my wits end with my husband. I am currently 29 weeks pregnant with second child. Me and DH has been married for 7 years and have a 2 year old DS. Both children were concieved using IVF for which I paid for myself and travelled to Barcelona for.

Can I also add to my story, that I am a recovering alcoholic with nearly 11 years sober. My DH was with me when I was drinking and saw the extent of it.

Over the last 2 and a bit years, since just before the birth of our son, he has been verbally abusive to me. We both work shifts and before our son was born, I attended AA meetings on the evenings he was at work in order that I could spend some time with him and also because he seemed to disapprove of me going to AA since I first walked through the doors in 2006.

When I finished work for maternity leave in 2015, I went meetings every day. Then when our son was born, I attened infrequently as he would not support me to go branding it a "cult" and refering to meeting as "stupid selfish pointless meetings". When our son was born he was generally snappy and nasty to me constantly critizing the everything I did and repeating calling me selfish. This continued on and off until about Christmas of 2016. When things were good between us, they were good.

At the begining of 2017 things seem to settle a bit and in February I had another cycle of IVF which has resulted in this pregnancy. When I was about 7 weeks pregant, he swore at me, blamed me for our son having a fall and called me a "f**king idiot". His brother is a real troublemaker and says things about me that arent true (e.g that I am still drinking, flirting with other men, that I ruined everyones Christmas one year with my low mood etc) he is also telling everyone that me DH is having an affair with a former work colleague. My DH always stuck up for me when his brother was behaving like this but in the last year or so, he has been sticking up for his brother and just dismissing me.

Anyway, I think the final straw of all of this came at the weekend. I had not been to a meeting in a month and on Friday night I just decided to get up and go. During the day, I had noticed pain under both ribs which got worse by the time I came home. I told my DH about this as I thought it could be a sign of pre eclampsia and he told me not to be so "self-indulgent" and its not all about "poor old me". He then made reference to the "stupid selfish pointless meeting" I was at. On Saturday and Sunday he told me the pain was rib pain from the baby kicking and that I was only thinking pre eclampsia as worse case scenario out of attention seeking. I also feel that he just generally doesnt care and definity doesnt support me. I confronted him about his behaviour and attitudute towards me, I put our DS upstairs and tried to talk reasonablly to him and he told me he didnt want to talk and to leave him alone and that I havent changed in the 11 years I have been sober and that is something to discuss at my "stupid selfish pointless meeting".

I am due to finish work in September for maternity leave and plan to take a year. His mother in law and sister in law help look after our DS and he also attends a day nursery which is flexible. Over the last few months, my DH has been telling me that I will have to give up work completely and as they will not be able to look after 2 kids. I know 4 girls at his nursery who will do babysittting after hours to accommodate us but my DH wont have them in the house. I feel he is doing this to try to manipulate me into leaving my job.

I really feel that I want to leave for the sake of my children more than anything but I dont know where to start or where to go (my family are a bit dysfunctional and not very supportive). This is the first time I have spoken about this and really need some advice. Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Sarikiz · 22/08/2017 05:41

Well done on staying sober for 11 years. AA meetings as you well know are not a cult your DH is a total dick.
This is abuse no doubt about it. I dont understand why you had a second child when he is so vile and unsupportive.
You need to get away from him. Womens Aid will help you. I am sure if you also spoke to a person you trust at AA they would offer support.
First you need to speak to a family solicitor. A lot of solicitors give up to an hour free of charge.
Dont stop going to AA you will need them at this stressful time. Good luck and all the very best to you

Salene · 22/08/2017 06:19

He is awful and you and your children deserve better to be honest. He certainly isn't a roll model for them with behaviour like that

As for being a ex alcoholic, addiction is a life long battle and you should absolutely attend AA meeting if that's what works for you, ignore that pig ignorant idiot. Staying sober is your main priority for you & your kids, please stick with AA and personally I'd walk away from that man. He is only going to drag you down.

SpiritedLondon · 22/08/2017 06:55

Well what weird behaviour. Firstly why would you be so critical of something that has clearly so helpful for you to remaining sober? Is he a drinker? Sometimes when somebody gives up something it hi-lights our own shortcomings and makes us feel uncomfortable ( like friends who try and get you to have a cigarette when you've quit). Perhaps you know your own mind more now you're sober and rely on him less. Secondly, why would he not be concerned when you were feeling unwell while you're pregnant? I had a couple of falls while pregnant and my DH was as anxious as me while we were waiting to get things checked out at the hospital. Lots of being taken care of and cups of tea. What does your DH do to take care of you? Any foot massages going on? Said anything nice to you recently? I'm afraid it sounds like he doesn't want baby number 2 and I don't think he's going to be a supportive figure to have around either from the viewpoint of father / partner or from the view of your sobriety which is clearly going to be crucial when you have a young family.

Toddlers4HenDos · 22/08/2017 07:03

Your sobriety is admirable and a real achievement. Well done.

Your situation sounds dreadful and yes his behaviour sounds abusive at every turn.

My XPs abuse ramped up with every child. In fact I was in labour with dd2 and he was shouting at me and being very abusive. Hideous.

You will find being a SP without this Guy a massive relief. Life is so much lovelier on the other side. I don't have family here. I work ft. A good childminder has been a great support. You have your AA support in place too.

Re the leaving perhaps Women's Aid would be useful to talk too. Also lots of knowledge her re what info to access/copy etc.

You've got this OP. You can do it and things will be much better without your H constantly undermining, belittling and abusing you. X

Toddlers4HenDos · 22/08/2017 07:05

Did you get to the docs to check re pre eclampsia?

Toddlers4HenDos · 22/08/2017 07:07

Spirited it's not weird behaviour for an abusive arse. It's classic, tick all the boxes, ramp it up while she is PG, abuse.

SandyY2K · 22/08/2017 07:12

He sounds awful and yes he's abusive. Don't give up your job and be dependent on him, because you'll be in an even worse situation.

Have you actually spoken to your MIL and SIL about looking after the new baby, or is he just saying this to control you?

SpiritedLondon · 22/08/2017 07:12

You're right. It's weird behaviour for a "normal" person!

debbs77 · 22/08/2017 07:54

He sounds extremely jealous of your successes and is trying to put you down to make himself feel better.

Goodness, you travelled to Barcelona and did IVF on your own (or with no support) you can certainly do this!!!!

pallasathena · 22/08/2017 08:01

Its time to call time on this relationship OP. You deserve and your children deserve a far better life that the one you're currently in. If you can sort out IVF for yourself twice, you are capable of anything!
Make a stand, get those ducks in a row and leave the twat. The thought of children growing up with a father like him makes my flesh crawl...

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