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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

15 months postpartum and fed up

4 replies

TappedOutMummy · 22/12/2017 01:16

Hi. I guess I just need to get this off my chest as I feel I'm about to explode due to so much unhappiness.

I gave birth 15 months ago. I'm not a natural and often feel having a child was perhaps not the best decision. My partner was irrationally dead against having children which I thought was over dramatic, but I could live with as I wasn't adamant that I wanted any myself.

Fell pregnant, straight forward pregnancy, partner still attentive was pretty content. We never argued during pregnancy and very rarely prior to. A number of times before giving birth, I asked him to remember that before baby, there was he and I. We should never forget that. Well, he truly forgot, doesn't care about me and I could be a stranger for what it's worth. Literally, his eyes are dead to me, but yet light up light a bulb when he sees his son.

Baby is born and everything has changed.

Early on, I realised I was not totally happy becoming a mother and sometimes felt awful and a failure, but as you do, ploughed on.
I took the full mat leave allowed and although it should have been a time to bond, I did not want to and would only do so to keep up with appearances.
If I can find a reason not to have my son with me, I will use it.

I was raised to not show too much emotion and just carry on so it was a huge deal telling my partner I was not happy about six months or so postpartum. Then I told him that I was depressed. In fact, I told him multiple times in the hope he would take note and get me help. He didn't. I'm growing to resent him.

We're not married but engaged. I suggested it might be sensible to have a few sessions with a counsellor to ensure we're making the right decision and he was against it saying he does not welcome talking to a stranger about his business. In fact, he's not happy talking to anyone including me.

And the usual has happened- childless friends are living life, only one other in group has an older child, local mums groups are either too mummsy/selective/pretentious which frankly, I'd rather not be apart of and colleagues... are exactly that, colleagues.

To say I feel alone is an understatement. I have no idea how I've managed to last this long without walking out. I'm tired and fed up. I average four-five hours sleep which is a huge improvement on what it was! If baby is sick, needs changing, wakes up in general because he does so without fail every single night, it's me who tends to him. I just need to talk to someone who will listen as I've left out so much and I'm so angry.

OP posts:
RemainOptimistic · 22/12/2017 01:20

Birth, recovery and caring for a newborn is trashing even if everything else in life is perfect so please don't beat yourself up.

I can't diagnose over the Internet however it sounds to me like you have undiagnosed PND. Not wanting to bond with your baby - have you ever expressed those feelings to your hv or gp?

hollowtree · 22/12/2017 01:28

Hi OP, this really sounds like depression to me. Finding it hard to get joy out of anything and so on. And your partner sounds really unsuportive so I'm sorry about that.

There is help, please seek it. You will feel so much happier. Parenthood is SO hard but it can be and IS rewarding too, it's not fair that You are missing out on it.

For what it's worth, DH and DD are a unit without me! They are besotted with each other and I am a food source! I worked hard to bond with my baby, it doesn't come naturally for everyone.

You also deserve to be loved as a partner, not just a mother. This is very important, don't forget that you deserve to be happy

SlB09 · 22/12/2017 01:42

Hey, so I wanted to reply as I really felt an affinity with some of what you have said. I am currently being treated for PND (son is 14 weeks) and what youve expressed about your feelings for your son could have been my own. I agree with PP in that it sounds like you have had undiagnosed pnd. I am certainly no mother earth and this baby thing has not come naturally to me at all but it sounds as though your feelings cross the line into depression (which youve admitted yourself). Dont wait for your partner to access help for you, seek it yourself, I am not very far into getting help but believe me things have changed for the better already. Its absolutely nothing you have/havnt done its just one of those things that happend to 1 in 8 of us xx

hollowtree · 22/12/2017 08:07

SIB That's such a great post. Hope you're feeling ok today OP. In my own experience I would have good days and bad, try to use the good to seek help

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