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Relationships

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

Friend sending my husband post after I have had miscariage and ectopic pregnancy

97 replies

Monday2018 · 05/02/2018 14:08

I have had 5 miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy. I told my husband I couldn't do it anymore and that I didn't want to live anymore because it just made me feel inadequate and low, a part of my dignity as a woman was lost as I consider myself a failure. But I couldn't go thru with ending it - I didn't have the guts and I know I must keep going for our 7 year old daughter - she's truly amazing and deserves to have her mum there.

This pain hurts so much and I though that my husband wouldn't want to cause me anymore pain. I found out a couple of months after the ectopic that our so called friend was sending my husband porn. It was joke stuff in the beginning but I told my husband that I didn't want him viewing that stuff, be it joke porn or not. I still had my suspicions as he stopped sitting on the sofa by me in the nights and would always be on his phone, taking it where ever he went. I asked him outright at least twice if he had been sent more or had viewed any more naked women or porn. He would tell me to shut up or say no.

I had enough one night and I asked to borrow his phone to order our daughters xmas present. He had an awkward face and responded with where's your phone. It's flat I replied and so he past his phone to me. I went to screen snap the order and save it in his photo gallery. I found porn there and as I explored further there was another 12 more images of naked women which our so called friend had sent him and then another which his other mate had sent him again consisting of naked women. I was disgusted, hurt again and past the phone back to him calling him a pervert and telling him to get out of the house. The only person I looked to for support and comfort has now stuck the knife in further and I felt completely broken.

He texted our so called friend and asked him to stop sending him porn as I didn't like it. I then asked if he had viewed the videos that he was sent. Yes he replied. I asked him why when I had already told him that I didn't want him to view that stuff. I don't know, all men do it he said. So I asked why and what did he get out of it? Nothing he replied. I asked him if he would be ok with me viewing other naked men, No he replied and so I asked him why it was ok for him to do so. He was angry and shouting. I said that I need to know because if he isn't ' getting want he needs from this relationship then we obviously have problems that we need to deal with. He told me to shut up and that out marriage was over months ago. I told him to leave, as I now felt like I was possibly being used. Why stay if you think the marriage is over? FYI, He's had two failed relationships previous to ours. He said I was over-reacting and that he wouldn't view it anymore and had told his friend to stop sending it.

The following day I told him it was best to pack his bags and pointless staying in a relationship he says was over months ago. He said he had only said that in the heat of the moment because we were arguing. Don't know what to believe, my head is in bits.

After this he has been leaving his phone lying around a lot and isn't on it so much now, so our relationship started to improve a lot. But I found myself checking his phone. There was no more porn for over a month, but then that same so called friend of our sent him another image of a women's genitals. I wanted to know if my husband would tell me the truth about this and I asked him if he had heard anything from the friend. He replied no only happy new year. Again I was upset that he blatantly was lying to me. I told him that I had seen the pic and called him a lying, throwing my wedding rings away and telling him I wanted him to leave. I sobbed and have never felt so down in my entire life. He told me I had problems in my head and that I was blowing it all out of proportion. Later on my husband showed me that he replied and asked this friend again to stop it because he know he was getting him into trouble. As this was the second time this friend had been asked to stop sending it, I then messaged his wife to ask if she could speak with him and ask him to stop because it was causing so many arguments between us. She replied and told me that she totally agreed and wanted their chat site stopped herself, that I was a good person who had been thro far too much already and that she would speak to him. This friend then messaged my husband and said his wife had been told and had gone nuts. He then blocked me on messenger.

I have tried hard to improve our relationship as I understand that because I was feeling so down after the miscarriages and ectopic that maybe I wasn't so switched onto his needs. Our relationship has started to improve and we do have some happy times now, but I still find myself overcome with feeling up-set, hurt and sometimes questioning the trust between us.

Is it normal for married men to act in this way and view porn? Am I over-reacting? Any advice would be great - thanks.

OP posts:
hungryhenryshouldeatelsewhere · 05/02/2018 17:28

@NaturalWoman convenient that you won't share the reasons isn't it.

NaturalWoman · 05/02/2018 17:56

hungryhenry well it's not really a secret, it's just not really relevant. My point was more about how the sex was better with a man who doesn't watch porn for many reasons. And I think you can tell the difference. I've been able to.

But if it is important, he's autistic. His feeling is that sex should be between people who love each other. He thinks porn is just wrong. It's something he feels quite strongly about and he's not prone to lying.

I suspect I wouldn't be able to tell if someone looked at something a bit low key every other month or so, but a regular 'consumer'? Can tell a mile off. And I would end a relationship because of it. It's disrespectful and the sex is crap.

picklemepopcorn · 05/02/2018 18:22

I haven't read the whole thread. I wanted to echo those who have said they are glad you chose to stay for your daughter.

I also wanted to say that you have not over reacted. I would feel the same way. I haven't, and wouldn't watch porn. I have in the past read some erotic literature, but that is created without using other people IYSWIM.

His lying, his disrespect, his anger and his hypocrisy would upset me.

It is up to you whether you want to get past this. I think you should do couples counselling. You have had a very hard time, and some support may help.

BrendasUmbrella · 05/02/2018 18:54

It's the same as my friends sending back and fore to please pictures of Kit Harrington etc.

No, it's not the same, unless they are sharing photos of Kit's ballsack and arsehole?

I think adults in platonic friendships sending each other their favoured wank material is grim.

BrendasUmbrella · 05/02/2018 18:56

I find it ridiculous that you'd end a relationship over a man watching porn

Yet it seems like he might have ended their relationship if she had been watching it...

Whatwouldkeithrichardsdo · 05/02/2018 18:57

OP, have I totally missed the part where you said why you are the only one working? Do you mean 'working on the relationship' or 'working for a living'?

May I ask, if your partner isn't working, why is this?

What is your partner doing, day in and out, to rebuild your trust?

Is he just sitting there wanking off to grim little pictures his mate sends him when you are the only one out working and also dealing with some MH issues at the same time?

Sorry to be blunt.

Lovely456 · 05/02/2018 19:07

Not all married men watch porn!
I have to say my husband has 0 porn on his phone, All men are different as are women.

iammargesimpson · 05/02/2018 19:16

I'm.really surprised that some posters think porn is normal and the op shouldn't have an issue with her dh watching porn. I couldn't imagine anything more hurtful than my dh getting off on porn while I contemplate suicide.

And no, not all married men watch porn.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 05/02/2018 19:22

I’m sorry for all you’ve been through, OP, and that your husband has been less than understanding and supportive. FWIW, YANBU about the porn. I would not accept this in a relationship either, and I’d want nothing more to do with the “friend”.

MrsPonder · 05/02/2018 19:26

Watching pornography has become normalised by society but it is not normal. It is grim and can drive a wedge as OP describes between a couple. The DH becomes so absorbed in his fantasising that he no longer desires the company of the woman he is with in real life, that is a problem. But many people like to say is is normal because it makes them feel better and not have to face the reality which is the sordidness of the situation.

Onecutefox · 05/02/2018 19:27

*Yes, it's normal for married men to watch porn. Yes, it's normal for married women to watch porn. I don't understand what's upsetting you about his friend sending him some pictures of women. It's the same as my friends sending back and fore to please pictures of Kit Harrington etc.

I think you have some deeper issues you need to address*

Really? No, it's not normal. It's rather infantile.

Valerrie · 05/02/2018 19:32

Infantile? You know infants that watch porn? How bizarre.

I don't say it's normal because I feel I have to. It's because it is mostly normal. I love porn, each to their own.

spugzbunny · 05/02/2018 19:35

@Valerrie ... same! I have a vagina (vulva) and yet I still quite enjoy looking at others! And all the other bits on both sexes.

spugzbunny · 05/02/2018 19:36

@MrsPonder LOL!! Let me just go get my pearls so I can clutch them. Also you are assuming only men watch porn? I think you are missing out!

Valerrie · 05/02/2018 19:52

I think she is also a little delusional. My DH still wants me just as much as always and has not become "absorbed in fantasising" and neither have I.

We just enjoy a wank and a porno every so often. It's fun. Try it.

fantasmasgoria1 · 05/02/2018 19:54

Deal breaker for me. My fiancé doesn’t watch porn this I 100% know. When single he did but not very much as he isn’t that bothered about it. He knows and agrees with my reasoning and if he wants sex then 99% of the time I want to also.

MrsPonder · 05/02/2018 19:56

Spuz - I'm perfectly aware women do as well, just as grim and no thanks, I am not missing anything. You can keep it all to yourself.

diddlemethis · 05/02/2018 20:02

Who the hell thinks it's normal and ok for your "friend" to send your partner porn?

It's no where near acceptable behaviour. I am staggered that anyone might think so.

Changedmynameo · 05/02/2018 20:02

How can anyone know 100% their partner DOES NOT watch porn though?
I also don’t think it’s the same as having sex, you could be in the mood to watch porn but not want to have sex/vise versa.

Helmetbymidnight · 05/02/2018 20:07

It's like sending pictures of your favourite celebrities face apparently.

Lovely456 · 05/02/2018 20:10

How can anyone think that EVERY MAN does changedmynameo? People have different sex drives different things that interest them.

hungryhenryshouldeatelsewhere · 05/02/2018 20:11

My husband watches porn, makes no secret of it, and our sex is great. I don't see how there's a correlation. Maybe in your case, but you can't suggest that men who watch porn are bad in bed.

Valerrie · 05/02/2018 20:12

No one said every man does, did they? It is normal though. The vast majority do, I'd say. Certainly everyone I've been in a relationship with has.

I don't think I could be with someone who didn't enjoy porn.

MouseClogs · 05/02/2018 20:14

I think a lot of people are very naive about the extent to which men watch porn. I've lost count of the number of partners of male friends that swear up and down (and are clearly 100% sure) that their partner doesn't watch porn when I know for a fact that said partner does. Whether or not it's right (and in honesty I think that's a very complicated question in itself), men that don't watch any porn are very thin in the ground.

However - his mate repeatedly sending him porn shots that he saves to his mobile camera roll is definitely weird. And his hypocrisy (no you can't look at naked men but I will continue to blatantly take time away from you to watch porn even when you're suicidal) is revolting.

Helmetbymidnight · 05/02/2018 20:16

I think a lot of people in their twenties and thirties have no idea about the lives of people in their forties, fifties, sixties and seventies- but they don't let that stop them making their generalisations.