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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

I am 7 months pregnant and my husband says hes not as happy as he used to be and wants to be by himself.

110 replies

mrsfoster2010 · 16/07/2018 03:31

I am 7 months pregnant and my husband had been acting very distant with me and weird. The way he was acting made me feel like he didn't love me anymore and was making me act crazy. I even asked him if he was cheating on me. He finally broke down and told me that hes just not as happy as he used to be and that for right now he would just like to be by himself. For the past 5 days he has spent the night at a friends house. I miss him so much! I think he is sort of stressing out about becoming a parent for the first time, as this is our first child. We have been together for almost 4 years and he has always talked about having children with me! I am hoping once the baby is born he will change. Once he sees all the love and that we can be a family. I feel he is depressed and is struggling with the fact he is going to be a parent and loose some of his freedom. I am just feeling alone and sort of depressed. Has anyone went thru a experience like this?

OP posts:
bethy15 · 16/07/2018 11:21

No, women need as much time on their own.

I need an awful lot of time on my own, so I've not had any children yet for that reason.

It's not a man/woman thing. Women who have had babies need and want time on their own too, but they just understand that their lives have changed. OP's husband is just selfish as he's inflicting it on her, multiple times during their lives together.

Scoopofchaff · 16/07/2018 11:21

I think the "need" for space can be felt equally by men and women, depending on whether they are introverts or extroverts. Nothing to do with gender.

And I would respectfully suggest that the time for measured and reasoned debate would have been before the decision was made to have children, not once the op is pregnant. It's hardly measured and reasoned to bugger off once that has happened is it? Therefore why is the op obliged to respond in that way?

As for the Seneca quote, I think many posters are concerned that the op is putting herself at more risk, and making herself and her baby more vulnerable, by being too obliging and understanding of this manchild's feelings.

Of course men are allowed to have misgivings and fears before the birth of their first child - just as women do - it is entirely natural and understandable. But a decent man would stay and discuss his fears with his wife and try and support her too.

Mookatron · 16/07/2018 11:26

@Cambshusband Men “need” ( and I use the term loosely) more time on their own, it’s just physiological, no more or less. - please provide the scientific evidence of this physiological need. You can't because it's shite.

I'm not sure whether to admire you for your guts in coming on here and telling a pregnant woman whose husband's just left her on a site made up mostly of women who have been pregnant, borne kids, and looked after them 24/7 that men need more space than women,or to think you are really, really stupid or actually just a twat.

OP, if you're sure he's not cheating some relationship counselling is probably the way forward. I'm sorry you've been treated so shoddily.

Cambshusband · 16/07/2018 11:40

Ah ffs, I’m pretty sure that I said if he’s being a little bitch she should get rid?

My comments about need space, that’s not me trying to be a dick, I never said that women don’t need space, of course they do, to think they don’t is nonsense. This is based on my work, there’s enough studies out there to confirm it. Again, not trying to be a dick, just going on the research papers I’ve read.

arranfan · 16/07/2018 11:47

going on the research papers I’ve read.

I'd genuinely be interested to read those if you wouldn't mind giving some references, Cambshusband

Cambshusband · 16/07/2018 11:49

Happy to dig them out, they’re all public papers. I will PM them to you.

For what it’s worth, I feel desperately sorry for the poor woman, it’s no way for a man to act.

Mookatron · 16/07/2018 11:49

I'd be interested in those too!

Pandamascara · 16/07/2018 11:52

OP are you ok?

timeisnotaline · 16/07/2018 11:53

I’ve got no time for men who abandon women carrying their baby and think it’s ok to say they need to think about them. I’d get a 3rd party to mediate financial support and tell him it was over. And tell everyone you suspect someone else then when he suddenly has a new gf in a few weeks they will recognise it probably started earlier.

arranfan · 16/07/2018 11:53

Happy to dig them out, they’re all public papers. I will PM them to you.

Seriously, I think enough people might find them of interest that it might be worth dropping them into their own thread if you wouldn't mind starting one, Cambshusband

I've read a lot of positive reports about the Gottman Institute and their research so think this might be a useful resource if you wouldn't mind providing some references to the "need for space" topic.

Cricrichan · 16/07/2018 11:58

How did they measure need?? Do men die if they don't get x amount of hours alone? Were these papers from the time that lobotomies were advised?

I know of 0 mothers who would not love to have a bit more time to herself.

Pacificwander · 16/07/2018 12:04

Op I'd be letting your husband know that while he's entitled to space from you/ the relationship if that's what he's looking for what he can't have space from is his duty as a parent. He'll need to step up and agree to coparenting arrangements in less than two months time.
He cannot go back to how life was as a single man as he now has responsibilities towards a life he helped create.
Time for him to grow up as we all have as parents!

Pacificwander · 16/07/2018 12:10

As for men needing more space awaythan women. Do these men realise woman are human too as are men and all humans need time space and a life beyond pregnancy, parenting, work and life in general.

Let's not generalise that men need more of something than women because you know what some women may be shit while pregnant just as much as some men are shits while their partner is pregnant

We can take time out from our duties but not from our responsibilities!

bethy15 · 16/07/2018 12:13

I'd be interested in those reports too, and who conducted them. Were they men themselves? How did you gauge it? Is it functional after being alone/surrounded by people? Does it factor in that women are just built to get on with things no matter what? I mean the things our bodies put us through every month, and we have to keep on functioning.

MiniTheMinx · 16/07/2018 12:14

It's good to get a man's perspective. I think it's interesting that a man dare not say too much for fear of being told "well you try giving birth"

I think men have been happy to delegate these "life changing events" to women and women for the most part monopolise and take charge. It's perhaps women's work precisely because our only social power resides in this emotional, reproductive labour, and in raising children. Or at least it has been in the past.

Even in our supposedly more equal society women tend to transfix, talk about, plan, support each other, and get excited about these life changing events, most of all involve men, in the centre but most men probably feel peripheral to the process. Brides turn into bridezilla, mum's to be become totally focused on one thing sometimes to the exclusion of their partners.

I think it's underestimated how men might feel this exclusion is a prelude to more of the same......the eventual end point separate beds, lack of sex, getting the blame for everything.

In a more equal society men should be more excited, invested, interested and committed, but they aren't, mostly.

I do though have some empathy with this. I wanted to run away when I was pregnant. It was me actually who feared the life changing consequences. I'm getting married in a few weeks, it's DP who is excited and doing the planning. He is holding my hand reassuring me, because I don't like these big life changing things......there is after all no going back once it's done. I'm probably not alone, there must be other women like me, but who would know.....the pressure to get exited and to plan is hard to avoid.

Maybe try talking to your DH. I think many men especially feel they can't or shouldn't show any anxiety, or that they can't be a damp squib to your bright bonfire. It's ok to feel scared or anxious by the enormity of these changes and commitment. It's how the pair of you deal with it that will set the tone of your relationship. Ultimately though he has a responsibility, and he needs to get his head around it fast.

adoggymama · 16/07/2018 12:15

Fuck him. You don't need him. I'm going through a similar thing. (Minus the pregnant part). Focus on your baby who will love you unconditionally.Thanks

Cambshusband · 16/07/2018 12:15

For reference, the EYM studies are where are lot of the opinions come from.

During the study, on average the actual percentage of women that want more space, is higher, but the sample demographic showed that of the women studied, 72% of them were stay at home mothers so it’s not a straightforward comparison.

It’s too long a study to condense here but do please read it, as it cites giving BOTH partners sufficient space for a healthy relationship. Which I think is something we all want.

Cambshusband · 16/07/2018 12:16

What a well thought out post from minitheminx.

MiniTheMinx · 16/07/2018 12:18

Oh, and men needing more space, why? Do they? That's not been my experience. I need a huge amount of personal and emotional space. I don't like DP interrupting my day dreaming.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 16/07/2018 12:20

OP, my own experiences

My DP panicked when I got pregnant, despite us planning and trying for a baby for over a year. He wanted to me to get rid of the baby, he wanted to break up. It was a miserable time, we struggled on.

When we had our first scan at about 22 weeks (this was years ago), he did a massive U turn and got all excited. Adored the baby when he was born and has been a very enthusiastic father to all four of our kids.

This was 24 years ago, DP has been an exemplary partner and father ever since but part of me has never forgotten how utterly terrified he made me feel when I thought he was going to bugger off and leave me with a baby. I definitely think it contributed to me having difficulties bonding with DS. And of course I lost some love and respect for him.

So what i'm trying to say is; he could well change his mind, especially when the baby is born. But you will probably never feel quite the same about him.

Mookatron · 16/07/2018 12:23

During which study @cambshusband? I'm sure I can access most of them through my Uni library but I can see 60 publications on the EYM project's website, all of them potentially relevant.

Cambshusband · 16/07/2018 12:29

Terri Orbuch & Laura Hagen are the ones that spring to mind, pretty sure you can grab them in SAGE knowledge.

PickAChew · 16/07/2018 12:30

So is he going to just bugger off and cop out of playing at grown ups every time things become a little daunting? What if you have a difficult labour? What if the baby is colicky and hard to settle? What if your baby becomes ill or has developmental problems? Where will he be then? At your side, supporting you, supporting his little family? Or swanning off and sleeping on a mate's sofa and pretending it's not happening?

You have far too much sympathy for him. It's not like you get to choose to opt out when a situation requires a little mental processing, is it?

LimboLuna · 16/07/2018 12:47

How fucking dare he make this about him. Its not about him, its about the baby.
Is he generally attention seeking and manipulative to get his way?

Do not give him sympathy, empathy or gratitude for him showing any interest in you or the baby. He is being a prize prick.

I think you have to be strong and leave him to it, if your brave enough send the text mentioned above.
Honestly, he's showing his true colours. Thing long and hard about how you involve him with the baby and the birth. You need to feel safe and comfortable and is your choice to have him there or not. Do not invite him on the off chance it might be enough to bring him round to the baby. This is a special important time for you and your baby, yet he's ruining it for you. You should be happy enjoying this time and planning, yet he's being a complete arse.

I know someone this happened to, he was having an affair (i know thats not what you want to hear) they've worked it out and have gone on to have more babies, but each pregnancy shes petrified he's going to do it again.

Eminado · 16/07/2018 15:33

Its like before every big life event he like panics and freaks out and does something crazy. Then it happens and he is back to normal. He did it before we got married. *

But why do you tolerate this?
You deserve better.

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