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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

DH and OW's baby. Can he see the baby without seeing OW?

999 replies

Lovelytea · 30/12/2018 19:50

Husband cheated and got somebody pregnant but i decided to work on forgiving him to keep my family together. Would it be possible for him to have a relationship with the baby without having direct contact with the OW?

He confessed what he'd done himself I suspect because she was going to tell me anyway. We split for 6 weeks whilst i decided how to proceed. During this time I had conversations with the OW and I do believe it was just a one night stand that culminated from an EA and that he was no longer in touch with her. He has been transparent ever since.

He bitterly regrets the affair and cut contact with her before he told me what they'd done. Eventually I agreed to stand by him and we're now going through counselling to work through the problems we were ignoring prior to the EA, of which there were a few.

After coming to terms with the reality of the situation I realise the baby needs it's father. As far as our family goes I'm prepared to facilitate a relationship between our DC and their half sibling, I'm prepared to have the baby over our house and for our DC to slowly get to know them. It will be painful but I'd never begrudge an innocent baby a relationship with its relatives on my watch.

The babies mother has told DH in a series of rambling texts that the baby will have nothing to do with our DC and she won't allow them to come to our house. She wants him to spend time at her house with her and the baby if he wants to know him and that our family are to have nothing to do with him or be involved in discussions.

Unfortunately that doesn't sit right with me because she's made it very clear she wants to be with DH. I've seen messages where she has said as much and she's been particularly vile about me and our DC. I don't think I should have to put up with such vitrol after what they've done and if anything it should be me lashing out which im not. Although he has been unfaithful she isn't entirely innocent and is a manipulative, spiteful and so herself.

She isn't interested in being civil and adult about the situation and has done nothing but cause trouble since it became apparent I'd be standing by him. She was expecting me to leave him and for him to go and be with her and the baby. He has said he wants no contact with her whatsoever but does want to see his baby which I think he should.

So my question is, is there any way he can have a relationship with his baby without having to have direct contact with her?

We're trying to repair after what he did and quite frankly I cannot stomach the thought of him spending any time alone with the woman. I don't want to break up my family so please don't tell me to LTB as for now I've decided to try to make it work. It's been a long and painful period of deliberation but for now I'm satisfied that I've chosen what's best for my family.

A relative dealing with hand overs? A contact centre perhaps? If he took her to court would they support his stance of not wanting to speak to her? Is that even possible?

The baby is 2 weeks old now and he's yet to meet him.

OP posts:
DBML · 01/01/2019 17:18

*OP cannot control the OW or demand obedience from her. OW and her newborn can do as they see fit.

I said similar upthread and it’s a point that needs repeating because many posters, and the OP, haven’t grasped it.*

Oh I agree...no one can force OW to do anything but what she feels comfortable with for her and her baby....however, in this case OW may just have to realise that until baby is old enough to have visits with dad unaccompanied by her or with a mediator, then she may well just be doing her own thing, on her own.

tararabumdeay · 01/01/2019 18:09

Sometimes it's better for all concerned if the sperm donor walks away after the initial trauma.

I had a friend who was such a prolific tart he had five children by different women within the two years he left his family of two.

In this case, however, there still seems to be a desperate need for contact from OW, Sperm Donor and his wife on behalf of him and her DC.

OP Lovely tea please back out and take him for every penny for what he's done to you.

I'm sitting here with the man I've stuck by for 30 years. If I ask him to do anything he's nasty so I don't anymore. He's not earned a penny in the last 15 years, I do, but still argues with me about money.

He's here; warm, his sons around him, food in the cupboard, a roof over his head and a car on the drive. We both came from 'broken' homes so I suppose we've stuck together for the children.

Look out for what you're signing up for OP Lovelytea. This is not what you wanted.

MariaNovella · 01/01/2019 18:14

OW may just have to realise that until baby is old enough to have visits with dad unaccompanied by her or with a mediator, then she may well just be doing her own thing, on her own.

If the OP’s DH wants to see his new baby, that will happen on the OW’s terms ie the DH will visit the OW and baby alone.

deepwatersolo · 01/01/2019 18:29

Maria not sure courts will see it like that until the kid turns 18. Be this as it may, this insistence by OW may well cost the kid a relationship with daddy, who as things stand has no interest in seeing the kid on OW‘s terms. OW‘s call. OW‘s responsibility.

MariaNovella · 01/01/2019 18:30

The court will have nothing to do with it as the DH is not on the BC.

MariaNovella · 01/01/2019 18:32

For as long as the DH is not on the baby’s BC, the OW can do exactly as she pleases with her baby.

deepwatersolo · 01/01/2019 18:34

The mere insistence of ‚at home, alone‘ would ring allarm bells, were I DH, as OW could accuse him of all kinds of nutty shit. After having demonstrated OW is ready to go to great lengths to drive OP out of the marriage, why expose oneself to such risks?

MaisyPops · 01/01/2019 18:34

I don’t think the DH should go to ow house. I don’t think DH should bring the baby home to his house. Both need to compromise now.
This is very true.
And the OW wanting her married ex lover alone, wanting to limit interaction with their child's siblings etc will only show her up to be manipulative and willing to use her baby as a way to 'win' the pick me dance.

The OP sounds lovely and by far more reasonable than the baby's parents right now. The way I see it is there are ways to work in the best interest of the baby which may be inconvenient or awkward on both sides but put the baby's needs first. If her mother (or father) won't do that and her mother is more bothered about trying to get into bed with her ex then that paints them in a bad light.
One day, if all evidence of being reasonable is saved, the child can make their own mind up about their parents.

MariaNovella · 01/01/2019 18:35

Maybe. But the OW really does hold all the cards in this negotiation if the DH wants to meet his new baby.

deepwatersolo · 01/01/2019 18:37

Maria yeah. Her baby, her responsibility, her financial baby. It very much looks like DH is ready to live with that. (He didn’t exactly encourage OW to continue the pregnancy, to be blunt).

deepwatersolo · 01/01/2019 18:37

Financial burden.

MaisyPops · 01/01/2019 18:37

maria
I agree she does.
So the onus is on her to be reasonable and put her baby ahead of wanting to bed her ex.
If she is more bothered about scoring points with her ex and trying to sabotage her ex's attempts to rebuild his marriage then when the time comes and the child asks why dad wasn't around then dad can show all the texts/emails/letters/offers of supervised visits/offers of visitation centres/offers of mediation (assuming he does all that). Then the child can see for themselves that their mother was more bothered about her love life than them seeing their father.

funinthesun18 · 01/01/2019 18:38

UGH. What a rat he is.
You owe him and the OW fuck all. Just think, if you stay with him then in the future you will be expected to give up part of your time/money/resources etc.. for their child, and pretend that everything is ok when it’s not. No doubt you will be left to do all of the “stepchild related” cooking, cleaning, school runs etc.. like a mug.

By staying with him you’re just making his life easier practically and financially because you’ll be keeping his house and his bed nice and warm while he buggers off out to meet up the OW. You’ll be bringing income in which will mean he will still have more money even if he’s paying maintenance for the child with OW. If it was me I would just focus on me and my children and leave him to sort it all out himself. Oh, and definitely claim maintenance from him! He’ll be ruined.

ittakes2 · 01/01/2019 18:39

I think you are an amazing human being trying to help this baby. Get some legal advice on your position with parental rights - would the citizens advice be able to help? Get some therapy - also you might consider the OW’s just had a baby and is pretty hormonal - maybe she will take a different view in the future.

MariaNovella · 01/01/2019 18:40

Sure. The negotiation card that the DH has is £££. If the OW wants child support, the DH can use £££ as a negotiation position.

tararabumdeay · 01/01/2019 18:41

This wasn't just an EA or, indeed, a ONS.

In times of troubles I could forgive a ONS and did. One time I bought him a Triumph Motorbike. He went down the pub and gave a girl a lift home before I'd even ridden it myself. The girl in the pub live 200m away. I had a go at him, it didn't happen again.

The flipping backtracking, arguments because I accused him, justifications - looking back it's comical!

MariaNovella · 01/01/2019 18:42

I think you are an amazing human being trying to help this baby.

I think the OP needs to stop prioritising the OW’s baby, which is not her responsibility.

TwistedStitch · 01/01/2019 18:44

Tbh if OW wants child support she just has to contact CMS.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 01/01/2019 18:46

I agree, especially as neither of its actual parents seem to be focused on the baby's best interests. OP needs to look after herself and her children.

deepwatersolo · 01/01/2019 18:47

What would CMS do?

TwistedStitch · 01/01/2019 18:48

She can start a maintenance claim with him and they will contact the father.

MariaNovella · 01/01/2019 18:50

If the OW claims maintenance through CMS it will make it much easier for the DH to pursue access through the courts, on his terms. The OW will reduce her negotiation position.

TwistedStitch · 01/01/2019 18:51

Maintenance and access are completely separate. It would make no difference to his position in court at all, especially if paternity is not disputed.

MariaNovella · 01/01/2019 18:52

No. Remember that, currently, the DH does not exist in the baby’s life.

deepwatersolo · 01/01/2019 18:53

CMS will ask for a DNA test, as DH is not on the birth certificate. Are you sure once paternity is established, there is no way for DH to be granted the lawful standing of a father, Twisted?
I very much doubt courts allow OW to have her cake and eat it.