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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

I want to get my feelings about dh off my chest; bit of a long drawn out rant, sorry, feel free to ignore!

244 replies

Mossy · 01/07/2007 13:40

I've been trying my best to get over the way dh acted towards me in the last few weeks of my pregnancy and now ds is born but I'm finding it difficult so just wanted to get it off my chest.

For the last few months of my pregnancy dh withheld sex; he later told me this was because he had found the whole huge, stretchmarked, lying on the couch exhausted in a comfy dressing gown thing a huge turnoff.

As soon as I went one day overdue he started heaping the pressure on for me to be induced. In the end I bowed to the pressure at +15 days (my decision too, as I could see my maternity leave ticking away, but if I'd had more support from him I may have stuck it out longer) and it was horrible.

When ds was born, for the first week he was the doting father, changed nappies, cuddled him, bathed him etc. but as soon as the crying started dh's interest just waned and it was all down to me; especially as this co-incided with his paternity leave ending.

When ds started wanting to bf round the clock at about three weeks (as it was the only thing that would stop him crying) dh's solution was to try and pressure me to ff him.... not so I could get a rest, oh no. So that I could "at least sweep the hall and wash the dishes" because it was the first thing he saw when he came in from work.

Dh was convinced I had pnd and this was the reason why I was in tears most of the time, nothing to do with his complete lack of support and his going on about the housework not being done, and pointing out that I should be doing exercise by now to lose the weight and stop scoffing chocolate in such copious amounts.

So I went to the Dr. and got put on 20mg Prozac a day.

It made it a lot easier for me to deal with ds' constant crying, and with me finally getting some excellent rl bf support, and with him simply getting older (11 wks) his crying has calmed down and he is much happier. So now the housework does get done.

Dh thinks that ds' increased happiness is because "happy mum = happy baby" with the implied criticism that ds was unhappy because I was.

Dh and I sleep in separate rooms, initially this was a week-day arrangement to enable dh to get enough sleep for work, and then we'd sleep in the same room at the weekend and I would feed ds but dh would settle him after a feed. But now it's every day, with the clause that at weekends, dh will take ds off me for two hours to enable me to lie in.

Initially this was bonding time; dh would take ds for a walk around the park in his baby carrier thingy; the last few weekends now ds is happier and less demanding, it has been dh lying on the couch watching telly with ds in his baby bouncer being "good" (i.e. quiet).

Dh does do all the cooking. But even this is because if I cook I might - horror of horrors - not cook everything from scratch and might for example occasionally use a jar of sauce to save time.

And now he keeps making pointed comments about money, and that my maternity leave comes to an end "really soon" (September) and I had better start looking for a job soon (I don't plan to go back to original job).

Now ds is a lot easier to look after, and I can whizz around getting the house work done. It's not difficult, and as for the nights, I just put myself to bed earlier and have learned to feed lying down. So it's not as if dh's actions are putting me out any more. But I just wanted to rant. Not particularly after advice as such; the only question I have really is, what the hell has happened to the loving, supportive dh I had for the first seven years of our marriage?

OP posts:
Mossy · 02/07/2007 15:57

See the thing is bossykate that I find it so hard to reconcile the h of the end of my pregnancy and the start of ds' life, with the dh who I have been with for over seven years.

That h you are right is a cold hearted miserable manipulator... whereas my dh is a fluffy, funny, intelligent, caring man who makes me laugh and is kind and considerate.

He is slightly better now than he has been, but I just cannot forgive him for being the way he was, iyswim. Also I think now ds is better it won't be long before I get "can you just iron this / do this / sort this / etc.?" and the pressure for me to go back to work as well...

OP posts:
Dior · 02/07/2007 16:05

Message withdrawn

Mossy · 02/07/2007 16:11

Oh Dior that is horrible! Do you still want to have sex with him?

I did not know why my dh was withholding sex at the end of my pgcy, until we had our "chat" afterwards and he told me it was because I'd gotten so huge, and because I didn't wear nice underwear or dress sexy any more. ( How does a huge pregnant lady dress sexy?)

And because I just wandered around in the early days of ds being born "without a bra on and in a dressing gown" er, yeah, I was exhausted, and trying to get bfing going and finding it really difficult.

Funny thing is now, he seems up for it again. However the thought of having sex with him now after thinking about what a wanker he was/is ... I just feel a bit ugh about the whole thing.

OP posts:
Dior · 02/07/2007 16:15

Message withdrawn

Mossy · 02/07/2007 16:17

I will have a read of it in a bit, have to go feed ds now he is kerfuffling!!

OP posts:
Dior · 02/07/2007 16:20

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Dior · 02/07/2007 16:21

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bossykate · 02/07/2007 16:31

i do think counselling would be a good idea for you both. i don't see how you can get over your resentment as things stand. i do think you need to tell him what you've told us - that you can't forgive him for being so awful - and given his reaction to these type of discussions in the past i think it would be better to attempt to explore your feelings in a neutral, mediated environment. i think he has bullied you when you were down. very, very hard to forgive i'd say.

bossykate · 02/07/2007 16:33

actually, i think it was worse than bullying. it was blackmail and emotional abuse - and i speak as someone who normally when that term is used on mnet.

TransfiguratingLily · 02/07/2007 18:47

Mossy, communicate with him. If he knew how hurt you are he would probably be sorry which would help you forgive and forget.

You can get through this stage, honestly, no one realises how shocking and life changing a baby can be until it happens.

Mossy · 02/07/2007 20:12

Dior, just finished reading your thread you poor thing... but it does sound like you and your h are in a place where dh & I could end up if I don't nip this in the bud.

Bossykate I do feel like he kicked me when I was down, I feel exactly like that.

Lily I do need to communicate with him how I feel, just not sure when would be a good time, as atm we are actually speaking and there isn't an atmosphere, and bringing it all up again would mean there would be one, iyswim.

Right off to put ds to bed now!! Night night xx

OP posts:
Gig · 02/07/2007 22:03

bossykate- you obviously feel the same as me on this one. I can't believe that in the 21st century, a woman agrees to take Prozac and lose weight in a "deal" with her husband. This man sounds like a complete monster- if you can't see it Mossy, then everyone else can. It's up to you to control this situation- either you set some ground rules for his behaviour and refuse to accept his sulks and his bullying, or you put up with it. I don't know if you love him, but it's worth asking him and yourself if this is the behaviour of a man who loves you-or even knows what adult love and responsibility are- hard that may be to take, but you need to sort out this mess.

foxcub · 02/07/2007 22:16

"I do need to communicate with him how I feel, just not sure when would be a good time, as atm we are actually speaking and there isn't an atmosphere, and bringing it all up again would mean there would be one, iyswim. "

Mossy I hate to get all heavy on you but sulking is a form of bullying

You feel scared to confront him in case he goes into a mega sulk and doesn't speak with you for days. That is bullying

Many moons ago I was in an abusive relationship and that is precisley what the guy did to me - I was afraid to confront him about anything as I knew it would mean a mega sulk for days, which would mean me feeling shit for days tippy toeing around him...

Why don't you try another tactic - just "break" and scream at him like a harpie for 20 minutes - let it all pour out and tell him how you feel and how pissed off you are about his lack of support etc - that would wake him up a bit (works a treat in this house ). A few tears usually heps too

foxcub · 02/07/2007 22:23

To cheer you up: Dr Who

TransfiguratingLily · 02/07/2007 22:58

I don't know, I'm all for avoiding conflict at times. If things are going okay now, maybe getting it off your chest on here is enough for now and when you are secure that things are fine again you could confide in him how hurt you were.
And if he wants more babies you can tell him to bog off unless he behaves better next time!

Dior · 02/07/2007 23:26

Message withdrawn

Mossy · 03/07/2007 07:52

Foxy when I try that tactic it is obviously because I am deranged and therefore nothing I say can be taken seriously.

Do you think sulking is bullying? I hadn't thought of it like that.

Like this morning, he woke up at seven, went downstairs, showered and went out to work with hardly a word. I said, "go on, tell me, what's up, is it something I've done?" and he said "no, it's just a wet Tuesday morning and I've a crappy day at work coming up". Now I know him. And I know that there's a good chance there is something I've done he's pissed off about.

So I rack (wrack?) my brain; is it because his Mum came over yesterday to babysit while I had my driving lesson, and while she was here, tidied upstairs (she is great like that) and he thinks I should have done it and not her?

Has he come on here at all (unlikely but you never know)?

Or is he telling the truth and he's just in a mood because it is a miserable day?

So do I tell myself, right, sod it, I'm not at his beck and call and I'm not going to spend the day mooching about whether or not he's pissed off?

Lily I think you are right, I think I will get it off my chest on here for a bit and then when things are a bit better, broach it in a calm manner, when I have my thoughts collected together.

Dior, is he slim himself btw? Trouble is, my dh wasn't, but now he has lost a load of weight and has been exercising more, so he expects the same from me, iyswim.

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 03/07/2007 08:13

mossy - sulking is most definitely bullying. My DH does it sooo well . I row, shout and then feel better. DH sulks...and finally forces me to row which gives him the high moral ground. Hateful behaviour.

Is there the slightest chance that he might be depressed? From what you say the change in his behaviour is quite extreme.

Gig · 03/07/2007 08:16

MOssy- can I ask you a simple question- and can you give me a simple answer? What are you scared of? Are you scared of losing this man? Is your self esteem so low that you think it is acceptable for someone to treat you like this? To make you feel afraid of saying what you feel- to be ever waiting for the "right moment" when "things are calmer"? What that means is when you feel he won't rant or sulk. Can't you see that this is emotional bullying? WHy do you want to stay in a relationship where someone treats you like dirt- according to their moods? You take ADs so he'll do the housework? You lose weight sohe might love you. If you can't see the situation properly, then it is very, very clear to everyone else.
I am sounding harsh because i want SOMETHING to get through to you- what this man is doing is no less terrible than if he was beating you up every night- he is a monster who is manipulating yoour emotions and making you live on tenterhooks. I'm not going topost anymore onthis because you don't seem to be able to see what I'm saying- it's as if you are in denial over the seriousness of it all.

TransfiguratingLily · 03/07/2007 08:28

Gig, I disagree. Context is important. I think if this was how it always was then yes it shouldn't be put up with, but I think this is just a rough patch with the arrival of first baby (a wonderful but stressful time) in the context of a normally happy relationship.

Who is perfect all the time? I sometimes sulk and give abuse to my dh and sometimes he's a shit to me and we get through it.

Mossy, you haven't got family support so if I were you I would nurture friendships and do your own things a bit. Nothing wrong with being afraid of losing some one you love. It would be a sad thing if you didn't care.

Mossy · 03/07/2007 08:30

Giq I do see what you're saying, but what I have put here is very one-sided.

There are nice things he does too, and I haven't listed any of them because they aren't things I need to get off my chest.

So for example, we went the Asda together the week before last to do the big shop. I saw a fancy shower-gel and mentioned how nice it smelled. (Smelt?)

The next week, he did the big shop on his own, and bought me that same shower gel. He had remembered which one it was and thought to buy it me.

I know that sounds like a trite example, but there are nice, little thoughtful things he does from time to time.

Plus, he can drive, I can't (am taking lessons) so he does do the driving if we need to go anywhere and he doesn't want to do public transport.

What I am scared of is ... well, I am not sure really. I will think on that and get back to you!

OrmIrian he has suffered depression in the past, quite seriously in fact; however it seems a bit different this time so I am not sure.

OP posts:
TransfiguratingLily · 03/07/2007 08:41

Mossy, he is jealous and nose out of joint like most men get when baby arrives. He maybe feels guilty about that and is trying to hide it. He's probably in a muddle. His controlling behaviour probably stems from him feeling out of control.
You probably both need as much reassurance as each other.

Gig · 03/07/2007 08:50

Just make a list Mossy of how many nice things and how many mean things he does. What do you see?

I don't know anything about you, but if you don't drive you are obviously very dependent on him which makes your life a lot harder.

Maybe you need to start making yourself need him less, in all kinds of practical and emotional ways.

maveta · 03/07/2007 09:18

Hey Mossy.. sorry to read your post. I don´t have much advice, you´ve been given a lot of good advice already, just really wanted to add my support..

I think you do know you need to talk to him about how you feel, maybe you could write it down? It always seems like such a cheesy thing to do but it can help. It means you can order all your thoughts properly and write down what is really upsetting you in a calm, ordered way. Hopefully it might avoid the highly charged emotion of a face to face verbal discussion? You can write it and rewrite it until you feel you have a good account of the concrete things that upset you, sometimes this process actually helps you strip away the initial anger and upset so you don´t fling pointless accusations and hurtful comments into the mix that just serve to inflame the situation.

And I think you know that yes, he might get sulky, but you have to take that risk because you NEED to get this off your chest, you can´t let it fester. Remember to tell him the things you loved, and still love about him, that you miss him and they way you both were together so it´s not all negative.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck x

TransfiguratingLily · 03/07/2007 09:19

Sometimes I feel disgruntled and hard done by about my dh and if I moan to one of my sisters she tends to point out how obviously crazy about me dh is and how good he is aswell as his faults. And it makes me feel a whole lot better.
If you focus on all that's good about yourself, your dh and your relationship, focus on the positive and you get more positive. Focus on the negative and that's what you'll see.
I should probably get off your thread! because with dh just having had a heart attack- it puts a different perpective on everything!
I was sulking with dh all weekend and ignoring his calls when he was trying to tell me he was in hospital