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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

Help me with how I can fix this

47 replies

regularbutnamechangedsorry · 13/03/2019 11:56

I am so so sorry that this is so long...I have written what is in my head so it's all a bit confused so apologies...

I have a six week old new son. It started in labour when I was in the middle of a contraction and my husband answered the phone to his mum and was chatting away when I needed him (awful labour). I said 'seriously, can you hang up', he told me not to be so rude. I said I'm not on the phone to my mum so why do you need to be talking to yours and he stormed out of the birthing suite leaving me alone for 10 minutes. He cane back but didn't apologise.

That same night after our son was born (maybe 3/4 hours after birth) he cried so I got up but I bled, peed all over the floor when I stood up. It wouldn't stop so I ran to the bathroom and jumped in the shower. My husband went to see to the baby and stepped in my mess. He shouted st me saying that I wasn't coping and clearly we would have to get a nanny. He hadn't apologised for this. He cleaned it up so did the right thing.

He had a go at me at me because baby won’t sleep at night - my fault because I let him sleep through the day..all because I asked him to keep lights and sound low at night so baby can make the distinction between night and day. He says I am being pissy with him, he will just leave and it is my fault baby is being like this.

He wants to be involved with all aspects of our baby's care, he wants it to be done his way, but as I'm the SAHM i am doing most of it. But it needs to be his way.

How much more of this can I take? How much of my life to I spend tiptoeing around this man because things have to be done his way? When things don’t go perfectly then it is always my fault. I am not treated as an equal adult in this relationship and having this baby with him is making me doubt everything...I wouldn’t change our baby for the world but is our relationship strong enough? I never imagined that he could be like this ever..

DH is slowly breaking me and I don’t know why and I don’t know if he can see what he is doing? He has had a few days off work and has been helping me but I feel like I am supposed to be so so grateful for any time he spends with baby so I can sleep or shower. I am grateful but when he doesn’t get something done he then puts the blame on me.
I.e, I didn't get that done because I was with our son whist you were sleeping.

Yesterday he swore at me in Tesco because baby started to cry and I was looking at baby clothes. I should have immediately turned to go apparently and he doesn’t understand this, how I could not care our child was crying which is more important than clothes. Baby was crying slightly for about a minute.

He has a go at me constantly for not keeping baby warm enough, not doing his nappy right, not feeding him right. He always says I nurse him with his head down (I don’t). It is constant. Like he is constantly correcting me.

He also expects me to start training to be his assistant for his work (which I have in the past expressed an interest at doing). But he wants me to start doing it now and he expects me to help with no training etc, I should just be able to pick it up and do stuff and if I was really that interested in doing it then I would have shown more interest and would have tried to do a couple of tasks for him by now...when our child was born 6 weeks ago? But the fact I haven’t pushed myself and done more is just because that’s the way I am, I don’t push myself really. He constantly makes me feel like I am not a good enough person. Like me being me just isn’t enough.

And now I am a wreck and second guessing everything I do in case I get criticised. I am losing all confidence in my ability to do anything. I’m walking on eggshells. Yesterday I was scared to choose a table at Starbucks in case I chose the wrong one. I had to think about which table DH would want.

Now this morning I said I was going to put baby down so I could shower as I’m covered in sick. He said he would look after baby so I could shower I said great I will be quick. I took 15 minutes to brush my teeth, shower and get dressed and he was shouting at me for why I was taking so long. It couldn’t take that long just to put some clothes on. Then he lost his temper because he was running out of time to go for a cycle before work. He brought me the breastfeeding tea he made for me as I was feeding (whilst having a go because I hadn’t drank it yet), and knocked over my bag of snacks I have next to me on the table and so picked it up and slammed it down in a temper. It wasn’t that aggressive but it scared me.

I am constantly being told that I’m not eating enough or drinking enough. I get lectured everyday on how I need to have a proper breakfast like eggs, not just a banana which I grabbed. If I don’t know what I’m cooking for dinner then I am not organised enough and when I cook something quick like pasta it isn’t good enough. If I don’t use all the food in the fridge before it goes bad (including all leftovers) I am wasteful and get told off, and if I don’t have stuff in to cook (and I now limit what I get in in case it goes off), I am disorganised. He doesn’t cook really so it is down to me. I must have hot meals 3 times a day so I am doing all I can for breastfeeding, a sandwich isn’t enough, toast isn’t enough. I am constantly being asked if I have been drinking enough water, and being told that it still isn't enough.

He does help out when he is home and not working, he often burps baby etc but I thought that was more so he could spend time with his son rather than helping me out?

There is a lot more stuff that my head is too confused to write down and put into words..

But what do I do? I have no family here at all and no other support..

Is it me? Am I asking too much of him? Am I a bad mum? I know I’m not a natural and I am finding it tough..Baby hates to be put down etc so getting things done is harder than I thought it would be. He is on the boob constantly too. Am I failing? If you have managed to read all of this thank you..

OP posts:
Easterbunnyiscomingsoon · 13/03/2019 12:00

Pack a bag for you and your baby and get to your dm's today.. He is an abusive cunt.
This will be reinforced by every other mner I expect op.
Flowers

helpmum2003 · 13/03/2019 12:08

This sounds awful, poor you. I think you need to get away for a few days to somewhere you will be looked after. Once away from that awful atmosphere you can increase your parenting confidence and make a decision on the relationship.

Having a baby puts massive strain on a relationship and many men do not realise how demanding a new baby is.

It would be worth talking to your HV or GP.

Good luck

CryptoFascist · 13/03/2019 12:10

You're not failing. He's failing in being a supportive and loving partner and father. He is clearly emotionally abusive.
Please read this
www.docdroid.net/py03/why-does-he-do-that.pdf

You need to start planning to leave, he won't change permanently if he's this entrenched in the belief that he's the ultimate authority.

warriorprincessandwidowed · 13/03/2019 12:12

On the phone chatting and told you off foe peeling after your baby was born should have been the cue to leave.

Get a bag packed. And go to your mum's now. Your child will have a miserable with him as a father. Imagine the feelings you have now and your child at 16 doing exams.... this is how your child will feel. He is not right in the head x

DameFanny · 13/03/2019 12:17

What EasterBunny said. He's awful - he's treating you like you're in servitude to both him and the baby - I'm guessing he says 'my son' a lot?

Hideous, patriarchal, abusive shit.

Tamsyn143 · 13/03/2019 12:18

Honestly - I have been here. And I fixed it. My advice is to take a screen shot of your post (or otherwise cut and paste the text) and show him. I believe he won't realise how he's been behaving or the impact it is having on you. New dads can be clueless too. I was in your position: my husband had no idea how overbearing he'd become until I set it out in writing as you have x

regularbutnamechangedsorry · 13/03/2019 12:22

Thank you for reading and replying. I'm British but not in the UK so I'm far from my mum and family. We don't have HV here either...I can't imagine doctors etc here caring, it's much more misogynistic here.

He has since come in from his cycle and apologised. He has said he is sorry and that he is embarrassed. But he also says he thinks I'm not eating enough and it is affecting my milk (we are having to supplement with formula which I'm really upset about). Is this true?

Is this real or are these just teething problems with having a newborn?

OP posts:
Bookworm4 · 13/03/2019 12:25

What an utter wanker. Who the fuck does he think he is? Criticising you as a new mum, giving you no support and if he spares 2 mins you've to bow and scrape your thanks. Kick him into touch, he will wear you down, get out now.

Easterbunnyiscomingsoon · 13/03/2019 12:31

The more you offer your baby the breast the more milk you will produce. Who advised formula top ups?

Robin2323 · 13/03/2019 12:35

Dads can be really clueless.
It's a big change to both your lives.
You're both tired and s baby is such s huge responsibility.
And then chuck in your homones- I bleary remember for baby first 6 months.

Samind · 13/03/2019 12:37

Get out. That is awful. I didn't even want to wash my floors for about 8 weeks after baby was born. Partner helped me as soon as he got home. Ie taking baby so I could get stuff done/shower or do xyz. He's not perfect either and we definitely do have our moments lol but you poor soul. He is continually putting you down when you need built up. Don't question yourself in regards to looking after your baby. He sounds horrible. 💜

Passmeabrew · 13/03/2019 12:41

Ok so if he's so worried about you eating enough, why isn't he cooking for you? Shopping for you? Supporting you? Stress won't be helping your supply either. Your OP sounds horrific and I think you really need to look at the options you have to leave if Im honest

Sunshinegirl82 · 13/03/2019 12:49

My DH made me lunch and snacks and left them in the fridge for me when DS was tiny so I could just grab them. Your DH sounds awful.

What is your situation? Are you in his home country? Do you work normally?

ErickBroch · 13/03/2019 12:52

Can you leave? I cannot see any other way out of this for you. He will not change.

Bluestitch · 13/03/2019 12:53

What are your legal options for returning to the UK? Because if it's possible I'd be doing my best to get back.

Bookworm4 · 13/03/2019 12:56

@Robin2323
You're excusing this as he's tired? Ffs; he's bullying, intimidating and controlling a woman who had his baby 6 weeks ago. Can women stop excusing men's disgusting behaviour. Yeah he's tired; all that energy doing fuck all to help his wife.

Tamsyn143 · 13/03/2019 12:57

I too topped up with formula.
The more you feed, the more your milk will flow. There isn't a correlation to what you eat, but you do need to get enough food, energy and nutrients to keep you going and in good spirits!
It honestly sounds to me like you're both having very normal teething problems. He won't realise how he's behaving unless it's pointed out (as you did - and he's since apologised).
You can Skype a U.K. doctor these days if you want medical support? X

dreichuplands · 13/03/2019 12:59

Your DH sounds fairly grim. Having a baby is stressful but he doesn't sound supportive.
My DH also made me lunch before he left for work, just a sandwich but it showed care for me. Ask him to prepare food for you. You can't work for him at 6 weeks, explain you need proper maternity leave.

Bluestitch · 13/03/2019 13:00

Tamsyn swearing at, bullying, criticising and undermining a new mum until she's too scared to chose a seat in a cafe isn't normal teething problems, it's abuse. And where does the OP say he has apologised please?

Loseitandkeepitlost · 13/03/2019 13:02

Do not blame yourself or doubt yourself. He is a bully. I would be making plans to visit family and get some support. He is an arsehole.

KrisClaire · 13/03/2019 13:05

This sounds so awful I am so sorry to hear about this especially when you have a 6 week old baby. Honestly your partner sounds so horrible to be constantly criticizing you all the time. You have done nothing wrong and he should not be acting that way.

Have you tried talking to him about this?

You need to think if this is going to get better and if you think it is just a temporary thing and maybe if counseling could be an option for your both to figure out whether theres a background to his behavior that you can pin point.

If you believe this is a permeant thing, then I really think you should look into how to return to the UK with your son so you can be close to your family where they can help you and you can escape the controlled environment and have a better life for you and your son.

I hope this helps a little bit, and again I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. I hope this gets better for you

x x

Samind · 13/03/2019 13:23

Just reread your post again OP. Baby is 6 weeks so will not want put down for a while. Babies don't actually realise they're a separate being for a good while and still think they're attached to mother. Feeding all the time is because they have small bellies so basically graze all day. You ARE doing a great job. Whatever you don't feel like doing regards to cleaning or cooking 5000 meals, DONT do it. I was shattered and had to force myself to entertain visitors (all lovely) clean etc and didn't sleep when baby slept as other wise women advised me to do. You need to look after yourself too. It's not normal teething problems btw shouting at and swearing and criticising you AND putting you down is not normal behaviour. The fact you're questioning yourself shows how beat down you are. Loads of self love is needed for you just now.

Tamsyn143 · 13/03/2019 13:29

Bluestitch - I agree, totally. But it happened to me - exactly the same. And by pointing it out and talking it through, my husband realised he too had gone a bit mental with the arrival of the newborn!
No excuses for bullying behaviour - but I am suggesting the poster calls it out first and gives her husband a chance to fix it x

Shoxfordian · 13/03/2019 13:41

You need to leave him. He's an abusive knob. His behaviour is completely unacceptable.

Robin2323 · 13/03/2019 13:48

Dad will be tired as he's working and trying to adjust to the new baby.
It a very stressful time for both parents.
Being tired makes people bad tempered.
Without outside help it's very difficult.
But this is only a phase.
It sounds quite normal for new parents.
I was just the same.

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