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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

6 weeks pregnant and partner wants me to terminate, not sure what to do

499 replies

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 17:15

I would really appreciate advice on my complicated and stressful situation. Please bear with me on the back history because I think it is relevant for understanding why i'm in the situation I am now in.

I am 34 and a half and I have been with my partner for 9 years (first 5 were long-distance but lived together for 4). We have a happy, relaxed drama-free relationship in most respects. In the early years I would occasionally ask about children and he would say 'yes probably in the future, not now'. Four years ago after some blood tests for something else I was told I had low ovarian reserve for my age (30 at the time) and advised to do prviate IVF if I could afford it (I couldn't). I was in shock but after lots of discussion my partner agreed I could come off the pill to see if it happened naturally. Three years later, lots of sex and no pregnancies, I went back to the GP and they sent me to the hospital for tests etc, and was referred for NHS IVF.

At this point my partner freaked out and said he wasn't sure he wanted children yet. We then spent several months agonising over it. With a lot of persuasion (with hindsight, I can see this is where I went wrong) and him changing his mind several times he agreed to start IVF in November 2018, and by the end of the process he seemed quite 'in it' and wanting it to be successful, mainly to make me happy I think. However, it failed. This then brought up more difficult conversations about whether to have another go (we had 2 frozen embryos). He asked for time to think about, which I gave him, thinking that probably he would come round to it post-Brexit (he works in that area and has a lot of work stress). This brings us up to March 2019.

Then, three weeks ago - in the course of an argument about something else - he said he had decided he probably didn't want children. I was devastated and suggested we have some time apart to think about what to do. He agreed time apart would be good and said he wasn't sure how much it was the stress of the IVF but he wasn't feeling as happy in our relationship and felt I was angry with him a lot (I suppose I was a bit as I was so worried about missing my chance to be a mother), although this was the first time he'd mentioned it. We spent a few days talking and crying a lot and he started looking for a shared flat to move to.

Then... I discovered I was pregnant (conceived before his 'decision'). So after several years of believing it would only happen through IVF, we're suddenly pregnant naturally, which was a huge shock to us both. Neither of us believed that could happen.

He did not take it well at all. He wants me to terminate and feels that he had decided not to have children, so we can't proceed. He says if I proceed we will have to separate and there is no chance of us parenting together as a happy family. He thinks a child will ruin his life and that he won't love it as he ought to. He thinks it's completely wrong for a child to be brought into this messy situation.

So here I am, 6 weeks pregnant and scared. I never imagined myself as a single parent and don't have much family support nearby. I do however have a flat that I own and a part-time job so will get some maternity pay. I'm 35 this year and worried that if I terminate this pregnancy I might not get pregnant again, even if I were lucky enough to meet someone else who wanted children.

My initial reaction to the pregnancy was shock but also happiness. But now he has said this I am terrified of doing it alone, and am not sure I'll manage it. Also, I wonder whether he's right, and its unfair on the child to proceed. I don't want to be selfish. It worries me the child would have separated parents and no siblings. None of this is what I imagined.

He has agreed to talk to a counsellor but tells me not to hold out any hope of him changing his mind.

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you for reading such a long post.

OP posts:
BumbleBeee69 · 30/03/2019 21:37

I'm actually quite anxious for your well being OP. This is now a very desperate man, will he harm you in any way ?
I know it sounds extreme but he is going to extreme measures by threatening suicide. Please get him out and do not tell him you are keeping the baby until he is gone and out of your safe haven. Change you locks too. Flowers

Grumpelstilskin · 30/03/2019 22:01

Being a cynical moo and having had an abusive and extremely manipulative ex who despite several suicide threads is still very much alive some years on, I will take it with a pinch of salt. I’d nip this essentially controlling behaviour in the bud. If he brings up his threat of killing himself if you go ahead again, I’d ask him if he could take out some life insurance policy first and make it look like an accident, so at least, it won’t be in vain…

Grumpelstilskin · 30/03/2019 22:01

*threats

Petitprince · 30/03/2019 23:03

Yes, I'd be careful around him too. He sounds very selfish and as though he might not worry about hurting you and the baby if it stops him having to be financially inconvenienced. If he really is suicidal he could try to take you with him.

Oliversmumsarmy · 30/03/2019 23:07

Only read up to the

He says he is only looking for a flatshare on the assumption I'm terminating the pregnancy and we need time apart to think about the future of the relationship. He says if I'm not terminating then there's no point him moving out because it would be illusory, he's locked into our life and locked to the baby and he won't be able to afford to move out even though he'll be completely miserable

At this point I think I would have said to him

“Oh do F. Off with your twisted manipulative
Bull Shit*

Any chance if when he leaves to go to work to change the locks and dump his stuff outside and send him a text to say he doesn’t live their anymore.

Oohgossip · 31/03/2019 08:42

Here’s an idea - if he’s worried suck about being a bad father.... I don’t know, maybe try...,. Being a good one????

WhoKnewBeefStew · 31/03/2019 09:25

Just read the whole thread OP and firstly you are doing brilliantly Flowers

Firstly the whole single mother thing is a doddle, compared to parenting with someone who’s not on board with the baby... actually having a 1 to 1 relationship with your child is very rewarding and you’ll be able to build a strong bond.

As for your bf. sounds like he thought you’d terminate. He’s now thinking of his own financial gains. He’s backed himself into a corner being convinced you’d terminate and now he’s trying to dig himself out of a hole. He’s seeing his life in a flat share. There is also part of me that thinks there is no flat share, he’s just trying to scare you into a termination.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 31/03/2019 09:27

Also I think the only reason you had such a great relationship before this happened was because you always towed the line...

However, ha e you noticed that the big decisions you could never resolve, such as this and getting married??? Is it because he’ll NEVER compromise

GreenTulips · 31/03/2019 09:37

WhoKnewBeefStew

I think it goes deeper than this, no marriage, not of the mortgage, or house deeds, etc

I think he got lucky with OP and got comfy - why change? Now OP has seen the light and he’s being kicked to the curb showing his true colours

Don’t be surprised op when your happy news comes out that his family say ‘I’m surprised you stayed with him so long’ it’s a bit of an eye opener

I hope his family will be there to support you - there’s no reason why they wouldn’t be

Nat6999 · 31/03/2019 09:57

Just get him out of the flat any way you can, even if you have to resort to changing the locks while he is at work. If he stays, he will be a millstone round your neck forever, make a clean break & concentrate on you & your baby. You don't need him.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 31/03/2019 10:18

^ this, a million times this.

Just get him out, it doesn't matter how, pretence of "having a break" is fine, but get him out of your house and get the locks changed.

There is no way you can do a lone parent co-habiting with the "absent" parent for the next X years!

DragonMamma · 31/03/2019 10:33

Slightly different situation for me, OP but I had all the emotional blackmail, suicide talk with my ex DP when I found out I was pregnant. He used to wake me up in the middle of the night to tell me how I was ruining his life.

He and his mum booked me an appointment for a termination and ganged up on me after I refused to go for the procedure (I had gone to the initial appt to placate them).

I ended up moving out of his place and back home - also 2 hrs away - where I moved in with my mum. The emotional blackmail continued but I basically greyrocked him and carried on with the pregnancy.

There was no happy ending. He saw her a handful of times before stopping completely (a combination of whatever GF was on the scene plus his mental health was awful anyway).

The happy ending did come - I met my now DH when she was 18mo and we went on to marry and have a further DC. DH has formally adopted DD and I think my ex DP is the waste of space he always was.

I’m pleased you’ve decided not to terminate. It doesn’t sound like it’s right decision for you.

youknowmedontyou · 31/03/2019 10:38

Your relationship is over no matter what, have the baby.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 31/03/2019 10:43

He clearly thinks he’s entitled to your place and that you’ll be keen to ponder a future relationship. Please disillusion him now.

juneau · 31/03/2019 11:12

Excellent post Fizzygreenwater. I wouldn't be at all surprised if your predictions come true 100%. Get him out of your flat OP. Get legal advice first though so you know where you stand. Knowledge is power.

Oliversmumsarmy · 31/03/2019 11:45

I think you are going to have to tell him via text and give him notice to move out. I would be moving out for the period so you don’t have to put up with him.

You have thought about it and the relationship is over and if he is going to be a shit father then there is no point him hanging around.

You need to look after yourself and to do this you need him gone.

I presume he is mid to late 30s. I might be out of touch with salaries and rents but why can’t he afford a house share. What has he been doing for the last 15+ years.

Dd still lives at home but a few of her friends are in house shares in London, one takes care of her £600 per month rent (all bills and a cleaner each week included) by doing regular bar work.

If a young girl can do it with no ft job then I am sure a grown man can get his act together

Lahlahfizzyfizzydoda · 31/03/2019 12:46

If you own the property and you’ve effectively split then why is he making statements that he will stay…? That’s not his decision, he’s doing it to really our pressure on you to terminate. He’s horrendous.

Stay with a friend and tell him he needs to leave. If he hasn’t by your return, then l would call the police and have him removed (also change the locks).

It is not your reposnsiblity to make him see the positives in anything or placate him. He is not your responsibility. You and your baby are.

Please tell someone in RL, speak to your GP and try to stop feeling responsible for his feelings. His behaviour has been unforgivable.

Lahlahfizzyfizzydoda · 31/03/2019 12:47

Put pressure!

WhoKnewBeefStew · 31/03/2019 12:56

He can’t ‘decide’ to stay, this is YOUR house. The money he’s been giving you for mortgage/bills is classed as rent. He has absolutely no claim to your house, he’s, in effect, been a lodger and the law classes it as such.

You could, if you wanted to, and you’re well within your rights to do this, Simply change the locks and leave his stuff outside. He could do nothing about it.

Bodicea · 31/03/2019 13:11

Op I haven't got all the way through this, but I just thought your dp might like reminding of the law.

In the Uk it is still illegal to terminate for social reasons. It is only allowed if the pregnancy would affect the woman's mental health ( not the mans). This is the main reason put down for most terminations. So your DP saying keeping would be against his consent would be a fallacy. T would technically be an illegal abortion. I say that as someone who has worked in termination clinics.

Worried2019 · 31/03/2019 13:56

Haven't RTFT but just wanted to say that my daughter has no father in her life (his choice) and she is the happiest, most spoilt child in love and every other way! She is totally unaffected by not having a father. I obviously cannot say it will never affect her in the future but she certainly doesn't suffer for it!

I have had a termination in my past. I was also emotionally blackmailed into it and I regret it every day. Please don't make the same mistake

Worried2019 · 31/03/2019 13:57

@theprocrastin8er If you'd like to PM me I'm happy to chat. I'm the same age as you and 4 years into being a single mum with no help from the father. You CAN do this! X

DarlingLittleBabyName · 31/03/2019 15:29

it is your body OP and if the pregnancy makes you happy, then I would say go for it. sounds like he is incredibly undecisve, honestly children are the biggest joys and you may regret it later in life. even if you do split later down the line, your child will always be yours and you will always have the baby as support! xx

Haffdonga · 31/03/2019 21:36

@theprocrastin8ter - I hope your weekend has been calm and happy. How did it go with your dsis?

theprocrastin8er · 31/03/2019 23:29

I'm sorry I've not been on Mumsnet today. I have been feeling very rough with sickness and surprisingly painful cramps all weekend. I have now caught up on everyone's lovely comments.

Haffdonga thanks for asking. I did see my sister and it is nice to have her support. She has offered to let me stay and I might do that in a few days. She has done the job of passing on the news to the rest of the family of us splitting up as I didn't feel up to it myself, which has also made it feel more real.

OP posts: