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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

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:
Perch · 28/03/2019 17:57

anyway not anyone

ScarletBitch · 28/03/2019 17:59

You do what you want OP and you do not let anyone force you into anything at all.

TheClaifeCrier · 28/03/2019 18:00

I think if you did what he asked and then stayed with him you would resent him the the decision, eventually leading to the break up of your relationship anyway.

Personally I'd keep the baby, but only you can make that decision.

RaininSummer · 28/03/2019 18:03

I think you should keep your baby. This may be your only chance. If he doesn't change his mind, there are other men to share your life with eventually.

SpinningSister · 28/03/2019 18:04

Dump him and keep your baby xx best of luck

Level75 · 28/03/2019 18:05

I know someone who terminated in similar circumstances. She regrets it to this day. She's late 40s now so no more chances.

PlasticPatty · 28/03/2019 18:06

Don't let anyone push you - either into having a baby you don't want or into terminating a baby you do want.

Life is going to be hard sometimes, whatever you decide. Do what you think is right for you at this time. That's the best anyone can do.

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 18:06

Thank you all so much. I am really moved by everyone taking time to read and reply.

I agree that deep down I want the pregnancy, I just haven't got my head around this totally new idea of being a single parent from pregnancy onwards. I don't know anyone who has done that, I think maybe if I did I would find it easier to think about.

I agree that the relationship will be over anyway if I terminate because I don't think I could get over him letting me do that. I think I'm still holding out hope that he will get over his feelings and come round to the idea of the pregnancy, but I also realise this is all much bigger than your average 'pregnancy wobble' and he's clearly telling me not to hold out hope.

Part of me wonders if I ought to be terminating this pregnancy, leaving him ASAP,, freezing my eggs and dating like crazy to find someone who wants the same as me. But I have several friends in their mid thirties looking for a partner and it's definitely not easy at this stage. Several of them are worried they might not meet someone in time to have a child.

To everyone saying he's being a dick and an arsehole, yes, I completely agree. Sadly this is not something that was evident until this all happened. I do blame myself for not leaving sooner when he started to panic about IVF, but our relationship was so good and I told myself that if I wasn't able to have children he was someone I could imagine growing old with happily, without kids (but it was important to me to try to have children). Also I thought his worries about having a child were related to his own (difficult) childhood and that they could be worked through.

I am heartbroken really, and struggling to accept the end of the relationship. On top of that I feel really stupid and embarrassed for ending up in this situation. I have a lot of pregnant friends at the moment and they all have supportive partners. I suppose I wanted that so much I ignored the warning signs last year when I should have been brave and left the relationship.

Thanks again for all your advice and support, it means a lot.

OP posts:
Flobochin · 28/03/2019 18:09

I feel for you, as a granny I wish I was near you to support you in all of this.

TheNavigator · 28/03/2019 18:10

Given your history,the fact that you conceived this baby naturally makes me feel this was meant to be. I feel like this is the baby you are supposed to have. I am so sorry your DH is not supportive. He may come round, he may not,but is you terminate I think your marriage will be over in any case.

Your body, your choice.

helpmum2003 · 28/03/2019 18:11

Terminating and freezing eggs is a high risk strategy.

CanuckBC · 28/03/2019 18:12

Lose him. He is an epic twat. You want this baby. If you terminate you will never forgive him and the relationship will end anyway.

You are pregnant with your much wanted baby. You will regret ending it. Do what you want, not what that asshat wants. He ended it anyway! Just because he makes a decision doesn’t mean you have to.

You also have two more embryos that could be a brother or sister to your baby. I am not sure how that would work but I am ask god mom to two and it’s doable. My ex only has them
EOW and every other Thursday. So not much down time. It’s full on but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

GreenTulips · 28/03/2019 18:13

You clearly love him far more than he loves you. This relationship was never going to work out.

Did he ever propose OP?

Mitzimaybe · 28/03/2019 18:13

It sounds like you were separating even before you knew about the pregnancy. You need to ignore anything he says and do what feels right for you.

ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule · 28/03/2019 18:14

OP - this is completely your decision, it's not up to him and he shouldn't be pressuring you in any way.

He's already changed his mind back and forth, and I've heard repeatedly that going through IVF is no picnic, so for him to one minute be doing that and the next saying he's not ready and to terminate speaks volumes about how he simply doesn't know what he wants. Who's to say if you did terminate, he wouldn't suddenly change his mind on that too?

As for being a single mum from here onwards, you absolutely can do it. You sound as though you've longed for a baby and I really hope it all works out for you Thanks

BarbarianMum · 28/03/2019 18:15

You want the pregnancy so keep the pregnancy. No need to be embarrassed.

AnnaComnena · 28/03/2019 18:16

I ignored the warning signs last year when I should have been brave and left the relationship.

But if you had ended the relationship last year, you wouldn't be pregnant now. Which would you prefer?

I wish you all the best, whatever you decide.

AdaColeman · 28/03/2019 18:20

You obviously want the baby very much.

Your relationship with your partner will never recover, and even if it were possible to patch it up, he would be unlikely to provide what you really need and want, a family with a child.

Being a single mother is not easy, but it might be better for you than if you were to terminate, then find it impossible to conceive again in a few years time.

Kindest thoughts to you. Thanks

CarolDanvers · 28/03/2019 18:20

Tell him to fuck off, then you enjoy your pregnancy and have your baby.

magoria · 28/03/2019 18:21

To be blunt this could be your only ever chance. Don't throw it away.

If you terminate can he withdraw his right for you to use the embryos? Especially has he has now made it clear he doesn't want DC.

He has fucked you around for several years and through IVF. You cannot trust him right now. You have to make the decision you want for you.

shatteredandstressed · 28/03/2019 18:23

In your situation I'd go it alone and work towards relocating nearer to family, if you'll get support there.
Just look after yourself OP, really put yourself first, all this stress isn't good for you or the baby.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 28/03/2019 18:23

Hi OP, all the trauma of IVF aside, I was in exactly the same position as you. Together eight years, engaged, kind of when rather than if we have children. Then suddenly, as soon as the line showed positive, it was all "get rid of it or I'm leaving". I was incredibly shocked. He claimed it would interfere with the World Cup the following year, that I would look hideous fat - he came out with some lovely lines. Oh and we'd moved thousands of miles away to earn enough to buy a house in the UK, so no family at all.

I kept the baby and lost the deadbeat man. That was nearly 22 years ago. He's never been involved, never paid maintenance and I have not regretted it for a single second. I only had six weeks maternity leave but because of that, the nurseries run like clockwork. I came back to the UK when DD was six; she's done very well and is currently writing her dissertation in her last year at university. We have a wonderful relationship. I've always kept in touch with her paternal grandmother, who has no contact with her son either.

On the plus side, I didn't have to ask anyone else's opinion. Of course there are downsides but I can honestly say that DD has never given me a minute of worry, which in itself used to concern me as I thought that all teenagers rebelled. She writes me texts saying that she's insisting on paying me rent over the holidays because she's appreciating how much I did alone. I always reply that it was a joy and I chose to do it.

You sound very much as if you want this baby. Nobody can tell you what to do and the above saga is only because you asked if anyone else had done it.

Whatever you decide, good luck. Thanks

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 18:31

Thank you again. *Flobochin" your kind response has made me cry. I feel so alone with this.

In answer to peoples' questions:

Greentulips no, he never proposed. We had discussed marriage several times and he was open to eloping, but he didn't want a family wedding because of his bad relationship with his, and I wanted my niece / nephews there so we were at a standstill with that too. It is sad to hear you say that I clearly loved him more than he loved me but I do now feel you might be right. I think he loved me as much as he's ever loved anyone, but he is also a complicated person who has sometimes retreated from the world a bit and can be self-aborbed.

CanuckBC and Magoria To use the two frozen embryos in future for a sibling I would need his signed consent for defrosting. I think there is zero chance of this given he doesn't want any children at all, so I suppose they will have to be destroyed, sadly.

Thank you to the poster who linked to Gingerbread, I am looking at their website now.

OP posts:
Hiddenaspie1973 · 28/03/2019 18:33

I think you'd regret and resent him forever if you terminate.
You could terminate then split up then he gets with another and has babies with them. Imagine how shit you'd feel if that happened, and your chance of a child had gone.
He may not want a kid atm. You do, and don't have the luxury of time.

PrayingandHoping · 28/03/2019 18:35

As someone who has ttc for 4 years and is now 8 weeks pregnant having had to go private ivf I can only imagine what u are feeling

My thoughts would be you will never forgive him anyway if he makes you terminate the pregnancy. I also know (in my nhs area anyway), now you have got pregnant you will not be eligible for anymore ivf with the nhs. Although I don't know if that is different with the frozen embryos I think you said you had up the thread?