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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:
sue51 · 28/03/2019 20:23

It is 100 percent your choice. I would take your partners wishes out of the decision altogether. It very much sounds to me as though you want this baby.

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 20:24

thatnovembernight
Also, maybe you could freeze your eggs after you’ve had the baby just in case you do meet someone else?
Thank you, this had not occurred to me and might be worth considering.

OP posts:
Shostakobitch · 28/03/2019 20:25

Honestly, in your circumstances I would wave him goodbye and enjoy your pregnancy. As others have said this may be your only chance. Being a single mum is hard but so very worth it. You will manage, plenty others do.

Deadposhtory · 28/03/2019 20:25

Deep down you know you want this baby. So long waiting for a special miracle.
Now it's happened enjoy
I've always been a single mother and love it!!

catwithflowers · 28/03/2019 20:30

You sound lovely, intelligent, sensible and mature and I’m sure you will be a fabulous mother. Congratulations on your pregnancy 🌷🌷🌷

Jenniferyellowcat · 28/03/2019 20:34

I am also pro choice and know how hard it is to find yourself unexpectedly pregnant and alone. But in your circumstances, after your struggles for a much wanted pregnancy, I think you should definitely keep your baby. You can do it alone and you will be OK. Flowers

Taswama · 28/03/2019 20:34

You will be an amazing mum. Don’t let your partner blackmail you.

GreenTulips · 28/03/2019 20:34

The other thing that comes across in your posts is that it’s all very much about his wants and needs.

I don’t think you’ve given much thought to your own, and neither has he. Has he always been like this? All about him?

Now the tables have turned and it’s your turn to need love attention and nurture and he can’t hack it.

How do you think he would be with a child who needs constant attention and he would be second? It’s his turn to look after you?

I think he’s shouting loud and clear

I as thinly he minuet you refuse to abort, he’ll have a wave of of ‘oh shit I’m going to look like the and guy!’

He’s selfish and self absorbed and you can do so much better, with or without a child in tow.

Good luck. Start celebrating and get rid of this useless excuse for a partner.

Kedgeree · 28/03/2019 20:38

For many women in difficult circumstances termination is absolutely the right decision. You are not one of them. This won't be easy, but it won't be the worst thing that ever happens to you, and may well turn out to be the best. I'm with the poster upthread who said she was supporting you "as a granny". The grannies are here, we've got you.

Justonemorepancake · 28/03/2019 20:40

If you do terminate I would bet that your relationship will not survive long anyway (as he is clearly an arse) and you would have to deal with a lot of grief and resentment long term. You CAN cope as a single mum and you will have a child who you will love unconditionally. You really might not get another chance at this. Even if you did freeze eggs and were lucky enough to meet soneone who wants a family AND get pregnant again there is no guarantee it would work out and you might end up as a single parent anyway, just X years down the line. If you want a baby, keep the baby. Ditch the husband regardless.

Justonemorepancake · 28/03/2019 20:42

And I can guarantee that the love and your relationship with your child will totally eclipse your current relationship with your selfish partner and any love you have for him.

Claply · 28/03/2019 20:42

You could meet someone after you've had the baby. My MIL did and he adopted my DH when he was 2. They are still happily married.
Totally your decision of course.
I understand wanting a family, not just a baby. But there is more than one way to be happy and families come in all shapes and sizes.
There's nothing at all wrong with abortion if you don't want the pregnancy to continue. Luckily at 6 weeks gone you have time to decide.
I get the feeling you want this baby though. After all you've been through to get them.

AceOfSpades123 · 28/03/2019 20:51

Keep the baby, ditch the bloke. After all you’ve been through this baby is a miracle. I know lots of people (including my own family) who have done it alone from pregnancy onwards. A friend of mine had an IVF baby on her own. None have regretted it. I’ve also got lots of friends who have kids and their relationships have broken up. Just because you are together when you have a baby isn’t any guarantee you’d stay together anyway. Plenty of people have kids and find new partners. Just because you have this baby, it doesn’t mean your chances of romance are over! You’re young! Plenty of time to have it all. I hadn’t even got married or had my first baby at your age!!

Goldendust · 28/03/2019 20:51

Ah that's a deep story. Sending hugs your way. I don't think you should terminate if I was in your shoes I wouldn't. Motherhood is amazing you won't regret it. It's the best feeling in the world.

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 20:55

AceofSpades
Just because you have this baby, it doesn’t mean your chances of romance are over! You’re young! Plenty of time to have it all. I hadn’t even got married or had my first baby at your age!!
Thank you for this much needed injection of optimism!

OP posts:
theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 21:02

Greentulips
The other thing that comes across in your posts is that it’s all very much about his wants and needs.

I don’t think you’ve given much thought to your own, and neither has he. Has he always been like this? All about him?

It's confusing. I feel like he's very caring and loving when he's happy, but when he's stressed he becomes very self-focused. I had a counsellor once who said I had a tendency to deny my own needs or assume they weren't important. I have tried to work on that but your post makes me wonder.

You're right that he's already panicking partly about being seen as the bad guy if I don't terminate, and says that his family and my family won't speak to him and he'll be seen as 'scum'. I feel like I have enough to worry about without worrying about that, but it feels big to him.

OP posts:
juliej00ls · 28/03/2019 21:05

Keep the baby... you will be fine as a single parent. Split with him. (Now)

The resentment you will feel towards him will be huge.... it’s all on his terms and he keeps chopping and changing.

Good luck and congratulations

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 21:05

kedgeree
The grannies are here, we've got you.
Thank you.

OP posts:
Oct18mummy · 28/03/2019 21:07

You’ve tried hard to get pregnant which hasn’t been easy, if I was in your position I would see this as potentially my only chance to have a baby and keep it. Your partner will come round.

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 21:07

deadposhtory
I've always been a single mother and love it!!
Thank you, reading this is so great.

OP posts:
Justonemorepancake · 28/03/2019 21:10

Oh wow, so he wants you to deny this baby life so that he isn't viewed negatively by his family for abandoning you both? What a peach. I'm pro choice, but termination for those reasons are not something you would be able to find peace with.

lovinglifexo · 28/03/2019 21:15

He’s perfectly entitled to not want to have children and to have changed his mind. That’s on him.

You are just as entitled to want this child especially given the circumstances.

If u do go ahead with the pregnancy, please take him for his word and plan as if he won’t be involved at all e.g. child has no father, no financial support. Too many women continue with the pregnancy thinking that he will change his mind and then are shocked when they don’t contribute /care even when a baby is born.

Good luck and congratulations!

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 21:16

Rtmhwales
Thank you so much for sharing your story, and big congratulations on your son.
I am sorry you went through something so similar with your husband and he hasn't been much use since. It's so hard to be told you're ruining his life, etc. It is so reasurring to hear that single motherhood was easier than you expected for you as you hear mainly about how horribly hard it is it's so good to hear a range of experiences. Can I ask how your family and friends reacted when you told them you were splitting up and pregnant?

OP posts:
HerLadySheep · 28/03/2019 21:21

I had my DS as a single parent when I was 35, I never regretted it for a single second, best thing I ever did. Congratulations 💐xx

theprocrastin8er · 28/03/2019 21:23

lovinglifexo
He’s perfectly entitled to not want to have children and to have changed his mind. That’s on him.
You are just as entitled to want this child especially given the circumstances.

This is one of the tricky things. It seems like we both have rights but they are mutually exclusive. He feels like he didn't fully 'consent' to this pregnancy because he had told me 2 weeks ago that he didn't want children, whereas he did consent to the IVF in november and says he would have stood by me if it had been successful. I have pointed out that the baby was concevied before he gave his decision about not wanting children, but then it feels like we're arguing over semantics really - the pregnancy is here. He thinks it's not a big ask to terminate this pregnancy because I'm pro-choice and because it's come at such a bad time in the relationship and because 'it proves I can get pregnant' so it can happen again in future.

OP posts:
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