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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

Dh has hurt my feelings and I can't forgive him just yet

10 replies

cyrilthesquirrel · 19/09/2004 21:54

Have changed my name for this one so if you do recognise me don't let on!

We've been ttc for nearly 2 years and have a child already. We've both been feeling under pressure but have tried to stay positive throughout. We're undergoing fertility treatment at the moment - nothing major just drugs for me although there's nothing wrong with either of us in theory.

We went out last night, 1st time in yonks for me, and I made a real effort and thought I looked nice. Dh did say as much when I came downstairs. We were going to a party but stopped off for a drink on our own first and had a lovely chat. On the way to the party I said something along the lines of his luck might be in tonight and he responded in a very 'whatever' kind of way. We're quite a physical couple and, although the sex has obviously been revolving around ttc, I always make an effort for it to be enjoyable and he does too, most of the time. Having said that, the last 2 times this month he sort of just lay there and said 'you'll have to help if you want to make babies' and I hope it's not TMI to say that I had to use every trick in the book to rouse some attention!

Back to last night - I told him I was hurt by his reaction, esp as we're at the end of my cycle, so the sex would have been purely 'recreational'. He apologised and said he just didn't feel very sexual at the moment and that to tell the truth, he was glad each month when my fertile period was over so that we could both have a break from it for a while. I know he's got a point but I felt very hurt by his brutal honesty. I actually said to him that there were plenty of times I didn't feel like it but I made an effort anyway. I felt the whole evening was a dead loss then and told him I'd go home and pick him up later, as the party was for his work colleagues and I wasn't drinking. We actually parted on fairly good terms and I was sure I didn't want him to come with me; I wanted some time to think about things and then we could talk later. I said not to stay too long at the party and he agreed.

To cut a long story slightly less long - I went home and woke up fully clothed and freezing 2 hours later with no sign of a call from dh. I went to bed and he got in about an hour later - more or less paralytic. We didn't speak until this morning and I couldn't stop crying as I felt like I'd really needed him last night and he'd let me down. He's been walking round like a kicked puppy all day.

I know he's probably feeling very stressed with all this pressure ttc but I can't accept his apology yet, I feel too angry. It's made me think 'is it all worth it?' on the ttc front. I know there are loads of people much worse off than us but I can't get from under this black cloud today. Sorry for rambling.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 19/09/2004 22:35

message withdrawn

Chinchilla · 19/09/2004 22:42

Poor you, and poor dh too. It must be hard for both of you (no pun intended). I don't have a solution, but I do feel for you. Try not to be too hard on your dh, as he is probably feeling bad already. TTC is a weird thing, you both want a baby, and then it becomes all about making a baby, and you are no longer just a couple having sex.

Everything about babies is stressful, even before being pg! Try to hang in there, and keep talking to each other.

marthamoo · 19/09/2004 22:43

You poor thing...(((hugs))) I do sort of know what you are going through - we ttc for over 2 years for ds2, and after a while it did become purely mechanical - sex by calendar (I took Clomid). But, tbh, it was me that was more like your dh - I couldn't see the point in having sex if there was no chance of conceiving; and when we did have sex, it was just that - over and done with and legs up in the air to encourage the little swimmers in the right direction (TMI????) Sex stopped being about fun or pleasure, or closeness - and just became functional.

I guess, like you, your dh is just feeling the pressure of ttc, and this (and the getting drunk) is his reaction to it. Perhaps you need to take a break - though I know it's virtually impossible not to think about ttc every time you do the deed.

I would wait til he has recovered from his hangover - then try and talk to him. Perhaps a meal out, just the two of you. He's probably feeling guilty as hell now because he knows he has been too brutal. After all, you both want the same thing, and you do have what sounds like a very healthy sex life most of the time. Baby dancing sex is never as much fun as the purely recreational kind anyway, imo!

I really hope it happens for you soon...sprinkling a little baby dust in your direction.

cyrilthesquirrel · 20/09/2004 10:29

Thanks. Yesterday was a bit of a dead loss as he was at work for half the day then spent the rest of the day glued to the Ryder Cup - talk about getting your priorities right

I felt awful yesterday but felt like he still wasn't there to support me. He's such a good dh and a fabulous dad in many mnay ways but he has a horrid selfish streak which comes out every so often - the last time was about 2 and half years ago! so I know I don't have too much room for complaint... but I feel like he's let me down badly this time. Perhaps, you're right - it might be his way of coping with this situation. Wish we could all behave like this under stress...

We had another long talk before we went to bed and I told him how alone I'd felt all day and that he still hadn't been able to put me first. He was very apologetic but it was too late as it was after the event, as always. Why do they need everything pointing out to them before they see a situation from our point of view?!! Just because I was being civil to him when he got home from work yesterday, he automatically thought eveything was ok again!! He was shocked when I had another go at him at bed time!

Anyway, one thing he did suggest last night was that we may both need some emotional support with this (without wanting to seem overindulgant) so I've arranged for us to see a counsellor at the end of the week. We've got to do something or it's going to eat us up. All I want to do at the moment is slap him, and I'm pretty sure that's not the most ideal way for us to make a baby...

OP posts:
marthamoo · 20/09/2004 10:32

Good for you, cyril - I'm glad you're taking positive steps and I hope the counsellor helps.

LOL at your last sentence - Lord, if wanting to slap your dh was the way to make babies I'd be the mother of thousands by now

cyrilthesquirrel · 20/09/2004 15:23

marthamoo - how long were you on clomid for and why was it prescribed if you don't mind me asking?

OP posts:
fio2 · 20/09/2004 15:31

hope the counsellor thing helps. It is a tricky situation as you both are stressed by the baby making thing and arent 'trying' to hurt one another. I hope things come good for you and you do eventually have another child

Sorry absolutely rubbish advice but just wanted to acknowledge your post.

throckenholt · 20/09/2004 15:32

can you just sort of take a break from TTC for a month or two ? When you get so hooked up on getting pregnant it becomes the dominant thing and takes the fun out of it all. And often when you manage to forget about it for a while you all relax and then you find you are pregnant !

Be nice to each other - it is a tough situation.

cyrilthesquirrel · 20/09/2004 16:11

I know what you mean about having a break from it. But I don't see how it would be possible! I know exactly when I ovulate and so would be really conscious about the time and I'm sure I'd get uptight if we hadn't b'd around that time. God listen to me... I sound like a lunatic. I'd really have to properly switch off from it; not just fool myself that we weren't trying but secretly keep a tab on the cycle. It so hard, though isn't it?

I wish my mum was still alive to talk to about it. She and my dad tried for 10 years with no luck and then they adopted me as a 4 week old baby. Exactly 18 m later they had my brother naturally!

OP posts:
fio2 · 20/09/2004 16:15

how funny. i know someone who adopted a small baby and found out at the same time they were pregnant after years and years of trying.

I know my first took ages to conceive and it does put pressure on you. The second one though we werent expecting even though we had stopped using contraception and that happened quickly, i think because we werent stressed about it. came as a shock though!

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