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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

Please can anyone help me 😪

180 replies

NikNut · 04/03/2021 10:27

I really do not know where else to turn, but I can not cope with this hurt anymore 😞.
I met the most wonderful man just over a year ago. He was kind, considerate, supportive, emotionally mature and stable. After many years alone following a very emotionally and physically abusive relationship, I felt like I had found my happily ever after. I am 35 with a full time career as a midwife and 3 older children, 17, 15 and 12. I brought my children up alone due to ex husband being in the forces and we separated (very amicably) when youngest was 2.
Now this new man moved very quickly. He told me I was what he had spent his life looking for and the connection felt very real. The subject of a baby came up to which I was very reluctant due to my job, having older children and the fear of doing it alone ever again. It became a bit of an issue and I foolishly felt very flattered that this wonderful man wanted to have such a beautiful commitment to me. 3 months later, I was pregnant. This man told me he had 2 children. One aged 12 who was taken away from him after a long court case and now lives in America, and one aged 7 who he had to see in contact centres for many years but now has every other weekend. He told me as all he ever wanted was to be a family and watch his child grow every single day and reassured me of all my fears of ever being alone again. He told my family how he was going to marry me and how he adored me. And I felt that from him. We were very happy and excited for our future with our baby. At 20 weeks pregnant, I told him he needed to give up his rented place 2.5 hours away so he can financially contribute to our new home and the baby. This caused problems and he would leave to go back there for a few weeks at a time until I begged him back 😔.
At 28 weeks, I had to work from home due to covid. I went to work to pick up laptops etc and when I returned, he was gone. We had discussed marriage the night before and been very playful before I left for work. The next 2 weeks were spent with him telling me how he wasn't leaving me but needed space. How he loved and missed me and the bump. How he never wanted to lose me. The third week was spent with him ignoring my messages and calls. I would beg him over and over to come home. He insisted he needed space, so I gave him it and stopped reaching out to him. The 4th week, I called to check in. He told me how he didn't love me and never did and how he wanted me to have the baby adopted!! My full world came crashing down. I left him for a few weeks then on xmas day, I text to tell him I missed him and loved him. He replied saying he didn't want anything to do with me and to message him about the baby only. I replied asking what his intentions where regarding the baby, to which he blocked me on all platforms, along with all my family. I was now 33 weeks pregnant and in such a state. I went to bed every night praying I wouldn't wake up. The pain was unexplainable. I had no explanation. No reasons given and I just couldn't understand why he had changed so much. I contacted his ex and found out there was a 3rd child he had but had abandoned when the relationship broke down when the baby was 8 weeks old. He hasn't seen him since and is now 3 years old 😔.
I was terrified of going into labour alone and having a baby alone. But that is exactly what happened 😔.
I had my baby at 39 weeks, a beautiful baby boy that is the double of his daddy. I was heartbroken that his dad missed the birth and wasn't there for the first few days of his little life. I felt so much guilt towards my innocent baby, that he had been born into so much sadness and didn't have a dad or the perfect life we had planned for him.
I contacted the dad via a friends phone. I sent a photo and a video to him, and his mum announcing the arrival. He read the message and then blocked my friend. No reply 😪.
A week later I tried to call him from withheld number, he declined the calls.
I then sent him an email saying how we needed to discuss our baby and how I didn't care what he had done, we just needed to put the baby first. I begged him to answer his phone, he didn't. My mum called his mum after I completely broke down to her, his mum was very rude, didn't care about her grandson and put the phone down.
I contacted the mother of the child he sees, who was so excited about having a baby brother. The ex told me that he had told the child the baby was "gone". That he had told everyone else I had the baby adopted and that he is with someone else now 😪. I didn't think I could feel any worse than the day he left. I was so wrong.
My baby is now 3 weeks old and everyday gets harder and harder to accept that I'm doing this completely alone. That the amazing guy I met, has completely abandoned him. I just can't seem to move on. I try to be strong for my baby and for my children, but I'm completely broken. I spend all day and all night trying to distract myself to no avail. I'm constantly in tears and feel like this hurt is so heavy on my chest that I'm suffocating with it. This was exactly what I feared, and he knew it. How could anyone be so cold and cruel? I so desperately just want to feel ok. I don't care about being happy, just ok will suffice.
I find myself still wishing and hoping that he comes back 😪. I miss the person that left us. Although I do recognise that that person has long gone.
I have been receiving support from perinatal mental health which has been brilliant. But this hurt just won't subside. Its been 14 weeks since he left 😪 and everyday has got harder to cope with.
Please can anyone suggest anything to help me move forward 😪 x

OP posts:
ruledbynine · 05/03/2021 03:57

Can I ask OP? Did you find out the sex of the baby at the 20 week scan? Did he know he was having a boy and that’s when it started to go wrong?

Dayafterday · 05/03/2021 06:53

Yes I wondered if it was the same poster who was pregnant and the bloke was going to move in over Christmas and kept making excuses.

Wishing14 · 05/03/2021 07:18

Absolutely agree with posters saying do not under any circumstances allow this man anywhere near your beautiful little boy. Mostly I agree it’s important to involve the dad when possible but in this case you need to protect him from ever being swallowed up by that hurt. You sound like such a kind, strong person and my heart truly goes out to you, but there is nothing that anyone can say that will make it ok. Just have faith that time will heal, maybe not completely but there will come a point when it will start to get easier. The torture you feel now will pass. It really will. Keep going mumma!

LouHotel · 05/03/2021 07:28

This man is a sociopath who clearly gets off on getting women pregnant and sad thing is your baby is likely to have many siblings in the future as I expect he won't stop. There's something really perverse with how he's acted and I expect his mothers reaction is because there's more women out there and she's stonewalling all of you.

You have been manipulated OP, this is not your fault and please take care of yourself as much as possible. He can tell as many lies as he wants to his friends and family but they know the truth op his trail of destructions reaches his door.

Dery · 05/03/2021 07:38

“Yes I wondered if it was the same poster who was pregnant and the bloke was going to move in over Christmas and kept making excuses.”

I did, too. Some of the details are different but perhaps that’s to avoid identification.

OP - you sound amazing. I can understand how heartbreaking this is. You’ve raised 3 children alone and finally you thought this was something for you and that made you very vulnerable to this predator. Unfortunately, some con artist criminals can be extremely charming and extremely plausible and you can’t trust anyone too soon - trust has to be earned over a decent period of time (such as at least a year which was what you wanted). This guy’s a total sh1t and you and your baby are infinitely better off with him out of your lives. You will get to a place where you feel that as well as know it. In the meantime, get as much real life support as you can and keep posting here also.

MsJinks · 05/03/2021 07:50

I’m wondering whether there could have been intervention from authorities if he stayed and they found out, and he knew that. Either way you and your child are so much safer without him. It must be an exceptionally rare occurrence that a parent is under supervised contact due to the other parent just being horrible for no reason.
Re the child maintenance it doesn’t matter that he pays the maximum it would just get shared out between however many children he has. On the other hand he isn’t going to be on the birth certificate as he’s not going to give his permission so that will be a lengthy process of proof as well. I’m in two minds about maintenance as I couldn’t have stood to have any from my ex, I just walk away leaving stuff behind if necessary, however I appreciate it’s money for the child and so why take it away from them, plus they should pay.
Out of sight, out of mind for men I was told once about children and though obviously a bit of an extreme and sexist perhaps, I do think some people can just ignore the fact they have children. However, this ‘man’ is beyond that extreme even, he’s so cruel, selfish and oblivious to all except himself - as many have said he’s not the man you thought at all but it’s still hard right now, especially with baby hormones and the huge unexpected change to your life - one day you will look back and realise it was all for the best he had gone before ever meeting your baby and you will be happy again.
I’m not sure if you’re saying it’s hard the baby looks like the man, but that will either change anyway, or you won’t see it yourself in years to come - I forget totally my kids have any of their dad’s features and am glad to say they seem to have none of his characteristics.
One minute, one hour, one day at a time, alongside counselling and you will get through- it’s so hard today though - just be kind to yourself and don’t expect too much of yourself - everything will be sorted and everything will be for the best.

RandomMess · 05/03/2021 08:09

Regards CMS they order DNA testing if he refuses to accept it's his child. If it's proven it's his he has to pay for it - they will add it to arrears.

Mupp64 · 05/03/2021 09:50

TBH - I do feel for you but you need to re read your initial statement - all the clues are there - you wanted a relationship and you were too smitten by all the attention he poured on you which diverted you away from the all the alarms and red flags that as a midwife you have had been trained to look out for in your client/patients - you do assessments everyday booking pregnant women and asking them detailed questions about relationships/safeguarding/vulnerable women - trouble is you didn't ask yourself the same questions and why !!! You got pregnant despite knowing him for 5 minutes - ok so you weren't using contraception but you know all about the morning after pill - why would you get pregnant with a man you hardly knew - you believed him and his bullshit - you put your heart before your head believing a pregnancy and a baby would cure it all and he would come running back - you have seen scenarios like this I'm sure a hundred times in your professional position- maybe you thought as the pregnancy progressed or once the baby came he would change Again you were banking on what bullshit he gave you pre pregnancy- I sound unsympathetic but I'm not - you will get over it - he's just another arsehole who you didn't see coming or acknowledge had issues - he loves the idea of family life and promises the earth which lots of women fall for - they get sucked in - - so don't give him the satisfaction- your child will be fine - single parents give as much love & attention as a miserable two parent households - because he would have been miserable and a pain to live with- so get over it and thank your lucky stars that he's done this to your family now, because I promise you - he would have fucked off eventually - 1 month or 12 months - best sooner than later

RevolvingPivot · 05/03/2021 10:19

The thing is if he planned to do this to you all along why would he give you his ex and mum contact details or at least their names for you to get them. Why would he tell his young son he was having a brother?

What an awful man I'm so sorry.

DianaT1969 · 05/03/2021 10:21

"Stop trying to make him into something he is not."

This, with bells on.

NikNut · 05/03/2021 13:20

Thank you again for taking your time to comment on my situation. I wish I could put into words just how much the kindness of many is helping ❤.
I did write a long reply but the site crashed 🤦🏻‍♀️
No, it wasn't me that posted in here previously. Which means there is, sadly, somebody else going through a similar experience 😪. I hope that woman is stronger than I am and is recovering well.

As for the signs that some keep wanting to highlight my stupidity for not seeing, I honestly already feel so foolish and immense guilt towards my baby for not seeing the signs that appear so clear. Of course it is very different pointing out the signs from a 2 minute overview of the situation, than it is living in the situation. I do accept responsibility for my stupidity, but does that mean that this situation is justified and its my own fault? I personally feel like I've been punished enough with the level of hurt I've endured over the last 14 weeks. My biggest crime was putting my trust and love into someone who was extremely convincing and reassuring. Ultimately, I'm paying the price of that and am not looking for any validation, just for advice on how to heal from the hurt 😪. I'm fully aware of how stupid I am.

Someone mentioned the gender of the baby and this is something I have speculated with myself. He has 3 boys already and when I was early pregnant, he would tell me how he knows its a girl because he knew it would take someone special to give him a girl. We found out at 16 weeks that he was a boy and ex left for the first time when I was 20 weeks. Maybe he really believes his theory and I'm just not special. I suspect he may continue with his trajectory until he gets his daughter. How sad for all his sons 😪.
Again, I sincerely thank you for all your comments. Xx

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 05/03/2021 13:31

Oh op, stop trying to rationalise it please, if you’d had a daughter it would have been the same outcome. He was never in it for the long run, he just wanted unprotected sex, and no responsibility. He’s an arsehole, and you’re better off without him. He spun a fantasy to have some fun and when it got real he moved on.

Healing will just take time, that’s all. But you need to realise what he is and what he was, not try to focus on irrelevancies like your child’s gender. And yes to recognise your part in it and what caused you to trust a virtual stranger and decide to have a child with them. You’d known that man weeks when you made the decision.

It reads to me, from the words you use, about never being alone again, that you just really wanted to be with someone, settled, and that desire was so strong, that when he told you what you wanted to hear you bought it, when rationally you’d have known the likely hood of a virtual stranger wanting to marry you and have a child with you is very very low. Dealing with that want and desire, is something to address, and quite urgently, and to be able to come to terms with your situation, which is a good one, a job, a home, four beautiful kids. Some people would give their left arm for that.

Krazynights34 · 05/03/2021 15:04

OP this is indeed harrowing. And I’m sorry for you.

He is clearly a sociopath or something who enjoys hurting people.

That, I’m afraid, is probably his only goal with women. He probably hates women. That might sound wrong based on his ability to love bomb but honestly I’ve encountered someone very similar (not in the same circumstances and not in a relationship). There’s something vile and evil in his core. And because he’s like this, you’d never have seen it coming.

RantyAnty · 05/03/2021 16:18

I'm so very sorry this arsehole treated you like this.

He does sound like a psychopath.

It's a shame there aren't criminal or civil charges that can be filed against people like him.

Definitely get maintenance, even is it is only a small amount.

Jesskir89 · 05/03/2021 17:05

Youre not stupid op you were in love with the wrong man

RevolvingPivot · 05/03/2021 17:50

Imagine all the others he's sucked in that he hadn't mentioned.

You're older / have 3 kids / a good career just shows you it doesn't matter who you are. Absolute nob head. I'm raging for you!!!

Honeyroar · 05/03/2021 19:52

He sounds like Henry VIII! He was a bloke that needed avoiding too.

EarthSight · 05/03/2021 20:26

I think it's actually fathers who are mainly responsible for the sex of their child.....so maybe he's the one who's not 'special'.

Considering what he's done, I think it might be a worse experience to actually have him in your life. Is he mentally sound or just highly twisted?? I feel so sorry about your circumstances. The main thing now is to get maintenance off him and keep in close contact with your GP regarding your emotional and mental health.

Sending you lots of hugs xx

Biscuitsanddoombar · 05/03/2021 21:22

Oh lovey you poor poor thing xx I agree with PP that fucking off is probably the best thing he has done though I appreciate it doesn’t seem like that atm

DH is the result of a similar situation, his mum was left high & dry by a guy who did a runner as soon as he found out she was pregnant. Wouldn’t even acknowledge her in the street. She did a brilliant job bringing up my DH who is a kind & decent man - your son will grow up to take after you and be strong, open hearted & kind. You can do this xxxx

NikNut · 06/03/2021 10:10

Why can't I accept that this man was never really the nice guy I fell in love with?. Who I believed loved me back? He was so loving and supportive and so invested and involved in the pregnancy. We did nothing but make future plans with our baby 😪. I don't understand the very sudden flip in person, and I feel that is why I can't move on 😪. I miss the person he was and the life we had planned. That seems irrational given how he has treated us, but I can't switch off my love for him.
In my head, I know he has done us the biggest favour by leaving when he did. Especially for the baby. But in my heart, I hope that he will realise he's made a mistake and come back wanting to be the perfect partner and father. I'm in constant conflict with myself.
I can't cope with the guilt I feel for my baby. I love him with every fibre of my body, but cry whenever I look at him for the immense guilt I feel. How can his daddy carry on with his life like his son doesn't exist. He doesn't know when he was born, how much he weighed, even if he's healthy. How can he not wonder about him? Or feel sad that he's missing his life? It breaks my heart.
I have had counselling for this, but I don't find it helpful personally 😔. I'm doing everything I can to be strong for my children and to move forward, but I always come straight back to this throbbing pain in my chest. Crying to the point I can't breathe. And I really don't want to feel this way anymore 😪 x

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 06/03/2021 11:09

You’ve got to grieve and come to accept it. You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t reeling from what’s happened. It’s going to take time - a cliche but it’s true. It is crazy that this man doesn’t want to know about his baby, but it sounds like he’s got form. It’s nothing to do with you or your baby, it’s 100% down to him.

Bee0fSpring1 · 06/03/2021 11:22

Definitely put in a claim for child maintenance
If you don't use the money for daily expenses, put it in a savings account for your child

notapizzaeater · 06/03/2021 11:22

You cant make allowances for a nutter. Normal rules don't apply to him. You can love your new son enough for both of you. Do you really want him involved ? If he can do this to you with no emotion, do you really want him to have a relationship with your son ?

gutful · 06/03/2021 11:28

“He knew it would take someone special to give him a girl”

What sort of nonsense is this

Op you’re a midwife ? You must see what an odd, senseless statement this is.

Him saying that was really off.

You have been had, for him it is easy to not know or care about his child. He was the same way with his 3 kids that were there

He used same sob story every shitty absentee father pulls & you like heaps of new girlfriends do believed the lies & that he was some wronged man separated from his 3 kids

The pattern was there, but you weren’t able to see it at the time but the clues were there.

However he seems particularly sinister for actively wanting to impregnate you. It speaks to some fetish for impregnating women

He is a big man spreading his seed & loves having multiple kids to different partners

The sooner you reach acceptance about what has happened to you & who he really is will help you find strength to move forward & past this.

Be sad for your son that his father is a piece of shit.

Don’t be sad this piece of shit is not around your son though.

NikNut · 06/03/2021 13:14

I think I'm feeling a little more sad today as I found a video on my phone of him speaking to the bump. He was honestly so excited about the baby and thats why I'm struggling to believe that was fake and this is the real him.
It feels like a nightmare that I just want to wake up from 😪

OP posts:
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