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Partner left at 30 wks pregnant - here's what I'm offering

145 replies

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 16:21

I'm 32 + 4 weeks now and I've offered a plan in moving forward with a partner that left at 30 wks.

For some back story...

His 8 year old daughter spat on my teenage son for the third time in 6 weeks. She wasn't punished or even spoken to about the first time which is probably what led to the rest. That's on him not her as she's still learning right from wrong (although at nearly 9 I would assume most kids know not to do this). First time it happened it was because she was putting her face in his face and he turned away (she's an intense character by her parents words) and the second and third time was because they were all playing she got embarrassed after falling so my son went to try and get her to come back to play to make her feel better.

We had a big argument of a lack of discipline/consequences over this as my son shouldn't be coming home from his dads who I have 5050 with, to be spat on. Following a huge row while the kids were in the house, he decided to leave and in 48 hours I had a message from the landlady to say he wants out of the contract.

6 days later he had a removals van outside the house to take his things but also took the fridge freezer, sofa, (which is a sofa bed) and the bed we slept on. He is the one who bought all these items to be fair to him but it would have been nice to get a "you're 30 weeks pregnant shall I at least leave the sofa bed until you buy a bed to sleep on".

The day he moved out he was very upset and said "this is nothing that can't be fixed". Which blew my mind a bit. We've been trying to spend time together as he still wants to be with me but there's so much anger from me about actioning something so serious so fast I've been finding it difficult.

Today I've decided I can't forgive him and I'd rather coparent our baby successfully but no relationship.

I've sent a very amicable email offering 5050 when the baby is at an appropriate age - from a few phone calls to different solicitors the courts don't recommend 5050 in babies younger than 18 months anyway.

I've said that he can be at mine to bond at the baby as much as he likes (in accordance with a sleeping routine etc of course) and my plan is to always work towards her being able to have a 5050 arrangement, just at an age where its appropriate.

He thinks I'm doing this for financial gain. When I've not once mentioned to him that I've had to buy a new bed, mattress, fridge freezer and sofa. I've bought a new moses basket in the last week and kitted out her nursery with a new cotbed and drawers and decorated it myself, all the while not brought it up with him in terms of finances. I've never asked my sons dad for a penny as we have 5050 so I feel he knows deep down my priority is the kids wellbeing, not finances.

I'm thinking wanting 5050 from birth is actually him being financially motivated. From everything I've read, young babies need stability and consistency especially with their primary caregiver.

I'll reiterate I think 5050 is the best option, and I'm not restricting how much he wants to see the baby in the early days as it's important to me that she bonds with her dad. But I don't think it should happen from birth and 3 solicitors have advised today that judges always consider a babys age and under 18 months is usually a no, especially if I'm being reasonable about how much he gets to see her.

He said he wants to firstly go to family meditation as he wants to fight me on this.

I feel exhausted, I'm trying to do the right thing and feel like I'm getting nowhere. All the while today being told the midwife thinks I'm anemic as I'm feeling faint a lot and I'm growing a very large baby so now consultant led. I've tried to relieve the stress by offering the above and it just doesn't seem good enough?

OP posts:
Thewheelsfalloffthebus · 11/04/2022 16:27

Tell him you want to breastfeed so 50/50 is not possible from birth.

How much paternity leave is he planning to take? You can’t leave a newborn in childcare so a parent who is working when the child is too young for nursery can’t possibly do 50/50.

Imtootired · 11/04/2022 16:27

If it was me I would write all this in a letter witnessed by a lawyer and not engage anymore. I’ve been a single parent before I had a baby too. Plus I would not say he can bond with baby as much as he wants, it is a recipe for disaster. Make one or two set times per week he can come not open access. He sounds very immature.

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 16:31

@Thewheelsfalloffthebus

Tell him you want to breastfeed so 50/50 is not possible from birth.

How much paternity leave is he planning to take? You can’t leave a newborn in childcare so a parent who is working when the child is too young for nursery can’t possibly do 50/50.

True. I plan to breastfeed as much as possible but I know from my son I have very sensitive nipples! So it will be a big hope I can carry on past the colostrum phase as I'll do that no matter what.

I read that courts favour dads access over breastfeeding anyway, but he will argue that he can have the baby after work, he works from home. Lives about half hour from me now.

OP posts:
Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 16:33

@Thewheelsfalloffthebus thanks if there's a continuous back and forth maybe that's what I'll do. I've been trying to be nice by saying he can come here to bond whenever he wants but I guess maybe that isn't realistic I don't know, I've been a single parent just not one from birth before so this is all a bit new to me

OP posts:
Ffsmakeitstop · 11/04/2022 16:37

Time to tell him to get to fuck. What s horrible man to leave you without a bed or fridge. Make him fight every step of the way.

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 16:42

I should add there's an added fear with the 5050 with the 8 year old. She admitted to me that if she has friends over she's not going to like them giving the baby attention. She has melt downs when her friends give her younger sister attention. With the spitting on my son in top - having the baby away from me around her when my ex will have to give the baby more attention - am I right to be concerned?!

OP posts:
Underfrighter · 11/04/2022 16:47

I'd keep everything factual for now when you respond and link the research saying you're following what's best for the baby, reiterate you are not changing plans as youd planned together for you to take maternity leave so you were always going to be the primary caregiver for the first year, reiterate you are willing to work up to to 50 50 contact. You will facilitate contact x times a week for x hours. So you have in writing how reasonable you are being.

Thewheelsfalloffthebus · 11/04/2022 16:48

Could you do one appointment with a family lawyer and ask for a recommendation for a plan to increase contact to 50/50 by 18months? Then present it to your ex and tell him if the plan doesn’t suit you’re happy to talk it over in mediation once baby is here. If mediation fails, it will go to court.
Do you have an ok relationship with your SDs mother? Could you ask her how involved he was as a dad to a baby the first time round?
Saying he wants you to look after the baby all day and then take her to him after work so he can have 50/50 contact is ridiculous. He wants you to be his unpaid childcare and not contribute by paying CM. Why would you agree to that?
What about 2 hour long evening visits plus one weekend 2 hour visit from birth, then increase from there.

OurChristmasMiracle · 11/04/2022 16:52

Honestly I would agree to go to mediation in regards to contact. Mediators will be on your side as you are being reasonable in regards to contact.

I would also set an age when you feel it will be appropriate to review the contact agreement and stick
To that too so that if him being at yours is not working then you can end it there and insist he finds somewhere suitable to have baby

Hope90x · 11/04/2022 16:54

I don't have any advice but I just wanted to say well done for handling everything so well.
I believe you have made the right decision not to get back into a relationship with this selfish manchild! 💐

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 16:55

@Thewheelsfalloffthebus the SDs mum and I spoke on the phone the other day. She was so apologetic over her daughters behaviour - something he should have been.

She told me that he was great with their first (the 8 year old) but not so much with the youngest. On his paternity leave he decided to go fishing saying this was "his time for him too" 😬 I obviously didn't know things like this. She said she doesn't think he will be able to cope with a baby with the other 2.

That's a good idea put forward a plan now with a view to increase. I've said also that it will also depend on the baby's personality - she's may take to strange places at 18 months or not until 3 years - or before 18 months even who knows. I said we could keep it fluid and see how the baby sleeps/reacts to new places etc. But it's got his back up regardless 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 11/04/2022 16:56

Wow. Lucky escape.

I'd tell him to feel free to instruct a solicitor if he feels that strongly he wants 5050 from birth.

I might also consider how he intends to keep our baby safe from his child who clearly has (at the least) anger issues that need resolving. Does he have her 5050?

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 16:58

@OurChristmasMiracle thanks. Right now I'm so tired and have a few tests coming up with giant baby that I don't even know if I'll be making the right choices. I think even agreeing to try to be with him was hormonal and I want to be in a good place to make the right decisions. Would it be unreasonable to ask him to wait until baby is here and things are settled a bit more (and tensions are less high) before going to mediation?

OP posts:
Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 17:00

@Hope90x you're not the first person to say the words "manchild" 😂 (I also don't want this to be an ex bashing thread I'm so exhausted and don't want to go down that route) but thanks for the other comment. I think I'm doing the right thing also. It feels nice in a strange way to be this far along in pregnancy and still not being a walkover and just being with him for the sake of it

OP posts:
Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 17:02

@ChiefWiggumsBoy yes he has her 5050 but the way he speaks to her is awful. I've already said I'd need reassurance he never speaks to my daughter like that.

Highlights:

"you're thick you don't know anything"
And
"your mother doesn't give a shit about you"

(these were to his 8 year old and about his ex and they both really worry me as I'm now going to be an ex and don't want to be spoken about like that or have the baby's confidence hammered with comments like that)

OP posts:
OurChristmasMiracle · 11/04/2022 17:14

I would say to him that you are happy to consider mediation once the baby has been born if he contacts them before just say to them that you wish to have given birth and established a routine before agreeing to a contact schedule.

I would also suggest you start to consider who you wish to be present at the birth etc and whether you will tell him when you are in labour etc.

Motnight · 11/04/2022 17:15

He has shown you, his ex partner and his daughter exactly the type of man he is, Op. Keep that in mind when making any decisions about him.

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 17:19

@OurChristmasMiracle that's a good plan.

I've addressed the birth already. Even the day I got the message from the landlady I asked the midwife what do people do in this situation as I don't want to be unreasonable.

I said to her I'd feel guilty that he's not there to see the baby but that's me thinking of him and he hasn't given me the same courtesy.

She said their only priority is baby and me and maximising the situation to develop the baby safely. So she asked me if him being at the birth would make me feel supported and help maximise that situation - I feel like I have to say no. It'll be upsetting I'll be furious with him and not feel relaxed or supported. At the same time I'd feel really guilty for him to miss it! I'm so confused over that.

I'd happily have him right outside the door type ready to give her a cuddle when she's here but I want the birth to go as smoothly as possible and without sounding selfish I'm the one doing the work at the time, shouldn't it be up to me? I don't know!

OP posts:
Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 17:20

@Motnight thanks. It's so difficult with hormones and feelings involved but you are totally right.

OP posts:
OurChristmasMiracle · 11/04/2022 17:26

Yes it is absolutely up to you and honestly if it will only cause you stress it is not in the best interests of the baby or you- he may also try to use the post birth time to sort out contact when you are vulnerable.

I would personally let him know baby has arrived once baby has been born and you have had a shower etc and then he can come but that’s me personally and you have to do what is right for you and baby.

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 17:28

@OurChristmasMiracle thanks I really appreciate your comments. I feel a bit vulnerable right now being 32 weeks and I don't want to do anything too drastic but don't want to do anything that'll make me a walkover either.

I really appreciate your help

OP posts:
OurChristmasMiracle · 11/04/2022 17:34

Just concentrate on what’s best for you and baby. Your ex’s wishes right now are not your priority. He decided to walk out on you and the baby so he didn’t put your needs first then so don’t worry about him.

He will have plenty of time to bond with his child after the birth.

candlesandpitchforks · 11/04/2022 17:37

Firstly I'm so sorry this has worked out the way it has.

Having recently given birth under fairly dramatic situation I'm gonna tell this one DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE, COMFORTABLE AND RELAXED. You will spent 9 months growing a human, and birth makes your very vulnerable. You do not need to put this man's needs ahead of yours anymore.

Re contact your being very reasonable and your ex clearly thinks he can bully you during mediation. He would be very wrong on that front !

Re contact can you plan it so if you go to 50/50 he has DC with limited contact with his DD. Sounds like she's going to struggle and if baby gets hurt you need to act accordingly in terms of amending contact if he won't act as a protective factor in contact. I'm not saying that his DD doesn't have her reasons for being how she's being but that's not anything you can solve all you can do is mitigate against risk.

Good luck and congratulations- if it helps I left my ex DH when pregnant with my DD and it worked out the best and we get on so much better now. He didn't have 60/40 (40 being his time) until DD was two.

Also make sure you register baby at your doctors, dentists and claim for CTB as the resident parent just in case he decides to be a 🛎 end xx

RedScarfJamjar · 11/04/2022 17:41

Crikey OP you are a very calm and good person. If my ex had done that at 30 weeks and not even left me me a bed I'd have hit him with a brick!

You do what's right for you and your kids and the baby right now, him pressuring you for all kinds of nonsense at the moment is so incredibly selfish that...well, I'm looking around for a spare brick.

Keep talking to your midwife, and if you want to, a mediator, they will have a session with you both separately initially anyway so they can guide you into exactly how you can put your foot down.

I am very cross on your behalf but you want to keep from ex bashing so I shall return to bashing him (option on brick) in my mind. Grin

BlueOverYellow · 11/04/2022 17:41

He did you a massive favour by finally showing his true colours before the baby arrived.

He's a crap dad to his existing kids, which you ignored, tbh. Those kinds of comments to his child were never acceptable and should have been some serious red flags before having a baby with him yourself! Not to mention her behaviour doesn't appear to be a concern or corrected by him.

And now packing his stuff up after a fight and leaving a 32 week pregnant woman with no where to sleep but the floor with no notice tells you he's not a good man either.

Him accusing you of trying to keep the baby full time for now for financial game is hilarious and ridiculous. Keep the receipts for everything you just had to replace with no notice; keep the receipts for the baby's things you bought; keep a detailed list of everything he took with no notice whatsoever 6 days after he stropped out the door when you were quite pregnant. And keep track of every ridiculous thing he says to you or texts to you.

Frankly, I wouldn't want a small child to have 50 percent of their time with a man who talks to his children like that about the other parent. Good luck to you.