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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

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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:
candlesandpitchforks · 11/04/2022 17:47

@RedScarfJamjar

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

Can I join you if OP request it and bring my cattle prod ?!?

I mean what on earth type of man does this. The end of pregnancy is the literal worst and he's taken her bed and she's worrying about him being upset not being in the room.

Now where is my cattle prod charger 🔌.....

Weareallvirgins · 11/04/2022 17:48

This 50 /50 thing gets mentioned a awful lot
Wait until baby is born you wont want him round all the time im sure of that.
He sounds like a wanker anyway

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 17:49

@RedScarfJamjar ha thanks. I think once baby is here and settled, if he's still wanting to fight it I agree mediation will be good and I feel good about it as I don't think I'm being that unreasonable. Just would like some time, some calm before then

OP posts:
RedScarfJamjar · 11/04/2022 17:49

@candlesandpitchforks user name checks out Grin

SleepingStandingUp · 11/04/2022 17:51

but he will argue that he can have the baby after work, he works from home. Lives about half hour from me now. so his plan for 50/50 is what? 7pm - 7 am every work day, from birth? You deliver at 2 pm and at 7 he's there like, right hand he rover, she'll see you tomorrow, just bring me milk every two hours.
Idiot.
Him, obviously.

NeverChange · 11/04/2022 17:52

I would be starting with something like.....

Dear sofa bed thief,

As I'm very heavily pregnant, exhausted and low in iron, right now I am prioritising by health & stress levels and focusing on the health of our unborn child which I'm sure you will appreciate is the right thing to do.

We can discuss parenting arrangements etc. as soon as the baby arrives and I will be as fair & accommodating as possible as it is important to have you in the child's life but until then I just need rest and no additional stresses. Please respect my wishes."

What sort of asshole does this to any woman,let alone a pregnant woman? Just look after you and the baby for now & figure the rest out later.

IReallyLikeCrows · 11/04/2022 17:52

No advice but I think you are going above and beyond what most would do in your situation.

I know you don't want to bash your ex, and I admire you for that, but I honestly think him taking the bed, the sofa and the fridge freezer at the same time as saying to you that things can be fixed and when you are so far along in your pregnancy is utterly appalling, selfish and shitty behaviour. I don't think I'd ever be able to forgive that.

RedScarfJamjar · 11/04/2022 17:53

@Baby3at40 you are so far away from being unreasonable that you couldn't see it with the Hubble telescope.

Get yourself a splendid bed set for the new bed and make a nice calm Fort in it for a bit. Take care of yourself, we're all here to support you and the giant you are apparently gestating.

Thewheelsfalloffthebus · 11/04/2022 17:55

There was a thread here a few months ago with an OP in a similar situation and they had to wait till the baby was born to go to mediation. Iirc mediation and court is only a possibility once the baby is actually born. Beforehand the baby is not yet a legal person so can’t be subject to a child arrangement order. Or something. I’m not a lawyer so check that out properly.

GrandRapids · 11/04/2022 17:57

Don't factor his wants or wishes into the equation right now. You really are giving his 'needs' way too much headspace. So he misses the birth? He shouldn't have fucked off taking most of the contents of your house! Who gives a damn what HE wants?

I would send one message saying that you need to be left alone to prioritise your health and you'll be in touch after the birth. Oh, and I wouldn't be rushing to do that either.

Floralnomad · 11/04/2022 18:01

@GrandRapids

Don't factor his wants or wishes into the equation right now. You really are giving his 'needs' way too much headspace. So he misses the birth? He shouldn't have fucked off taking most of the contents of your house! Who gives a damn what HE wants?

I would send one message saying that you need to be left alone to prioritise your health and you'll be in touch after the birth. Oh, and I wouldn't be rushing to do that either.

This , you are being way too nice pack it in and look after yourself . He’s a complete tosser .
Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 18:03

Ah I'm in tears at these messages. Hormones playing a part too obviously but I've been questioning everything.

Thanks so much everyone 😭 I think that message @Never Change is perfect I've just screenshot 🤣

Also @Thewheelsfalloffthebus I've just had an email back from one solicitor saying extractly that. Nothing can be arranged until baby is born due to her not being anything we can legally fight for at the moment so at least that gives me some space 😊

OP posts:
Gelasia · 11/04/2022 18:04

How much does he care about this baby if he leaves the woman carrying it without anywhere to sleep and the means to keep food safely, and deliberately stresses her out while the baby is still inside her? Does he want the baby to be born safely or not? Cos he's not acting like it.
"His time for him too..." I can't even. Paternity leave - the clue is in the name.

But, ahem, respect your wish for no ex-bashing....really just mentioning those things to say pleeeeease don't have him at the birth. As you know, you need to feel safe to get the hormones flowing and have the best birth possible. He's not owed the birth. Prioritise yourself and your children (as you already did sticking up for your son.)

No way should he get 50/50 with a little baby and I really hope he doesn't. Just don't try to get him on side or worry about "the right thing" more than is strictly reasonable. He's not your friend. He took your bed! You need to be on your own side and your kids'. Hope you're doing okay.

KissedintheDark · 11/04/2022 18:08

First of all don't put him on the birth certificate.

TheWernethWife · 11/04/2022 18:29

First of all don't put him on the birth certificate.

This one of the most important decisions you can make, if he's named on the birth certificate then he will be able to challenge you on any part of your baby's upbringing.

Baby3at40 · 11/04/2022 18:33

Re: messages about the birth certificate. I think putting him on there is the right thing to do. He is their father and yes he will also be involved in decisions if he's on there, but I feel that is the right thing to do by the baby, putting him on there.

He can (and he will) fight to have his name on there (they can petition to the court) and I have no reasonable reason to not put him on there. I really do think that's the right thing to do by baby 😬

OP posts:
Pluvia · 11/04/2022 18:34

He's a man whose eight-year-old spits in peoples' faces. Where did she learn to do that? He's a man who, when asked him to deal with this, fell out with you and took away your bed and your sofa just a few weeks before you were due to give birth. He metaphorically spat in your face. This is a man who, offered 50/50, is looking for a fight to get more. This is not a man you want around your daughter when she's born. Please protect her. Can you not see what a poor father he will be? He sounds punitive and controlling.

You've set your personal bar too low. You're telling yourself that because you're reasonable, because you're calm, because you can cope, this is okay. It's not. He has already behaved abusively and shown you who he is. Open your eyes. Decent men don't behave in this way.

jeannie46 · 11/04/2022 18:38

No court would give him 50/50 with a young baby let alone a new born!

He just wants to not have to pay you money.

Don't put him on the birth certificate.

Don't have him as your birthing partner - judging by your posts , it could be a nightmare.

Keep a log of his / his ex's actions/ comments / your ( imo far too compliant ) offers.

ItWasAgathaAllAlong · 11/04/2022 18:42

I think putting him on there is the right thing to do. He is their father and yes he will also be involved in decisions if he's on there, but I feel that is the right thing to do by the baby, putting him on there

Please, OP, please listen to the people who are advising you to do this. They are only doing so because, very often, they (like you) thought it was 'the right thing to do', but events proved otherwise.

The right thing to do for your baby is to keep them safe. Please, please listen to wiser pp here.

He can (and he will) fight to have his name on there (they can petition to the court) and I have no reasonable reason to not put him on there. I really do think that's the right thing to do by baby

Again, listen to the people who are saying you already have plenty of 'reason' to leave him off. He hasn't treated you with respect now - whatever makes you think that he will be reasonable with any decisions if he's on the BC? He won't be. Please, stressed and tired or not, please take off the blinkers of being 'nice' and see this man for what he is.

Honestly, he won't petition to the court to be put on the BC - his ex has basically already told you that, in so many words.

Do the right thing by your baby. He can still be as involved as you like without being on the BC. This is some of the best advice you've had. Please listen.

Wishing you lots of luck. Flowers

ItWasAgathaAllAlong · 11/04/2022 18:43

Obviously, that was meant to say, "please listen to the people who are NOT advising you to do this" (as in, DON'T put him on the BC).

Long day, apologies!

ItWasAgathaAllAlong · 11/04/2022 18:46

OFFS!

I'll try again, "please listen to the people who are advising you NOT to put him on the BC! There - at last!

(This is what happens when you're trying to supervise DP cooking... Grin)

Speakuptomakeyourselfheard · 11/04/2022 18:49

I agree with what other posters have said. In your situation I would make it clear that having walked out on you at 30 weeks, with no consideration for your or the baby's comfort, he has forfeit any rights to be at the birth, and you are not prepared to discuss the future until your baby has been delivered safely and you have had time to recover from the birth.

I wish you all the best with the delivery of your baby, and please OP, put him and his wants out of your mind until you have delivered safely and had sufficient time to get over the birth, otherwise you could well end up suffering from PND and that isn't going to do anyone any good.

TracyMosby · 11/04/2022 18:57

You plan to make life very easy for him when he went out of his way to make life very difficult for you at 30 weeks pregnant. Dont even get into a discussion with him at this stage. Of course he doesnt get to be at the birth. He isnt your partner.

Youve separated because he is a terrible parent. He will make your life and your child’s life difficult because his parenting style will be very different to yours, that 50/50 will be a nightmare.

Let him go to court to have his name on the bc. Let him prove that he will put the effort in, as everything at the moment screams that he wont.

And fgs make sure baby has your surname.

Fireflygal · 11/04/2022 19:00

What a prick to be debating contact when the baby isn't even here yet. Send the message as suggested and then block him as I assume you don't need contact with him for a few weeks. Give yourself time to prepare for the birth.

It takes a special kind of man to walk out over such an issue. How is your son doing?

KosherDill · 11/04/2022 19:03

Focus on your existing children and not on him, what he wants, what he "needs," etc. It's no longer any of your concern.

I wouldn't name him on the certificate for anything.

How many kids is this unreliable oaf going to father before he's through?

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