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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

Partner has someone else's baby on the way

225 replies

Alwaystooproudtoask · 09/06/2022 00:51

So this thread may be long I'm sorry. I've just got soo much whirling around my head, heading may also be a bit misleading sorry. So I met my partner who worked for the same organisation as me (didn't meet there), around 3.5 years ago. I had older children already from a previous relationship that had ended many years ago. Because of this I had accepted when the drs had told me After my last Dds complicated pregnancy I couldn't physically have more, it was very traumatic and both me and baby were not too great after. That was until my partner who I was madly in love with I should probably add, kept raising that it makes him sad we can't have a child together. He didn't have children & it really did affect me that he would have to sacrifice that to be with me and i didn't want to think of life without him or him sacrificing not having the blessing of a child because of it. I probably should add I broke up with someone because of the same issue years ago and he did meet someone and have a child but blamed me for being stuck in a horrible relationship all for the sake that I had pushed him away so he could meet someone and have a child. He said he would have been happy not to have had any children as long as we we're together. I felt awful for lots or reasons about that. But back to partner now , I had started to look into if there was any alternative ways we could have a child together through my drs. I didn't want to get his hopes up so discussed the basics. after some blood tests that came back unexpectedly well and lots of reassurance I was informed I could try and have a consult lead pregnancy due to high risks & that all was very likely to go well given the right care. We discussed this and discussed the news which came with the blow of, I only have around a year to try as I was in the early menopause (no pressure, to process or conceive eh). We hadn't conceived after 7 months. He put it down to me not being able to conceive, and highlighted it did make him sad, when my periods would confirm I wasn't pregnant. I had the mindset that, it also wasn't looking like we would conceive naturally.
we started having difficulties in the relationship, he was great with my children & they really did like him, that's one of the things I really loved about him, including he was amazing with our 2 little doggies. Unfortunately him and my eldest dd( 20 at the time) had fallen out and it had got a bit unbearable, he also had the mindset that he shouldn't have to help with housework as it was for me and the kids to do, as none of it was his mess. I struggled with that being his family upbringing mindset (his mother apologised for that) as he lived alone before me, I had the fantasy illusion of him being a domestic god, a girl can dream.
His mindset and upbringing was so far removed from mine. His family moved around a lot due to work where mine were very grounded. He was always wanting us to move away and start a fresh somewhere, one day Yorkshire, the next Germany. I live near the sea and we're quite happy here but would move if it was a great option. when I first met him I felt he was a deeply intellectual thoughtful, very affectionate guy & I probably was in a much less stable way than I realised. I'd been a single mum for roughly 10years by this point. However, I asked him to leave due to issues with my older dd. he didn't want to leave & wanted me to help him with making the situation better. I didn't have any fight to give at this point, I felt absolutely emotionally drained due to lots of things I guess & I needed needed him to fix it all, I know way too much pressure. The 1st few days without him was fine, I felt fine about our time apart but that was when I realised that's exactly all I wanted, just some time apart. I just wanted him back & by day 6, I had just found out I was pregnant. He had gone to stay with family up north & said he was really happy when I called, I asked if we could see each other but he was putting me off. I've realised I have a terrible habit of pushing people away and then trying to pull them back. The result was I told him I was pregnant via a message. It really sucked but it's how I did it and I can't go back on that unfortunately. When he phoned he was like a different person he was screaming at me to get rid of it and how much he hated me and he'd moved on and wasn't coming back (it was 6days wth) and that I'm on my own if I keep it & that he had never said he wanted a child with me let alone want one & that I was lying about that fact.

I decided to continue with the pregnancy and she's the best thing to happen to our family and we're all absolutely in awe of her. My pregnancy was terrifying, I needed bloods taken every 2 weeks and she needed brain scans in the womb regularly and I was always terrified she wouldn't survive, I'd had 12 years of being told it wasn't possible. She was induced early and spent some time having treatment in hospital due to being born quite poorly, conceiving knowing I was putting her at risk weighed heavily me, even with all the drs reassurance, but we were in it and she's just great and An absolute blessing. Her dad would check in every so often, when I was pregnant until he would tell me how much he hates me and block me off everything. I felt so sad about it and did feel he was behaving that way because I'd hurt him and provoked him with things I'd say. I felt I was the cause of why he was having difficulty regulating his emotions. He asked to move back at one point, as he said he could only be around if we lived together. After the things he had said when he found out I was pregnant I didn't want him moving back in, I felt we had a journey to get through before that. He wasn't at the birth & it bloke my heart he didn't check in let alone be there around that time, even though I was induced earlier than he expected, I was blocked by him and his family at that point so couldn't contact him. I must add I was soo angry that his family blocked me, I had stayed at there's when visiting a couple of times but he said it was him that blocked me of all there contacts.
He decided to arrange a visit when she was around 6 months old. & had a few more visits. I thought things were going well and that it could only be positive for Dd. we talked about what a mess things are but he wanted to move on in a positive direction & me too, I still question if I said did the wrong things to cause him to stay away, he said it hurt him too much and he didn't know how to fix things. It was a journey with my elder children adjusting to him being back around. Then boom he had decided I'd been horrible and hated me and he left and didn't return for almost 7 months. zero contact, even on her 1st birthday, but did send a gift with his parents. the weird thing is I thought we were really getting on. Then one day he just knocked on the door said he'd moved back to the area, as he'd been living about 3 hours away & that he's been working on his mental health and he's here to stay and finally do everything he can to prove he's here to stay. It was such a whirlwind, I was totally swept away and yes I'm pathetic & within 2 weeks I was absolutely back in love again. The children (they are high school uni & above age) we're away and the 1st night he stayed just felt soo special, it felt like we could really move forward & actually be a family. I knew it was going too take a lot for me to let go of heartache from his absence in the pregnancy and 1st yr but our dd was bonding so beautifully with him & I am a pathetic hopeless romantic. Our first night was overshadowed by constant calls in the morning. Long story short it was a girl to say she is pregnant 😔. It's been absolutely devastating again. He is doing to her what he did to me. He said she was just a housemate in a shared house and that she thought she couldn't have children too and she's keeping it for fear of not managing to have another child. She contacted his parents (through fb) but I had inclined to them something was going on, so luckily he had told them prior to the message. He said she suffers with lots of mental health and would have a lot of difficulty managing life with a baby. I told him I don't want anything to do with him if he doesn't do the right thing & support her and the child. I was obviously devastated. When we did speak he informed me she had decided not to go ahead with the pregnancy & his only focus now is me and our dd. It's taken months of feeling like I'm on a horrible rollercoaster, and me and him just trying to move forward. I was always saying he needs to confirm for sure if she kept the baby, well a few weeks ago he has confirmed that he has been speaking with her, I was great full for his honesty and glad he had. she had decided that although she didn't want him involved she wants him to financially support the baby. He said he's ok to do that & that they are only talking to negotiate money. He said it's an issue as she believes she should receive more than me as he's in our dds life. I don't believe him and feel like he enjoys talking to her to get at me. He's started telling me about chats he has with her about me. I have always pushed for him to be involved while hes been adamant me and our dd is all he wants and has the capacity to cope with. I always knew she would keep the baby, so it's not a surprise and it's my Dd sibling an innocent baby. He has me worrying about his mental health a lot, and I tolerate a lot of things & tried not to push him into a dark place, about everything, as he doesn't deal with things well clearly, hes now says I'm manipulative and always put him in a dark place. When I feel I affect my mental health to protect his. Anyway In an argument he blurted that the other girl thinks I'm mad because I questioned him if he had been to visit her when he just went away for 2 weeks to Scotland and to visit his parents where she lives near by to them, I might add he told me while in bed he's going away it wasn't a discussion we had, hence the argument I guess, that he never considers my feelings. I felt that inconsiderate to our relationship. I don't have issues with her for thinking I'm mad, she doesn't know me or I her & I believe he plays mind games with us both now, I do have issues with him discussing our private relationship with her, especially when he says he isn't going to be in her life & she apparently doesn't want him to be in hers & it's simply about money. I actually feel an idiot hearing myself as I read this and can't believe I'm caught is an insane situation like this. I am also aware I can quite easily and happy live life without him as I've had to do that more times than I care to remember. I asked for some time out the other day and he has sent me awful messages telling me how manipulative I am and that no wonder I've never been able to keep a man. I think I've unfortunately just not made great choices and probably do have to work on myself quite a lot, I was doing just fine when he was absent for the 7 months, my issue was more about will he ever re-appear.

The current situation is he's now saying im preventing dd from having a relationship with him. This is because he's decided he doesn't want to see her at my house or have her at his & also won't take her out without me there. He wants us to meet weekly for walks (a bit of a drive away too) and coffee. I just don't want to push myself to do that, especially when the probability of rain is high and I don't have much time for this, especially as I do everything alone. I work and am a busy single mum of a toddler. He says the alternative is we be together but I feel like I have no trust and he's playing emotional games with me and this girl. He's now saying as I've been writing that he will probably be in the child's life, I am happy about that, I'm just so sick of his swapping and changing his mind and getting angry with me for addressing that. I'm sorry for all this rant, my brain is pounding. I can usually walk away so easily but the pull he has on me is quite literally soul destroying and really a bit concerning now. I'm guessing my character my get questioned here but I don't mind maybe I need some harsh truths. My family hate him (bar my children), but they don't see him just hear my stories and I do have friends who seem to promote us being together. So I'm so conflicted & he tells me I'm the problem soo much and he loves me deeply but in the next breath he hates me. I can't decide if I'm in an abusive relationship or if I'm the emotionally abusive one? ☹️

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 09/06/2022 10:06

I havdn't read all your post. But it is evident he is capable of very nasty behaviour and blames you. It doesn't look like there will be any change for the better in the future. I agree time time to get rid of him and move forward.

EnterACloud · 09/06/2022 10:06

I can’t believe you forgave him after he hassled you to endanger your health by getting pregnant and then lied and ran off.

hopefully your baby daughter is still young enough that she never needs to remember this horrible, angry, deceitful, selfish bastard if you cut him off NOW. Don’t enable access, invite him to take you to court if he wants it.

try to forge he ever existed and please speak to your gp, you may be able to access some counselling. You may even be depressed (I think I would be after all that).

your friends wouldn’t be wanting you with him if they knew the awful way he behaves. He’s basically poison in man form and you’re a big adult responsible for these kids - be very strong and CUT HIM OFF for everyone’s sake. You wouldn’t want to see your elder daughter take this shit would you

rocksonrocks · 09/06/2022 10:08

Can't believe how selfish you were to get involved again with a man who you had to remove from your home due to issues with your existing children, let alone have another child with the man.

Completely unfair on your older children to have to watch this unfold and I think you're really selfish for subjecting another child to what appears to be an unstable home environment.

I really wish people would think about the lives they're creating for their children before they have them. Sad.

AintNoPartyLikeANumber10Party · 09/06/2022 10:08

Alwaystooproudtoask · 09/06/2022 09:49

Thank you for your reply x

I do always wonder if I'm looking at it from the wrong perspective and if it is me, creating everything being worse. He said he slept with her to try and move on from me. He says they are totally not together and gave me her contact details in a casual chat one day to message her any time I want. I don't want to do that. I just wonder if I've hurt him so much by always pushing him away and this is the consequence 😳. Todays drama is he wants me to meet him for a country walk, I've said I will do 1 of 2 lovely parks we have near by. I woke up feeling positive about doing that. Thought I could read while he spends some quality time. Apparently he won't be coming to any s&@!y park and I'm stopping him have a relationship due to refusing to drive to him. Gosh this man turns me bonkers. I woke up feeling better after my massive rant/offload too

Wake up @Alwaystooproudtoask - the problem is that you have not pushed him away. You are enmeshed in an abusive relationship.
why are you discussing going for walks in a park? Tell him: ‘if you want to see your DD, you can collect her at X time and bring her back at Y time.’

this man is a piece of shit. I’d be tempted to cut all contact and let him sue for access. He won’t bother - he’s not interested in your DD unless he can use her to abuse you. Sorry.

Alwaystooproudtoask · 09/06/2022 10:10

Thank you for your reply. Definitely the points I make regarding house work.

I always felt he wasn't addressing mh issues and pushed in the direction of some counselling. I've worked in mh before and wonder if I've been too empathetic how he's behaved. I now think it's more gaslighting. I also now want to prioritise my own and the kids mh. I am waiting for some therapy sessions to start. Can't happen soon enough x

OP posts:
ZooKeeper19 · 09/06/2022 10:11

Please tell him to leave and never come back. He is an abusive idiot that uses you as a hotel! Your children are in danger from seeing this as "normal". You are setting a terrible example to all of them, by accepting that a man should treat a woman like a rag. Horrible. Please get rid of him forever.

DeclineandFall · 09/06/2022 10:12

He's been doing the full on fuck off thing and that is a total head melter. It makes you lose all sense of perspective and sense. He has been and is continuing to be an abusive wanker and making you feel it's your fault. You need to block him now if you don't your life is going to be a merry go round of this shit. He may not be a narcissist but he displaying the same toxic behaviours. Have a read around some stuff on the internet and you will recognise what he is doing to you. That's the first step to getting away from him.

Alwaystooproudtoask · 09/06/2022 10:13

Thank you. I really did need to hear this today 😌

OP posts:
TeamWorkDreamBurb · 09/06/2022 10:17

On the one hand this guy seems to have serious mental health issues - although I can understand why he would be upset about finding the woman who had just dumped him was pregnant. But his back and foward beahviour is unstable to say the least.

On the other hand as far as him not doing housework, if the shoe was on the other foot and a woman was posting on here that her new boyfriend expected her to do house work for her and her kids there would be a lot of “there his kids he should be looking after them”. So that’s double standards there.

On the third hand has this guy never heard of condoms?

But also, why is it impossible to meet him for coffee with his daughter when your willing to have him at yours or take her to his, so he can see her? Everything else about him sounds quite insane, but I don’t see the problem here?
You saying you don’t want to do it because it could rain seems strange, to say the least.

ChairP0se9to5 · 09/06/2022 10:17

Yes, you are too empathetic. Or, as is often the case, you have poor boundaries because you wrongly believe that saying no that doesn't work for me is in some way too cold and you just can't bring yourself to do it. You don't have to lose your empathy. Putting yourself first isn't ''cold''. It's not unfair of you to put your own needs first. You need to show empathy to YOURSELF. You look after you.

TeamWorkDreamBurb · 09/06/2022 10:19

@Alwaystooproudtoask

Im not sure I would call this guy mentally manipulative on purpose or gaslighting - mainly because his beahviour seems far more pointless and unstable. I think he’s probably just got some quite serious phsyciatric problems which are totally unaddressed.

Not that knowing that helps much.

Spanglemum · 09/06/2022 10:20

It's not you it's him. He sounds as if he has serious mental health issues and is also a manipulative bastard. The two things are not incompatible. Sort out contact for him and his daughter so that she can see him and move on. He's playing you and this other woman off against each other.

ChairP0se9to5 · 09/06/2022 10:21

As in often the case for people who believe they are highly empathetic I mean. I used to believe this. Then I realised that actually, I have a normal amount of empathy but I feel increased amounts of guilt for putting myself over somebody else that I'm in a relationship with. Even if that person has consistently put himself first. This guy pressured to have a baby, not have a baby, he disappeared and reappeared and got somebody else pregnant and now you find it really hard to put What's best for you and right for you above what he wants. He wants you to brush it all under the carpet because that'd suit him best? And you feel GUILTY for not doing that?

It's not empathy. It's weak boundaries. Empathetic people CAN learn to put themselves first. I do it now, finally. My mother sees it as a betrayal yes, but I've learnt now that normal healthy people don't get shat on forty times and feel conflicted about saying no. They just say no after the first time they were shat on and move on without a backward glance.

TeamWorkDreamBurb · 09/06/2022 10:23

Alwaystooproudtoask · 09/06/2022 09:49

Thank you for your reply x

I do always wonder if I'm looking at it from the wrong perspective and if it is me, creating everything being worse. He said he slept with her to try and move on from me. He says they are totally not together and gave me her contact details in a casual chat one day to message her any time I want. I don't want to do that. I just wonder if I've hurt him so much by always pushing him away and this is the consequence 😳. Todays drama is he wants me to meet him for a country walk, I've said I will do 1 of 2 lovely parks we have near by. I woke up feeling positive about doing that. Thought I could read while he spends some quality time. Apparently he won't be coming to any s&@!y park and I'm stopping him have a relationship due to refusing to drive to him. Gosh this man turns me bonkers. I woke up feeling better after my massive rant/offload too

@Alwaystooproudtoask

He may well have slept with her to try to move on from you. Should have used protection especially given what was going on in his life.

But why can’t you drive nearer him? Why must everything be on your terms in regards to your and his child?

Alwaystooproudtoask · 09/06/2022 10:24

I love that. I am definitely a quote person & I have been processing this is one I need to stop.
this is where my mindset is, I feel I can only move forward with him gone but I feel horrible for that. He says he won't see dd without me there & I already can't bear what should be our 1st attempt today.

OP posts:
ChairP0se9to5 · 09/06/2022 10:25

Whether he's a psychopath or a manipulator, who cares, @Alwaystooproudtoask this carry on has brought instability in to your life and it doesn't serve you.

it is not a betrayal of him to put yourself first.

In fact with the exception of your DC it's not a betrayal of anybody ever to put yourself first. If your needs and your rights and your peace on her conflict with what he wants, his convenience then it is very definitely not a betrayal of anybody for you to say no that doesn't work for me.

I said it to my brother recently and it worked. He had no answer to that. He wanted me to submit to his narrative that I'm mad and bad and the family is saintly for putting up with me trying to defend myself. I was my own worst enemy apparently for not just lying down and submitting to more of the same.
I said no that doesn't work for me.
And I felt better afterwards I can tell you.

I will look after myself and my dc and I'm HARMING NOBODY.

Do not sacrifice your well-being for his ''convenience'' which is what it would be.

Alwaystooproudtoask · 09/06/2022 10:27

A rest would be very welcomed.

OP posts:
Robinni · 09/06/2022 10:30

@Alwaystooproudtoask

This man is a dreadful partner, person, father.

I would recommend getting some sort of a legal arrangement. Get a child arrangement order and contact CMS as another person said.

Clearly you are vulnerable. I would suggest if it is set up that he sees your daughter that you arrange for another family member to take her to him and supervise. At an indoor location such as soft play, or whatever is specified in the child arrangement order.

Always use the third party for communication purposes, a social worker if necessary.

And change your number, cease communicating with this other woman. His relationship and child with her is none of your concern. Unless at some point he has joint custody and accommodation where your child will come into contact with the woman and child.

Please concentrate on your daughters and your mental health. Seek a counsellor for some therapy. And stay away from this man he is very bad news.

thenewduchessoflapland · 09/06/2022 10:36

Stop reading halfway through.

I didn't need to read anymore to tell you to dump this man.

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 09/06/2022 10:46

CrapBucket · 09/06/2022 01:03

Christ on a bike this is a terrible relationship, get rid, move on.

Exactly
Why you even let it get to this point

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 09/06/2022 10:47

Is a total mystery
Set a good example for your kids, grow some balls and move on

AintNoPartyLikeANumber10Party · 09/06/2022 10:48

TeamWorkDreamBurb · 09/06/2022 10:23

@Alwaystooproudtoask

He may well have slept with her to try to move on from you. Should have used protection especially given what was going on in his life.

But why can’t you drive nearer him? Why must everything be on your terms in regards to your and his child?

Why?
Because she’s not a fucking taxi service. She’s not his employee.
She doesn’t have to.
Because he’s an abusive piece of shit who brings nothing but grief to her life and the lives of her children.

Alwaystooproudtoask · 09/06/2022 10:49

I have actually been analysing all this of late. I was a sick child in hospital a lot growing up then went to boarding school. I've have been lucky and had quite privileged life in many ways. I clearly do have some issues 🙁 I have booked for some counselling and hope to start very soon.

i try too not have him around too much when the older children are here. We're a very close family so we speak about everything & can talk about topics that some may feel uncomfortable with. We were a unit on our own for 10 yrs prior to this (there dad is present) I don't want them to think bad behaviour is acceptable. There emotional well-being is definitely not something I brush under the carpet and is always a priority. They have all done exceptionally well academically too. Dd is 22 now and In a lovely relationship & I really am optimistic the poor relationships stop with me 😣

OP posts:
grapewines · 09/06/2022 10:50

The absolute shit some women will put their children through in order to have a man is just baffling.

Limer · 09/06/2022 10:51

I feel I can only move forward with him gone but I feel horrible for that.

Why do you feel horrible? You'll be ridding yourself of this vile abuser.

He says he won't see dd without me there

I'd view that as a result. Tell him he has to. Hopefully you'll never see him again.