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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

Fair for him to oppose paying for dc in this context? (Please be kind)

552 replies

biwncs · 28/12/2022 14:19

before I start I want to say I’ve NC as I am embarrassed by this and I know I do NOT smell of roses here. Please don’t post if it’s just to sling mud at me, i know I haven’t been perfect by a long way.

when I was 37 I panicked about wanting dc and my partner at the time was 40. He had pushed it back a year already but in fairness to him we hadn’t been together long, only two years. He would often make comments about wanting dc and where we would take them, what schools theyd go to etc. I came off the pill and didn’t say and although we also used condoms (we always have, we prefer it), I became pregnant. He was conflicted at the start but after a couple of weeks said it was up to me and he would support me either way. I asked if he wanted a termination a few times and he said no. So we carried on. Half way through the pregnancy I felt I had to tell him I had come off the pill. It was a horrible conversation understandably but we moved past it. A year or so later we broke up, since then my ex has refused to pay a penny and hasn’t spent any time with dc. He has no other kids and as far as I know not with anyone else. He tells me he shouldn’t have to pay as I made him have a dc. I now feel so conflicted about maintenance? I feel he was giving me all the signs he wanted us to have dc and I did openly discuss termination and he said no. But ultimately he’s right I came off the pill and didn’t say. I am so confused/sad as to what to do and what’s right. He doesn’t seem interested in dc either and i feel that’s on me, though I never ever had him down as someone who would abandon his child. I just don’t know what to do and feel he has a point regarding finance.

OP posts:
LimeCheesecake · 28/12/2022 15:29

I’d have more sympathy with him if he has said he didn’t want this and ended their relationship when he found out the truth. At that point the OP still had time to have an abortion and would be continuing with the pregnancy on the understanding she’d be a single parent. It’s his decision to say carry on with the pregnancy, live together for the first 6-8months of his child’s life, then decide it wasn’t for him after all and then expect to not have to pay the minimum support.

assume because they were together when the school was born, he’s on the birth certificate and his family and friends all know he’s a dad.

Cakecakecheese · 28/12/2022 15:30

Ramsbottom · 28/12/2022 15:26

No but combined with the pill taken correctly it would be practically impossible to fall pregnant,

Yes I was really referring to the people asking if or assuming the OP tampered with the condoms.

MelchiorsMistress · 28/12/2022 15:32

Pumperthepumper · 28/12/2022 15:28

I don’t understand your point about abortion though. Him not wanting a kid and a woman aborting the kid are totally different scenarios. They’re not opposite sides of the same coin.

You’re probably right and the injustice of the situation made me a little bit crazy.

Floralnomad · 28/12/2022 15:32

You have the morals of an alley cat and I feel very sorry for the man in question , who thought he was using double protection to avoid a pregnancy and was in fact relying on condoms . Legally you should get the maintenance , morally you should raise this child alone .

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 28/12/2022 15:37

What you did is morally repugnant but the child should not be punished for the actions of their parents so he should pay

Spanielsarepainless · 28/12/2022 15:37

Similar happened to a friend's son. He took his own life a few weeks after the child was born.

HiccupHorrendousHaddock · 28/12/2022 15:39

Legally he must support the child. It's not the child's fault.

I wouldn't blame him for hating you for life, and telling all and sundry what an underhanded person you are. You did an unforgiveable thing. If I knew a friend had done that, we wouldn't be friends anymore.

DiddyHeck · 28/12/2022 15:43

There are some spectacularly thick people banging on about vasectomies here.

Why on earth would he get one when he eventually wanted kids? You know when he was ready and while he was doing what he thought was the responsible thing....having sex with a woman who was supposed to be on the pill, while making double sure with a condom?

Of course he should pay, but it's in no way his fault that he ended up in a two year relationship with an abuser.

So quit the victim blaming.

DuplicateUserName · 28/12/2022 15:44

HiccupHorrendousHaddock · 28/12/2022 15:39

Legally he must support the child. It's not the child's fault.

I wouldn't blame him for hating you for life, and telling all and sundry what an underhanded person you are. You did an unforgiveable thing. If I knew a friend had done that, we wouldn't be friends anymore.

I would definitely be telling everyone what she's like if I were him.

FrippEnos · 28/12/2022 15:44

HiccupHorrendousHaddock · 28/12/2022 15:39

Legally he must support the child. It's not the child's fault.

I wouldn't blame him for hating you for life, and telling all and sundry what an underhanded person you are. You did an unforgiveable thing. If I knew a friend had done that, we wouldn't be friends anymore.

And yet doing that and this in itself will be a red flag against him for ever more.

GrasstrackGirl · 28/12/2022 15:45

The fact that OP hasn't answered whether she tampered with the condoms or not is making e suspicious.

You don't come off the pill and within a short span of time miraculously become pregnant whilst your partner used condoms usually...

GrasstrackGirl · 28/12/2022 15:46

FrippEnos · 28/12/2022 15:44

And yet doing that and this in itself will be a red flag against him for ever more.

Why would it be?

He'd be telling the truth.

FrippEnos · 28/12/2022 15:50

GrasstrackGirl · 28/12/2022 15:46

Why would it be?

He'd be telling the truth.

He would be labelling his ex as a psycho, and not seeing his child.
These being to two worse things he could ever do.

GrasstrackGirl · 28/12/2022 15:51

FrippEnos · 28/12/2022 15:50

He would be labelling his ex as a psycho, and not seeing his child.
These being to two worse things he could ever do.

How is it a red flag to tell the truth?

FrippEnos · 28/12/2022 15:52

I will also add that you only have to look at the mental gymnastics on this thread excusing the OP and making him the bad guy to see why its a "red flag".

LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 15:54

I have a feeling that if we were discussing a man poking holes in condoms to trick a woman into pregnancy the attitudes would be much different.

The lack of sympathy for the man and the downright victim blaming going on here are quite disturbing.

FrippEnos · 28/12/2022 15:54

GrasstrackGirl · 28/12/2022 15:51

How is it a red flag to tell the truth?

I can only assume that you haven't been on MN very. 😀

WomanhoodIsABirthright · 28/12/2022 15:54

OldFan · 28/12/2022 15:13

Is it even his?

@WomanhoodIsABirthright !!!?

She's a deceitful liar so its a perfectly valid question.

Pumperthepumper · 28/12/2022 15:55

LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 15:54

I have a feeling that if we were discussing a man poking holes in condoms to trick a woman into pregnancy the attitudes would be much different.

The lack of sympathy for the man and the downright victim blaming going on here are quite disturbing.

Well yes, it would be - because that would be a man choosing what happens to someone else’s body. That’s the difference.

VahineNuiWentHome · 28/12/2022 15:55

Cm is for the child.

Yes you didn’t use the pill but you WERE using condoms so in effect, you were using contraception, just not the belt and braces approach.

Regardless of contraception, no contraception, he created a child and is now 50% responsible (or should be). That includes CM.

id have no hesitation.

LorenzoVonMatterhorn · 28/12/2022 15:55

LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 15:54

I have a feeling that if we were discussing a man poking holes in condoms to trick a woman into pregnancy the attitudes would be much different.

The lack of sympathy for the man and the downright victim blaming going on here are quite disturbing.

Did she poke holes in the condoms he was using? Has that been said?

That would of course be unacceptable but regardless, the child exists and needs money to live.

WomanhoodIsABirthright · 28/12/2022 15:56

Cakecakecheese · 28/12/2022 15:25

Condoms aren't 100% reliable are they? Or am I just thinking of that Friends episode? 🤔

He thought she was on the pill.

LaLuz7 · 28/12/2022 15:56

GrasstrackGirl · 28/12/2022 15:45

The fact that OP hasn't answered whether she tampered with the condoms or not is making e suspicious.

You don't come off the pill and within a short span of time miraculously become pregnant whilst your partner used condoms usually...

Exactly...

The usual failure rate of condoms is 16-18% per year of using condoms exclusively.

The fact that OP magically got lucky with a condom failure right after coming off the pill is suspicious to say the least.

Purplecatshopaholic · 28/12/2022 15:57

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/12/2022 14:31

As to your main question, of course he’s reasonable to be angry he’s on the hook for money for 17 or however many years. But legally he’s screwed so you win.

Yup, this. He’s perfectly entitled to be angry, you behaved appallingly (as you know). At some point your child likely will find out/be told the circumstances too which will be challenging for them to hear (and you go deal with). Ultimately though, maintenance money is for the child and they are legally entitled to it, so he is on the hook for it regardless.

Ofcourseshecan · 28/12/2022 15:58

Any kind of contraception can fail, even the pill. CM is a child’s legal right, not a reward/ punishment for either parent. OP should press the CMS for the money her child is entitled to.

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