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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

He left me with 4 week old baby

272 replies

Darceydoodles · 03/12/2023 10:51

Me and partner have been together for nearly 11 years. As previous posts it hasn't been going to good the last few months. He was texting someone he worked with In June when I was 4 months pregnant that they loved each other. We decided to try and work through it. Then 2 weeks before my due date he left for 3 days and needed space. Basically went drinking and partying for 3 days. Then a week before I was due he disappeared to the pubs again and told me he didn't need me or have any feelings for me and was just pretending. At this time he was diagnosed woth depression. So we tried again and things seemed to be going in the right direction. He's been trying to have sex with me even though I'm only 4 weeks post partum. Wednesday night he cuddled me all night then tried his luck in the morning and after I said I couldn't he said he would wait until I could. Then 2 hours later he said we were done. There was nothing there for me anymore and he's sock of trying. He told me when I mentioned the baby having my surname a couple of weeks ago that If I did that he would leave me. This was when I thought I was going to be a single parent. He brought that up on Wednesday. We were engaged and he asked me to start wearing my ring again last week. Would tell me he loved me and the baby so much. I don't understand how you can pretend that well. He said I was controlling. Because I said I didn't think he should be going on a golf trip for 3 days with a 6 week old baby. Or I would try and stop him driving after drinking. I would ask who he was texting as he was on his phone all the time. The worst part is he was seen just before I had the baby by my friend driving with a blonde In the car. Turns out the person he was texting is now separated from her husband and she lives where he was seen. He also asked me last week out of the blue, after 11 years and 4 weeks pp why I don't wear matching bra and knickers. I'm just so sad and angry.

OP posts:
Itsbritneybitch22 · 03/12/2023 14:46

@Emeraldsanddiamonds

Not low bar I was going by what was written - this all started 6 months ago she hasn’t said anything about what type of man he was prior to this all happening.

The update was after what I had said, I just think OP needs to have support and different perspectives, like someone’s said no offensive to her but he’s done this this and this ..

He’s having contact with the baby she’s allowing it so I don’t understand why he wouldn’t be ok to be on BC if she feels he’s abusive but he’s allowed the baby - that I thought he had walked out on? And now he’s allowed to see baby without OP there, if I’m reading that right.

Tombero · 03/12/2023 14:50

Sorry OP, he sounds horrible.

I was just going to advise to keep up with the breastfeeding. If he’s trying to get access and you’re still breastfeeding it will really limit how long he can take baby for.

laclochette · 03/12/2023 14:53

Thank Heavens you're rid of this absolutely pathetic and awful excuse for a man! I'm so sorry that he isn't the man you wanted and deserved him to be. But now he's gone at least you're spared another minute sharing your life with a selfish arsehole.

oakleaffy · 03/12/2023 14:55

@Darceydoodles So sorry this is happening.
Ditch the loser.
It’s a pity he didn’t show his true colours before having a baby and buying a house with you.
Will you be able to buy him out?

Sounds like you need advice from CAB ( citizens advice bureau) They will help.

Good luck .

SwedeCaroline · 03/12/2023 15:30

CSA, and whatever you do, dont have him back. Set up an email account and tell him all communication is to come through this alone, block him everywhere else

Don't be sad, be happy he has gone!

CleansUpButWouldPreferNotTo · 03/12/2023 15:38

@Bluetrews25 said:

The rubbish has taken itself out.

Rejoice.

Exactly! Don't put him on the birth certificate, he's not fit to have parental responsibility. Look after yourself and your baby, keep the sperm donor far away..

Coyoacan · 03/12/2023 15:39

He sounds as selfish as my ex and fortunately I split from him before my dd was born or he would have sucked away all the joy of parenthood

FeedMeSantiago · 03/12/2023 16:05

Darceydoodles · 03/12/2023 14:01

He will challenge me over everything. Courts the lot. He moved out on Thursday so I'm not with him anymore. and I don't want to be. The person he was seen in the van with is the same person he was texting. I don't trust him with my child now. Not anymore. These last few weeks he's proved he is unstable and is drink driving. living as if nothing has happened. He's pushing to see the baby. I'm dropping him off at his grandma's for an hour today. And he's pushing for through the week and taking him away. I'm also breast feeding at times still. I don't want him taking him anywhere

You don't have to agree to be separated from your newborn like this. Especially not with someone who drives under the influence.

However, this is even more reason not to put him on the BC. He could refuse to hand the baby back to you and you'd need to go to court to get him back.

Whereas, if he's not on the BC and refuses to give baby back, you can go to the police to get baby returned.

If you both attend the registration appointment he will pressure you about baby's surname. He will also have a load of parental rights, over your baby's medical care, over schooling, where you live, preventing you going abroad if he wants etc. He won't have any additional responsibilities. He can still avoid CMS if he is determined to hide his earnings.

He doesn't need to be on the BC for you to claim maintenance. He may opt to go to court to get named on the BC but that will take him time, effort and money and he may very well not bother. Even if he does, you'll have bought yourself time to plan where you want to live etc.

viques · 03/12/2023 16:06

He doesn’t need to be on the BC, it is perfectly possible for your child to know who their father is without them having that hold over you.

I am sorry that you feel let down by him OP, I am also sorry that you wasted emotional energy by trying to give him chances to change. I hope you have realised that this leopard is not going to change his spots anytime soon, and that you can bring your child up to be a decent, honest ,caring human being through your own example.

AnneValentine · 03/12/2023 16:09

EyeInTheSky23 · 03/12/2023 11:50

He will be on the birth certificate but will have my surname

It is not a good idea to put him on the BC!!!

It makes no difference.

RedToothBrush · 03/12/2023 16:12

therealcookiemonster · 03/12/2023 12:23

please read the OP again. how is this not abusive?

I was going to say the same. This man is abusive.

I'd like anyone saying to the contrary to explain how he isn't.

thebestinterest · 03/12/2023 16:12

Ugh. Move on! Call his bluff, send the bastard packing. Good riddance!

AcrossthePond55 · 03/12/2023 16:20

Darceydoodles · 03/12/2023 14:01

He will challenge me over everything. Courts the lot. He moved out on Thursday so I'm not with him anymore. and I don't want to be. The person he was seen in the van with is the same person he was texting. I don't trust him with my child now. Not anymore. These last few weeks he's proved he is unstable and is drink driving. living as if nothing has happened. He's pushing to see the baby. I'm dropping him off at his grandma's for an hour today. And he's pushing for through the week and taking him away. I'm also breast feeding at times still. I don't want him taking him anywhere

He's gone. GOOD. Change your locks if he has keys to be sure he stays gone.

Now, take a breather. Give yourself a day or so to just catch your breath. Then file for CMS and go register your child's birth, alone. Give the child your surname and my advice would be to NOT put his name on the BC. Not naming him on the BC does NOT affect your CMS claim. If he wants to deny paternity, he can do so whether or not you name him and the procedures to determine paternity would be the same.

The reason for NOT putting his name is that naming him on the BC gives him equal parental responsibility. In practical terms what that means is that he has just as much right to keep the baby with him as you do. If you take baby to his grandma's and he decides to keep baby there is not a damned thing you will be able to do about it at that point. You'd have to go to court and 'fight it out'. NOT putting his name on the BC means that if he tried that you would be able to go to the police, show the BC and they would make him give you the baby back. It also means that he would have to take you to court if he wants to take the baby anywhere or have the baby more than you feel comfortable with.

Forget this OW. She is not important. What IS important are you and your baby. Stay strong, concentrate on the two of you, and all will be well given time.

DisquietintheRanks · 03/12/2023 16:34

EyeInTheSky23 · 03/12/2023 11:50

He will be on the birth certificate but will have my surname

It is not a good idea to put him on the BC!!!

As he's the baby's father it makes little difference and it will shortcut paying for child maintenance.

@Darceydoodles I'm truly sorry he's proved to be such a shit - and at such a time - but you will be so much better off not being in a relationship with this the real him. Please get legal advice about the house and yyy apply for child maintenance.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 03/12/2023 16:35

As he's the baby's father it makes little difference and it will shortcut paying for child maintenance.

it won’t make any difference to a CMS claim.

If he’s the type to deny paternity he’ll do it even if he’s in the birth certificate

DisquietintheRanks · 03/12/2023 16:37

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 03/12/2023 16:35

As he's the baby's father it makes little difference and it will shortcut paying for child maintenance.

it won’t make any difference to a CMS claim.

If he’s the type to deny paternity he’ll do it even if he’s in the birth certificate

If he's the type to want to seize his child he'll go to court to get his name added to the birth certificate.

Odds are he'll barely be bothered with it.

Delphinium20 · 03/12/2023 16:40

My MIL went through very similar with DH's father. They divorced and it was hard during his first year but after that she was so relieved to have her ex gone. He was not a good father-just a very selfish man. MIL has had a very good life with him gone. It will be okay but you can't come back from this. What he's done should be unforgivable. Take care of yourself and try to focus on loving your baby and healing. My heart goes out to you. It will get better though it's hard now.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 03/12/2023 16:41

DisquietintheRanks · 03/12/2023 16:37

If he's the type to want to seize his child he'll go to court to get his name added to the birth certificate.

Odds are he'll barely be bothered with it.

Exactly.

if he wants on the BC he can make it happen.

Delphinium20 · 03/12/2023 16:46

Itsbritneybitch22 · 03/12/2023 13:01

The birth certificate is for the CHILD and not for parents to point score or worry about him having parental rights?

He sounds like a right prick for a partner but that doesn’t mean that the baby should grow up wondering who his dad is.

What is wrong with people to even suggest not to put the father on?

I agree that a child has a right to know their parents even if the information is painful but that info can be shared without it being declared on the BC. OP can tell her DC when appropriate.

Nowherenew · 03/12/2023 16:49

I’m sorry you’re going through this.

It sounds like he checked out a long time ago but wanted you to be the one to end things, like many men do.

Change the locks.
Stay strong and focus on you and your LO.

He will probably try and worm his way back in when he wants a shag or if this OW isn’t as great as he thought.

Are you close to his parents?
If so I would ask them to not allow him to take the baby due to his drinking and MH.

If you are concerned then I would say no access to him or any of his family unless it is in a contact centre.
This means he cannot leave with your baby or you can have it so he takes them to the park etc but brings them back to the centre.

Such a young baby doesn’t need to be away from its mum for too long anyway, so you could wait in the waiting area and read a book etc.

EyeInTheSky23 · 03/12/2023 17:01

AnneValentine · 03/12/2023 16:09

It makes no difference.

He has no automatic parental rights if he's not on it.

EyeInTheSky23 · 03/12/2023 17:03

If he's the type to want to seize his child

"Seizing" the child is far from the only thing parental rights/responsibility facilitates.

EyeInTheSky23 · 03/12/2023 17:12

Darceydoodles · 03/12/2023 14:01

He will challenge me over everything. Courts the lot. He moved out on Thursday so I'm not with him anymore. and I don't want to be. The person he was seen in the van with is the same person he was texting. I don't trust him with my child now. Not anymore. These last few weeks he's proved he is unstable and is drink driving. living as if nothing has happened. He's pushing to see the baby. I'm dropping him off at his grandma's for an hour today. And he's pushing for through the week and taking him away. I'm also breast feeding at times still. I don't want him taking him anywhere

I would get some legal advice; women's aid might be able to help you.

You should be able to minimise access to almost nothing because you're breast feeding He doesn't need to know your breast feeding "schedule". They change anyway due to cluster feeding etc.

Raise the drink driving re access too.

EyeInTheSky23 · 03/12/2023 17:14

He's probably only pushing to see your baby as;

A. A power play

B to make him look less bad to relatives, the new gf etc.

C. He's heard if he has the child 50-50; he'll not have to pay any child maintenance.

It's 50-50 overnights though .... Only overnights count. And he can't have those due to breast feeding (and his drink driving habits).

EyeInTheSky23 · 03/12/2023 17:17

Change your locks if he has keys to be sure he stays gone.

I'm not sure op can do this if they own the property 50-50.

Another thing op needs clear advice on.

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