Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Should I leave my partner, we have a 7 month old baby

14 replies

Bornunderpunches · 26/05/2024 20:16

I've been with my boyfriend for 2 years, im 23 and hes 29. I became unexpectedly pregnant a year into our relationship, he was so supportive of my decision and stuck by my side as a doting partner throughout pregnancy and postpartum he did alot, pretty much ran the house for a month after I gave birth as I had a c section. 3 months after DS was born he had a major mental health crisis, completely lost it and ended up in hospital, ever since then he has just been so all over the place its getting really hard to cope with.

He got a job working nights and on 2 occasions didnt come home, no texts nothing. Hes never done this before even before I got pregnant. He told me that he blacked out from his mental health issues and came to sobbing in a park. I then found drug paraphernalia, I took my son and went to my mums for a week, he begged for me back swore it had only been one time so i came home and said I would only be staying if he promised to sort out a therapist and drug councillor. Its been 2 months since he promised he would find a therapist and he still hasn't done anything, ive even found a list of people to look through and he just says he's not sure none of them seem right.

He's been out of work since the mental breakdown, other than the job working nights which I told him to leave as they weren't paying him and he didnt come home so I wasn't putting up with him going out at night. still most days sleeps until midday whilst I'm up with DS at 5am, I cosleep with ds and he sleeps in the spare room, has done since birth. I make him 3 meals a day clean do laundry literally everything. He then goes through this stages of being super helpful and doting, asking me to sit down and relax while he does everything, stays up all night to do all the night feeds(I've told him not to stay up) and get up with DS then the day after he crashes and goes back to doing nothing again. I just am really struggling to deal with such inconsistent behaviour and I don't want my son growing up with him being so inconsistent and thinking that's normal.

I just want him to be who he used to be, he was never like this before the breakdown and I miss how he was. I desperately love him but I just don't know how to move forward. Im back at work despite facing my own serious medical issues which I need surgery for in the near future because we are broke and hes not fit to work still, him and my mum are sharing childcare while im at work. and having my medical problem, raising a baby and dealing with his behaviour is just so intense I don't know what to do. I feel so stuck i just really need some advice.

OP posts:
category12 · 26/05/2024 20:33

Is he still using? What drug was it?

You said you would only stay if he sought help. 2 months later, he hasn't.

I don't see how you can stay.

Bornunderpunches · 26/05/2024 21:11

It was cocaine, my heart plummeted. I was cleaning the house while my mum took ds for a walk and found it in his coat pocket. He was asleep upstairs so I packed all our stuff and left. I know I just keep wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt about him not finding a therapist but it just is starting to anger me he's not respecting my conditions

OP posts:
Fitz1987 · 27/05/2024 06:19

Sorry you're in this situation but by what you have described "staying up all night, helping with the night feeds then crashing for a day" sounds like a typical cocaine user and he possibly is still using.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 27/05/2024 06:37

He went out to work all night and they weren't paying him?

Sounds like there was no job and he was out using,

He's a drug addict and he will drag you down unless you leave him to it.

Persipan · 27/05/2024 06:44

He was out working all night at a job that wasn't paying him? 🤔

Newnamehiwhodis · 27/05/2024 06:47

You’re so young - I know how devastating this must be, but for your future and your baby’s future, maybe at least get away for a while so you can think straight and get your health sorted.
it sounds like he might still be using. Even if he isn’t, he said he’d get to a counselor, and he hasn’t.

I think you know what you need to do. :( I’m sorry, OP.

unbelievablescenes · 27/05/2024 06:50

I was you and I wish I had the sense you do. Get out now and focus on your baby.

TemuSpecialBuy · 27/05/2024 06:57

Everyone has their limits.
Most people couldnt live like this.

I personally couldnt - the drugs would be too much and i would suggest the drugs caused the "breakdown" not vice versa.
.

Im also skeptical about the not being paid. He has no cash but can buy coke? His salary is going up his nose
I also would be skeptical about the blacking out... he is not just out getting off his head on drugs?

Get out now you are so young.
I have 2 children and honestly even by 18m they sleep better are more independent etc.

Just go he is bringing nothing to the party.

MummytoAAandX · 27/05/2024 07:29

Surely you can't stay in a house with a baby where your partner is keeping drugs? What happens when baby is older and crawling round and might find them? Also, would you feel at all comfortable with a known drug user taking care of our baby? Are you confident he won't use whilst in charge of your child? Is there any way you could use nursery? Do you qualify for some free hours?

Shayisgreat · 27/05/2024 07:35

You can't keep a baby and cocaine in a home together - that's a recipe for disaster. Are you sure he's not under the influence when up with baby all night?

I think you already know what you need to do and are looking for us to agree with you. We'll all agree this is not right. I think that you should leave.

category12 · 27/05/2024 07:36

it just is starting to anger me he's not respecting my conditions

You're not respecting your own conditions either by sticking around despite him doing nothing.

Bibi12 · 27/05/2024 08:22

OP I'm so sorry but he didn't have a "mental breakdown ". He has a cocaine addiction and what you describe is classic addict behaviour/side effects of taking drugs.
He didn't have a job working nights, which he didn't get payed for. He was up all night using drugs and using pretend work as an excuse.

I know this must be shocking but you really need to wake up to the fact that the man you love is gone. He's a drug addiction who will lie , manipulate and sell your soul in order to maintain his addiction. He will destroy you.

No ammount of excessive cooking, people pleasing, pleading and crying will change anything. It will only enable him. If you want to save yourself and a baby from this sinking ship you need to develop strong boundaries, get help for yourself and look into benefits for single parents.

countrysidelife2024 · 27/05/2024 09:22

I would leave, your only 23 and life is short. You deserve better and i doubt he has just managed to kick the addiction, those work nights he doesn't get paid ... probably isn't at work at all Its probably how he gets his high.

Yesiamtiredactually · 27/05/2024 09:41

Im so sorry this is going on, it’s such a sad situation for all of you. If you truely do love him and want him to be your partner and companion as well as a present father in your child’s life, he needs to take the steps required to rebuild himself.
One option could be to leave, not necessarily split up as such, but to leave with your child giving both of you the space you need. For you to keep yourself and your child safe and stable, and for him to get the help he needs.
To review the situation in 6 months time/a year, however long you decide will be best, and look at what’s been done, what effort has been made and what the outcomes have been.
This must be a nightmare for you and I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this, it feels like you could get the man you love back, but only if he is willing to take steps to make that happen. For now the safest and best thing is to remove yourself and your child.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread