Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

DH pressuring me to have a baby

212 replies

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 14:43

Changed username for this.

I’ve been with my partner for 4 years. I have two children from a previous marriage, age 13 & 10.

When we met he made it clear he wanted a child, at that time I explained I was open to the idea but didn’t mind if I didn’t. We have had period where we were trying but we’ve had a few relationship issues and life stresses and it was always then put iton the back burner, including my father being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

My dh is at the point now where he says I’m not committed to our relationship because I’m not planning for our future (ie a baby). To be honest our relationship has deteriorated so much that I think it would be madness to consider. I’m almost 40, have a job and run my own business as well as looking after my two kids. After many many arguments I’ve now told him I now longer want to have another baby, life has changed for me and I know I wouldn’t cope with a new baby at my age and considering everything I’m already dealing with.

He is understandably massively upset but won’t accept what I’ve said. He has been miserable for a long time now, for various reasons but mostly because he says I’m not planning for our future (baby). He’s adamant he would support me being pregnant, take the load off when the baby arrives but I feel he has no idea the complexities and how difficult a new child is. He’s putting all his eggs in one basket so to speak that having a baby will make him happy again, which to me is completely naive.

After many more arguments I’ve told him he needs to accept I’ve said no to a baby and be happy / content with our life or else leave me and find someone else. He doesn’t want to do either so is constantly pressuring me to change my mind.

I honestly don’t know what to do and I feel like I’m on eggshells all the time waiting for another ‘relationship talk’ and dealing with his unhappiness.

what can I do?

OP posts:
mmsnet · 21/09/2025 14:45

i think you need to make the decision to leave as it sounds like he wont and will continue to emotionally blackmail you

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 14:57

I should add that he is my dp; we’re not married. He wanted baby first, then marriage. We could have been married 10 times at this point though but his idea of me being committed is having a baby first

OP posts:
Fruitlips · 21/09/2025 14:58

Forget the baby op

this relationship is rotten to the core

get him out from your children’s family home fgs

Fruitlips · 21/09/2025 14:59

What kind of a home is this for your children? A man they’ve known…. What 3 years in total? Who is now miserable most of the time and emotionally blackmailing their mother, and their mother is stressed and unhappy.

For their sake, end this

EverybodyLTB · 21/09/2025 15:00

Think about the children you already have OP. I removed a miserable bastard out of my house and he was their actual dad and we were married. I would not accept my peace and that of my children being disrupted by some unhappy man pressuring me. You don’t sound happy, get him out.

Emanwenym · 21/09/2025 15:01

End the relationship. He's a miserable, abusive man who is emotionally blackmailing you.

My dh is at the point now where he says I’m not committed to our relationship because I’m not planning for our future (ie a baby).
Emotional blackmail.

our relationship has deteriorated so much that I think it would be madness to consider.
It would be madness. A baby will put additional stresses on the relationship.

He’s adamant he would support me being pregnant, take the load off when the baby arrives
No man hoping for a baby is going to say he'll be unsupportive or that he'll do only the bare minimum, is he?

A baby won't heal his issues.

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 15:04

The reason I haven’t chucked him out is because of the effect it would have on my children, they love him. I’ve been divorced 10 years but I had one other long term relationship and he upped and left when he realised he didnt want to commit. The kids were devastated. How can I do this to them again?

OP posts:
titchy · 21/09/2025 15:04

Make the decision and leave him. You’ve effectively future-faked him given he was very clear that he wanted a baby and now you’ve backtracked on that.

And no one has any idea what having a baby is like till they have one so that’s not really fair of you to see that as a fault.

RingoJuice · 21/09/2025 15:04

He wants a baby, you don’t. You need to end this relationship, what’s the point when you’re both miserable

TeamBuffalo · 21/09/2025 15:04

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 14:57

I should add that he is my dp; we’re not married. He wanted baby first, then marriage. We could have been married 10 times at this point though but his idea of me being committed is having a baby first

In that case, drop him without guilt or regret.

Fruitlips · 21/09/2025 15:05

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 15:04

The reason I haven’t chucked him out is because of the effect it would have on my children, they love him. I’ve been divorced 10 years but I had one other long term relationship and he upped and left when he realised he didnt want to commit. The kids were devastated. How can I do this to them again?

They love him? Op they’ve known him…. 3 years? They barely know him.

OP, you think they love the pair of you endlessly rowing? Him constantly miserable? their mother highly stressed and anxious?

No.

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 15:05

titchy · 21/09/2025 15:04

Make the decision and leave him. You’ve effectively future-faked him given he was very clear that he wanted a baby and now you’ve backtracked on that.

And no one has any idea what having a baby is like till they have one so that’s not really fair of you to see that as a fault.

I haven’t ’future-faked’ him, I was honest at the time. Things change and people change and I now know having a baby in this relationship would be horrible. What should I do, go along with him because I said 4 years ago I would be open to it??

OP posts:
Fruitlips · 21/09/2025 15:06

How can I do this to them again?

Well make this the last time until they’re not so young op. It’s that simple.

Emanwenym · 21/09/2025 15:06

Having a half-sibling would have a big effect on your children's lives as well as yours. You are in a good place other than in your relationship.

If you did have a baby with him there is every chance that he'll turn against your DC1 and DC2.

Fruitlips · 21/09/2025 15:07

titchy · 21/09/2025 15:04

Make the decision and leave him. You’ve effectively future-faked him given he was very clear that he wanted a baby and now you’ve backtracked on that.

And no one has any idea what having a baby is like till they have one so that’s not really fair of you to see that as a fault.

The relationship has since turned to shit

FuzzyWolf · 21/09/2025 15:07

The relationship is over. He is well within his rights to want a baby and you are well within yours to not want one. What’s not acceptable is to try to pressure you into agreeing.

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 15:07

Fruitlips · 21/09/2025 15:05

They love him? Op they’ve known him…. 3 years? They barely know him.

OP, you think they love the pair of you endlessly rowing? Him constantly miserable? their mother highly stressed and anxious?

No.

Yes they love him. It is possible to love someone you’ve known for 3 years, I’m sure you have been in love within that time frame?

OP posts:
Deebee90 · 21/09/2025 15:07

End the relationship so he can go and find someone who actually does want children with him. If you knew he wanted children at the start and you didn’t you shouldn’t have carried on the relationship. It’s cruel. Either way your relationship is done so end it. Your kids will thank you

MagicalMystical · 21/09/2025 15:08

Yeah it’s not great for them, I get that, but there’s no winners in the current situation is there?

Unfortunately, you will have to call it a day as he wants children and you understandably don’t want more.

Viviennemary · 21/09/2025 15:08

At first I had sympathy for him. But if he won't commit to marriage he is the one who won't commit not you. But I wouldn't rush to end the relationship unless you really want out.

Fruitlips · 21/09/2025 15:09

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 15:07

Yes they love him. It is possible to love someone you’ve known for 3 years, I’m sure you have been in love within that time frame?

Yes but not to any real depth op.

its 3 years of which a part of that has been miserable, tense and unhappy.

Seriously as if there going to be waxing lyrical about him much beyond a few weeks. They’re young, lots going on, and only knew him 3 years . Will love seeing YOU, their MUM, happy again!!

Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 15:09

Fruitlips · 21/09/2025 15:06

How can I do this to them again?

Well make this the last time until they’re not so young op. It’s that simple.

Edited

Oh don’t worry, I have no desire to be with another man ever

OP posts:
Autumnseason28 · 21/09/2025 15:10

Deebee90 · 21/09/2025 15:07

End the relationship so he can go and find someone who actually does want children with him. If you knew he wanted children at the start and you didn’t you shouldn’t have carried on the relationship. It’s cruel. Either way your relationship is done so end it. Your kids will thank you

I haven’t been cruel, we were both honest at the start about what our positions were. But the relationship has changed and therefore so has my opinion.

OP posts:
outerspacepotato · 21/09/2025 15:12

Never have a baby you don't want to please a partner.

You went into this relationship knowing he wanted children. You were iffy, now don't want a baby.

Its OK to change your mind.*

This is your body and the pregnancy physically can and will affect your health, not his. He wants an incubator.

He's also full of bullshit. Marriage is a legal commitment to another person, not having a baby. You've already had relationship issues and he won't marry you. There is no way I would bring a baby into that mess.

I think your relationship is done. You're completely incompatible on the subject of children. He's behaving unacceptably trying to pressure you to have a baby you don't want. He's violating your bodily autonomy when he pushes that. Watch out for stealthing.

This is especially unacceptable because you've got kids in the home hearing or seeing you be coerced into a pregnancy you don't want and being with a man who doesn't take no for an answer.

Time to set a boundary with him. If he says anything else pressuring you to have a baby, you're done and the relationship is over. If it was me, I would have ended it the minute he started pressuring after you said no.

Minnie798 · 21/09/2025 15:13

I agree that the best thing to do is separate. He wants a child, you don't.
You have completely different life goals for the future.