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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

"I intended to pull out"

75 replies

AnEasternEuropeanLady · 04/02/2026 16:31

We (married with 3 DC, in our late 30s) had a bit of a pregnancy scare last month. We had agreed to have no more babies, even though I was initially sad to let go of my dream of having 4. I know DH is not mentally fit to cope with raising babies. There are other very good reasons, of course, but this one has helped me stay true to the decision we made a couple of years ago. So, in light of the very reasonable decision, we did have unprotected sex. I felt very anxious the next day, told him the timing might have been wrong. He just raged, told me I had made the decision, I am responsible, he knew it would come to this, because that's how our first child was conceived; I had tricked him into thinking we would not have babies while using the pull-out method, I made him a father without his consent etc etc. He yelled at me for several days, not constantly, of course, but a lot (until I asked him to just stop and leave me alone, to which he said he'll be glad to do that)

Turns out I'm not pregnant. What a relief! I was seriously considering leaving him and just raising the kids alone (might still do that, to be honest!) I am so mad at how much his words hurt me. He has no idea. He has just moved on as if nothing has happened.

Went to couples' therapy a few days ago. He mentioned again how we had not intended to have children when we conceived our first, that we were only establishing our relationship, essentially repeated the same "I made him have kids before he was ready and it was my fault" story. Said we hadn't even mentioned the word "baby" when I decided to fall pregnant. That was 12 years ago!!!

Now I can barely look at him, I feel so humiliated and hurt. I feel so much anger and shame it's almost unbearable. Absolutely too ashamed to ask anyone in my family or social circle for advice. Can anyone tell me how to cope?

OP posts:
CleanSkin · 04/02/2026 16:35

Oh my goodness @AnEasternEuropeanLady he sounds horrible.
in your shoes, I would struggle to find a reason for the marriage to continue.
Protect yourself & your DC and end it.

pinkypoo8 · 04/02/2026 16:39

yet you had sex with him again not to mention have three kids after the first "mistake"

Notsosweetcaroline · 04/02/2026 16:41

I don’t understand why you both had unprotected sex when you’ve decided no more children and rhe pull out method failed and resulted in a child before. Thay seems a very unusual decision.

frockandcrocs · 04/02/2026 16:44

Sorry, a grown man didn’t know that the pull out method wasn’t protective? Give over. Why hadn’t he had a vasectomy?

LTB!!

columnatedruinsdomino · 04/02/2026 16:44

He could have had the snip. He could have worn a condom. He doesn’t want children, how about he takes responsibility?

FlowerFairyDaisy · 04/02/2026 16:45

'We had agreed to have no more babies, even though I was initially sad to let go of my dream of having 4. So, in light of the very reasonable decision, we did have unprotected sex.'

You made the joint decision to have no more children but then you had unprotected sex?

AnEasternEuropeanLady · 04/02/2026 16:47

frockandcrocs · 04/02/2026 16:44

Sorry, a grown man didn’t know that the pull out method wasn’t protective? Give over. Why hadn’t he had a vasectomy?

LTB!!

He initially agreed to have a vasectomy, but later said it'd be too expensive (and uncomfortable). He's agreed to it again (after I said I was considering sterilization as an alternative).

OP posts:
Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 04/02/2026 16:49

What is it about MN where people apparently think that the 'pull out' method is a real form of contraception?

Anyway, he sounds awful so just LTB before you become pregnant again.

CurlewKate · 04/02/2026 16:51

He’s a shit. Why did you not use contraception? Or the morning after pill?

WallaceinAnderland · 04/02/2026 16:51

Why are you having unprotected sex if you don't want another baby? This is on both of you!

SargeMarge · 04/02/2026 16:51

Why were the two of you having unprotected sex when just establishing a relationship?
And why are you still having unprotected sex when you don’t want more kids?

This isn’t a game. Sort out your contraception.

Did you really tell him at the early stages that you wouldn’t get pregnant if he used the pull out method? What sane person would say that? What you need to say is “put on a condom” and he should have bloody well been doing that anyway if he didn’t want kids. You sound as bad as each other, and he needs to take responsibility for not bothering to wear a condom but you also need to take responsibility for not sorting your own contraception too.

You’ve got 3 kids. You agreed not to have a 4th. It’s time to grow up and sort out contraception. Or leave him if his ridiculous behaviour doesn’t stop.

AnEasternEuropeanLady · 04/02/2026 16:52

FlowerFairyDaisy · 04/02/2026 16:45

'We had agreed to have no more babies, even though I was initially sad to let go of my dream of having 4. So, in light of the very reasonable decision, we did have unprotected sex.'

You made the joint decision to have no more children but then you had unprotected sex?

Yes, I am fully responsible for the idiotic decision (definitely won't happen again!!!), but still find it extremely difficult to get over .

OP posts:
weathervane1 · 04/02/2026 16:52

I think you both need to understand that the "pull out method" isn't a recognised form of contraception - at least not one that works all that well. Some of the largest families follow religions that object to the use of condoms. If you really don't want more children, you need to discuss and use contraception like mature adults. As it is, you would have both been to blame if you had been pregnant.

AnEasternEuropeanLady · 04/02/2026 16:52

AnEasternEuropeanLady · 04/02/2026 16:52

Yes, I am fully responsible for the idiotic decision (definitely won't happen again!!!), but still find it extremely difficult to get over .

to get over his reaction, that is.

OP posts:
PeoniesAreMyFavouriteFlowers · 04/02/2026 16:53

He’s an adult too. Needs to take responsibility.

What a twat he is.

BellesAndGraces · 04/02/2026 16:54

AnEasternEuropeanLady · 04/02/2026 16:52

Yes, I am fully responsible for the idiotic decision (definitely won't happen again!!!), but still find it extremely difficult to get over .

Sorry I don’t understand. Why is having unprotected sex your responsibility alone?

OverheardBreakup · 04/02/2026 16:55

This is awful behaviour on his part. How did the conversation go at couples therapy? Surely when faced with the truth that two people had unprotected sex, he cannot continue to hold you responsible to ‘having children without his consent’ (never heard such rubbish from a man!)

Are you able to split? How is he with the children day to day?

youalright · 04/02/2026 16:55

Are you both 15 and need an explanation on how babies are created. Its really annoying when grown adults have an "accidental pregnancy" and go on about how it was so unexpected then you find out they wasn't using any form of contraception. If you are having unprotected sex you are planning a pregnancy what part don't you understand

CurlewKate · 04/02/2026 16:57

AnEasternEuropeanLady · 04/02/2026 16:52

Yes, I am fully responsible for the idiotic decision (definitely won't happen again!!!), but still find it extremely difficult to get over .

No you’re not!

JemimaTiggywinkles · 04/02/2026 16:57

I’m not sure I would get over it tbh. He is an adult and knows where babies come from. He is equally responsible for preventing conception. It isn’t okay for him to blame you or your accuse you of tricking him.

Randomuser2026 · 04/02/2026 17:00

Are you going back to counseling? Because I would definitely be having my say at the next session.

  1. What does it say about his character that he absolutely does not want kids; he refuses to use contraception and then loses the head when he’s worried about another pregnancy?
  2. The answer is it says he is a massive hypocrite; astoundingly selfish and desperately immature.
  3. The difference between a mature person and an immature person is the willingness to take responsibility for their actions. He refuses to take responsibility for his action of choosing not to use contraception. Other people don’t ‘owe’ him contraception, and they don’t owe him abortions. (Including you OP). As of today he needs to be responsible for his own contraception and stop sponging off you.
  1. You oldest child is twelve- he has literally spent more than a decade whining about being made to be a father too soon. At this distance - so fucking what- literally no one cares he thinks on this topic any more. You certainly don’t and if he insists on bringing it up, he should expect to be reminded that he has whined for more than a decade and to be directed back to professional help.
  2. On behalf of the 12 year old- how fucking dare he complain like that.
  3. Repeat the words he used when he lost his temper. He needs to own them, or he is out the door.
gamerchick · 04/02/2026 17:00

The pull out method isn't a form of contraception OP. Don't have sex with him again until you both switch your heads on.

LAMPS1 · 04/02/2026 17:01

Please OP, can you explain your rationale behind it being all your fault if you had happened to have become pregnant.

Theonlywayicanloveyou · 04/02/2026 17:02

No sex at all until he has a vasectomy. You tell him straight that your body has been battered and changed forever by growing and birthing his three children and then he speaks to you this way after having unprotected sex? Sex is withdrawn until he is protecting himself so that you never see or hear from him about this ever again.

Tell him straight up that he can never withdraw those words.

And meanwhile, get your ducks in a row too. Even if financially it takes years. If you were already in couples therapy I’m guessing this was just the very last straw…

Notsosweetcaroline · 04/02/2026 17:04

AnEasternEuropeanLady · 04/02/2026 16:52

Yes, I am fully responsible for the idiotic decision (definitely won't happen again!!!), but still find it extremely difficult to get over .

But how, is there a back storydoes he have additional needs
that prevent him knowing what he’s doing. As it’s how you both fell pregnant in the first place.