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Relationships

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Pregnant and struggling after partner says he misses his old family

238 replies

Georgia3092 · 18/06/2026 15:13

I'm currently around 6 weeks pregnant and feeling incredibly sad and lost about my relationship.

I've known my partner for around 4.5 years and we've been together for approximately 18 months. He has a 3 year old son with his ex-partner and was part of her older son's (now 14) life for several years too. They were together for nearly 4 years.

Throughout our relationship he's repeatedly told me how sad he is, how much he misses his family, and how there's a "hole" in his life. He says he loves me, I'm the person he wants to be with, I make him incredibly happy and that our relationship is great, but he still feels this sadness.

Last night he told me that even while we were on holiday together the last few weeks he felt sad and like something was missing. He said the hole gets filled when he's with his ex-partner, their son and her older child. He insists this isn't about wanting to get back together with her, but about missing the family unit.

I completely understand missing your child, but I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to hear that as his pregnant partner. All I hear is that something is missing when he's with me.

To make matters worse, he still stays overnight at his ex's house when visiting his son. I've told him this causes me huge anxiety, especially now I'm pregnant, and I've asked him to stop. He has basically told me he isn't willing to do that.

I feel like I've spent 18 months supporting him through his sadness, but nothing ever changes. He's recently started therapy but we're still having exactly the same conversations.

I love him very much, but I don't think I can continue in the relationship as it currently is. I feel constantly insecure, exhausted and emotionally drained.

Am I being unreasonable? How would other people interpret what he's saying? Is this simply grief over the loss of a family unit, or would you see it as a sign that someone isn't fully committed to the relationship they're in?

OP posts:
obsessional · 18/06/2026 15:16

When did he split up with his ex?

WhereverIlaymycatthatsmyhome · 18/06/2026 15:17

YANBU

I wouldn’t continue in this relationship feeling second best.

rubyslippers · 18/06/2026 15:17

He’s staying over with her?
he’s sleeping with her
He misses her - you’re a stop gap
if you have this baby you’ll be second best forever
think about if that’s what you want as he will be a shitty dad
you will end up being a single parent so think now whilst you’re so early on if you’re prepared to do that and be tied to him forever (and he’ll be a permanent disappointment)

Besidemyselfwithworry · 18/06/2026 15:20

You need to have a termination and let him go back to them otherwise you’ll always be second best and enter into a messy blended family situation. The fact he is sleeping over there says he’s having his cake and eating it - don’t be that woman, raise the standards and be kind to yourself - you deserve better and an unborn baby doesn’t need to be part of this either.

Offyertrolley · 18/06/2026 15:20

Why would you have a relationship with someone who was openly telling you all of this, let alone get pregnant by him.

I’d leave and I’d have to terminate the pregnancy as I couldn’t face being tied to him.

Purplecatshopaholic · 18/06/2026 15:21

Oh op. Why are you having a child with this man? You are second place and your child will be too. It’s not fair to bring a child into this shit show.

chirrupybird · 18/06/2026 15:21

He hasn't really broken the tie with his ex, until he stops spending (family) time with her he will never get over her. Couldn't his son come and stay at your house? Does he have partial custody?

HeddaGarbled · 18/06/2026 15:24

I think it’s entirely reasonable for him to feel this way but that he needs to shut up about it in front of you.

You have to accept that he has emotional relationships that pre-date your relationship but it’s OK not to want your face rubbed in them.

It sounds like you got together (and got pregnant) pretty quickly after his last relationship ended plus his track record so far isn’t amazing, so I think you need to be wary about putting all your eggs in his basket. Don’t give up work after maternity leave and make sure you have housing for yourself and the baby if it does go awry.

BruFord · 18/06/2026 15:26

I don't think you should accept being second-best @Georgia3092. I wouldn't continue the relationship tbh. You deserve a partner who views you as his number one partner (obviously he'll always love his children, but his ex partner shouldn't be his priority).

Ponderingwindow · 18/06/2026 15:27

You have time to get out of this situation cleanly. This relationship isn’t a solid base to build a family.

Conchiglie · 18/06/2026 15:32

Oh OP, this is really sad. Are you sure you want to have a baby with this man?

FartSock5000 · 18/06/2026 15:32

@Georgia3092 you are the rebound relationship and he is not really ready to move on.

He'd go back to the ex in a heartbeat, OP. You've made a mistake getting pregnant by him when he's still longing for his existing family.

You can't change him. You can't make him be ready. He won't suddenly choose you. He's telling you what you want to hear because otherwise he knows he'd be on his own and he would rather have an attentive partner with access to sex than be on his own pining for another woman.

Please find your self respect and let him go.

Honeyhonay · 18/06/2026 15:32

Throughout our relationship he's repeatedly told me how sad he is, how much he misses his family, and how there's a "hole" in his life.

And you thought, you know what would help, have a baby with this guy!

Jellybunny98 · 18/06/2026 15:34

Honeyhonay · 18/06/2026 15:32

Throughout our relationship he's repeatedly told me how sad he is, how much he misses his family, and how there's a "hole" in his life.

And you thought, you know what would help, have a baby with this guy!

I’m sorry OP but I agree with this.

He’s been actively telling you this isn’t right, a baby isn’t going to help you.

PinkEasterbunny · 18/06/2026 15:35

WhereverIlaymycatthatsmyhome · 18/06/2026 15:17

YANBU

I wouldn’t continue in this relationship feeling second best.

Absolutely this

Dweetfidilove · 18/06/2026 15:39

Honeyhonay · 18/06/2026 15:32

Throughout our relationship he's repeatedly told me how sad he is, how much he misses his family, and how there's a "hole" in his life.

And you thought, you know what would help, have a baby with this guy!

Exactly what I was thinking ☹️.

Georgia3092 · 18/06/2026 15:49

I want to clarify, he chose to leave the relationship with his ex not the other way round. She would have him back in a heartbeat but he says he's not in love with her anymore and the connection wasn't there however he can't break the attachment to his "family" & he includes her in that. I've told him many times to go back to her and he says he doesn't want to and that he wants to be with me, I'm the person hes in love with, I'm his best friend etc and his unhappiness isn't anything to do with me or our relationship because I make him incredibly happy. But when hes with me despite being so happy he has a hole missing which is only filled when hes with them.

OP posts:
RoachFish · 18/06/2026 15:49

This guy moves fast. He must have got both you and his ex pregnant within a year/18 months. He's not stable or solid. He shouldn't be the father for your child, at least not the way he is now. He is pining to be somewhere else.

honeylulu · 18/06/2026 15:49

Why did the relationship end?

I have the feeling you thought you'd create a new family unit with him to fix his sadness and "claim him" for yourself. But it doesn't work like that. The old family unit and his feelings haven't disappeared because you are pregnant.

Do you feel able to think about your options? I'm sorry if this is tactless but this sounds a really unhappy situation and not ideal for bringing a new child (your first, so life changing for you) into the mix.

7238SM · 18/06/2026 15:54

So he impregnated the ex within 12mths and you within 18mths!
What does he give/do for you? All he does is yearn for his old life back and seems sad. I agree that you are the rebound. Did you plan this pregnancy together?

Besidemyselfwithworry · 18/06/2026 15:55

Georgia3092 · 18/06/2026 15:49

I want to clarify, he chose to leave the relationship with his ex not the other way round. She would have him back in a heartbeat but he says he's not in love with her anymore and the connection wasn't there however he can't break the attachment to his "family" & he includes her in that. I've told him many times to go back to her and he says he doesn't want to and that he wants to be with me, I'm the person hes in love with, I'm his best friend etc and his unhappiness isn't anything to do with me or our relationship because I make him incredibly happy. But when hes with me despite being so happy he has a hole missing which is only filled when hes with them.

He’s talking shite and making you believe it now.
this all sounds absolutely ridiculous

MayaLui · 18/06/2026 15:58

He is manipulating you, testing you to make sure you will still love him even if his heart was elsewhere. This isn't a good man.

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 18/06/2026 15:58

How far along are you?

You need to think very hard about if you want to be tied to this situation for the rest of your life, and how healthy it is for a child to be brought into it.

Spookyspaghetti · 18/06/2026 15:58

He sounds psychologically abusive. He is telling you all this (things you don’t really need to know) to break you down. I guarantee he treated the previous woman the same way.

FourCheese · 18/06/2026 15:59

He shouldn’t have gotten you pregnant, and should have stayed with her. He’s basically doing that anyway by sleeping over and maintaining their family unit

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