THUM don't worry too much. My dh had to say pretty much the same thing to MIL. Give it time.
My MIL gave in quite quickly. I didn't tell DH he couldn't see her - he didn't really want to and never made much effort - nor did I say she couldn't see dd, just that I owuld not be present. This meant that dh had to take dd to see her, which he couldn't be bothered to do very much. This meant that MIL had to give way in order to see them more often.
I think she says things about me to the rest of the family, but as we never saw much of them anyway, and I assume they all know her pretty well, as far as I'm concerned she can say what she likes.
I worried that dh would never forgive me. Something like 5 years on, I know he never held me responsible in the first place. He saw very clearly what was happening once it was brought to his notice and not for one moment did he put the blame anywhere but on himself and, most importantly, his mum. His self-blame comes from not noticing what was happening under his nose, but he's always been very good at hiding his head in teh sand!
Your dh is an intelligent man, who has been in thrall to his mum for his whole life and is now emerging. Watch his beautiful butterfly wings grow and be proud he has grasped the nettle and acted now.
Oh, dear wine goes straight to me head! [slightly pissed]
Hope you enjoyed today.