Feeling like a burden šŸ« 

My husband and I are expecting our first baby in April. Weā€™re excited. When it comes to being a dad he seems genuinely excited and looking forward to her arrival but in terms of being a husband, our relationship is pretty much nonexistent. The difference between now and August (around when I conceived) is polar opposites and it really starting to wear me thin. Iā€™m full of anxiety about how Iā€™ll be able to manage his lack of anything during postpartum. We donā€™t have sex anymore and used to have a great sex life, he said itā€™s because he feels put off by the baby being there and I said okay fair enough but he has stopped all affection. We donā€™t cuddle, kiss or anything anymore. I feel like Iā€™m forcing him if I try to cuddle him so I just donā€™t bother anymore. I am a touchy person, I love to cuddle and he knows this so him being so distant is really upsetting for me. He wakes up and as soon as heā€™s on his feet heā€™s complaining about something, before he goes to sleep heā€™s also complaining. Either Iā€™m taking up too much room, the window being open makes him cold, my empty bottle of water on the wise means Iā€™m messy. Itā€™s draining. I spoke to him about it and he at first said that Iā€™m not affectionate either? But then spent two days giving me a peck and saying ā€œlook I am affectionateā€ over it being genuine like it used to be and no matter how much I do, he finds complaints. Iā€™m riddle with anxiety over how postpartum will be. How Iā€™ll manage all the emotions and a baby at the same time. He works quite late and usually we have the mornings together but heā€™s even started to spend them doing his own thing. Eating breakfast alone then leaving with a ā€œsee you laterā€ without even looking at me. Iā€™ve never felt so unwanted, unloved before and if I knew he would switch up so bad I really wouldnā€™t have ever got pregnant to begin with and this has all put me off having another child with him in the future and even preparing for our relationship to breakdown. Heā€™s never been nonchalant, never made me feel unloved or cared for. Due to his working hours heā€™s missed all my appointments and scans and now Iā€™m realising maybe he just doesnā€™t want to be there and itā€™s not really about work? Iā€™ve mentioned it so many times now it is clear he either doesnā€™t care or doesnā€™t see an issue so he just thinks Iā€™m complaining about nothing. I feel like Iā€™m just getting in his way and forcing him to be around me and Iā€™m contemplating just staying at my mums house for a few weeks. Itā€™s really starting to bring me down and I know he will be indifferent about me being here or not. I am 31 weeks now, I donā€™t have the energy to fight to be seen by my own husband, I basically feel like a room mate/maid over a pregnant wife. I donā€™t have family in the city we live in, he is my main support and I am not supported at all šŸ˜ž
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Oh mumma šŸ„ŗ this sounds so tough and just know that there is love and support out there for you, on platforms like this too šŸ’–šŸ’–šŸ’– Sounds like perhaps couples therapy maybe helpful so that you can hopefully get to the bottom of it with an impartial witness who can hopefully guide you through this x

Do you feel like he could be anxious about being a dad which is manifesting into this behaviour? When we found out we were expecting my DH all of a sudden became really obsessed with our finances and that we have to stop ā€˜wasting moneyā€™ also was stressy/ nitpicking about stupid things in the house and with his job. He is ok now but I think he felt worried about the responsibility of looking after me and the baby.

@Anusha thank you love. Iā€™m going to make the suggestion to him and see what he thinks x

@Amy Iā€™ve been thinking maybe that is his problem. We are having a daughter and I know he was super scared about having a girl at first but I thought he had got over it. Maybe not. Thank you for your help. Glad everything is well for you now xx

You are not a burden lovely! Iā€™m sorry youā€™re having to go through this, and that too alongside being pregnant which is already such a challenging phase in your life. I can understand youā€™re also feeling isolated seeing as you mentioned your husband is your main support too. The break away to your mums might do you both some good, so perhaps give that a go and see how you feel with the time away? It might give you the headspace to think about coming back and having an open conversation about how youā€™re feeling and what you need right now, and also opening the floor to him to open up as itā€™s possible heā€™s been triggered by something and doesnā€™t know how to voice it but it is being translated through his behaviours. I hope you can feel validated, appreciated and wanted! Definitely consider therapy if itā€™s all getting too much and youā€™re struggling. Take care

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