I’m 7 months pregnant and my husband is detached emotionally and physically. He says he doesn’t think our relationship is going to work out long-term. We’ve been together 10 years and are recently married.
He can barely look at me or touch me. We went from having sex nearly every day, multiple times a week, to absolutely nothing. He can’t even hug me or make eye contact with me. He says he’s contemplating our relationship. He says there is no one else he’s talking to or seeing but the main reason is that he’s bored and I don’t stimulate his mind (seems like a shitty excuse to contemplate leaving me and marriage especially now in my opinion). He thinks the baby may help patch this temporarily but doesn’t think we’ll last long-term.
I’ve noticed a pattern in him when life gets “real” or is in transition, he gets scared and questions our relationship. For example, when he started college he wanted to break up. When we were engaged, he thought about breaking up. Now that we’re married and having a baby, he is thinking about breaking up. I’ve been doing some research and think this may be “milestone anxiety” especially common for new dads and men getting married. This has made me better understand him, but it’s so hurtful and scary.
I feel so deeply lonely during my pregnancy. The only person I want to be loved by and comforted by doesn’t want me and I don’t know how to deal with this. Has anyone else experienced extreme detachment from their partner while pregnant? Do they snap out of it?
UPDATE 12/20: he cheated on me. He’s packing & leaving.
The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.
Learn more about our guidelines.
If he is going to take her he has to change her and feed her real food. She’s constantly growing and fruit won’t even nourish grown adults. His lack of education on that is sad.

Im sorry to hear this dear, but I dont know if this is anxiety or if he is trying to really show you this red flag to know he dont want you hun. Beware of unsure men... they will lead you off a cliff and if you catch yourself before you drop they will leave you hanging babes... just save up your secret money stash and know your exit plan for you and baby.

Yea... im actually in a similar state hun similar story but i took last year to really grieve... itll take time but right now hes giving you funds ask for substantial amounts(say its for baby, etc) to squirrel away and still buy baby stuff but low priced things and make sure you look for apartments, gov assistance, and gather your village /team that will help you the most when baby comes... bc hanging in there threading lightly is not it hun. Also you can probably find a pro bono lawyer if HE mentions divorce 1st. Not for nothing, eventually all love will be lost, and you'll have to have a "fuck that guy, get on my grind" type mentality. They ARE NOT AFRAID to leave you high and dry, these men will look at you hanging off the cliff and ask you why are you there and why are you trying not to drop..they will ask stupid questions and its really a test for you to not react.the only way you wont react is if you have your plan set. the feeling of not knowing what to do after plan A fails really can shake a woman up

Oh since youre married id say hide the cash in a store bought safe with number pin access and hide the safe good. Do not open a new bank account to put it in as yet... or if you can have your parents hold it for you or put it in your parents house then ok.

Im so sorry your going through that right now now when you are such an emotionally vulnerable time and need extra reassurance. You deserve better.
In all honesty it sounds like he has anxiety and maybe depression. And his autopilot reaction is to flee or self reserve.
If he is willing to and you both have finances start therapy asap. Couples and both individuals.
My husband and I went through a local family therapist thats used Jourdan Virginias, Relationship Theory Model. It was amazing for us and helped us see what auto response we fall on when we feel vulnerable (fight, flight, freeze). It also taught us how to lean in to our relationships especially my husband when we feel the need to use our auto response.
Here is her old podcast she used to do for free for you to get an idea of how those responses and not leaning in affect relationships. https://open.spotify.com/show/0YZmYX5c6Um34uRjugsAWs?si=DAxuTgo3QHqs_Qu6RplvQg

I think therapy is the move, and creating a postnuptial agreement before u sign his name on the birth certificate. Does he want to be a father? If the answer is no then prepare to do it urself. That man is not serious enough for you and to keep urself happy u need to meet him where hes at not love or treat him better than he does you