I have a 14 month old baby. It's been tough in lockdown. My anxiety has been quite high. When I say to my partner I’ve been struggling he says I don’t know what to say. He can be short with me on things or makes out I’m wrong for feeling. He gets angry and defensive when I say it upsets me. He won’t apologise. I need more love and support but he doesn’t take my anxiety seriously.

I am at my wits end, I really need some guidance as I have exhausted all of my own resources to no avail. I married my husband two years ago and we now have an eight-month-old daughter. Our relationship has had consistent traits which I could manage before our daughter was born, but find myself unable to do so now. My husband always puts his family first. Our life has revolved around their needs for almost the entire relationship now, and become progressively more of an issue. I work from home, my father in law would come at least once a week to visit during working hours, he would talk and talk for 2-3 hrs and ignore my requests that I really DID need to get back to my work. My husband felt he was showing he cares about me. Our wedding was originally in New York, just the two of us. I did not want a family wedding for 2 reasons, I am divorced (my first husband defrauded £120K from me and then disappeared off the face of the earth, I was granted a divorce and am still repaying what emerged to be online gambling debts he fraudulently and without my knowledge secured against our home) and 2nd because, I wanted I our wedding to be about us, not his family, just us. Our wedding was in the end a large family wedding where every decision was made by his family, any attempt by me to ''push'' what I wanted was met with apocalyptic abuse and threats. I was to get ready for my wedding in a suite paid for by me, my husbands mother and two sisters arrived on my wedding morning and took over this suite, I did not even get to wash my hair. I could not do this the day before because my husbands sister who was a bridesmaid decided she no longer liked her gown, I therefore had to re-model it... my husbands view? they just wanted to share the day with me... On the birth of my daughter (who sadly was born premature, very low birth weight with various health problems and almost died before she was four months old) I struggled with my own extensive health problems (which were aggravated by the pregnancy) and the extreme worry for my daughter as none of the doctors could work out what was wrong with her. I was told that I would attend his sisters 31st birthday party when my daughter was five weeks old. I refused to take her at night to a restaurant when it was virtually impossible to breast feed her in perfect surroundings (she vomited up to 45 times a day - I was breastfeeding her for 90 minutes then taking a 60 minute break then a further 90 minutes - round the clock - as she vomited so much, she was losing weight and dehydrating to the point of being life threatening at least twice a week) she was in a lot of pain and would cry terribly after feeding. I felt it inappropriate to expect me to consent to a demand (not invitation) to bring my baby to a party under these circumstances. My husbands view - it was his sisters birthday and we should consider her feelings, she would be sad if her brother and niece were not there...? Thoughts anyone, advice???

so basically I have been with my current partner for 6 years we have a little girl together who will be 1 in January. before we had her we was like rabbits when it come to the bedroom. when I was days away from giving birth we had sex to see if it would help me go into labour lol didn't work. he told me that he could not wait for me to have our baby so we could have more sex. hahaha yeah right that did not happen since we have had her we hardly have sex also it's always me that turns to him never the other way round it makes me feel worthless. any advice would be appreciated

Myself and my partner have always had different sex drives, mine being less. Recently it's gotten worse and it's affecting our relationship. Most days I feel like I'm running our life alone, and resent the fact he has the freedom to have a career or hobbies whilst I gave up a lot to raise our children. Now they're a bit older I'm trying to find my own career that works around them, but all the other stuff I'd do as a stay at home mum still falls on my shoulders. By the end of the day I don't want sex because I've got all these mixed angry, guilty thoughts running through my head. I'm not sure how I let go so we can move forward?

I really don’t know what to say, I need some help. Me and my partner have a 5 month old little girl, things are really good when he doesn’t lie to me! He’s lied in the past about money, texts, he has never physically cheated on me, but these matters have all been resolved. However yesterday he lied again about something so small! I can’t take anymore of his lies, I feel like he doesn’t respect me and it’s really heartbreaking! Do I ask to go on a break? I don’t want my baby girl to be without her Daddy, but this is too much for me now.

There are a few things going on in my life at the moment and I need help to just sort my head out. It all started two years ago. Me and my boyfriend found out that I was unexpectedly pregnant. At the time we were not practically able to have a baby – didn’t have full time jobs, a place to live etc. despite the fact that I would love to be a mom. So, after deciding together what we would do, on my 21st birthday I had an abortion (at which time he went out of the country for the football). This knocked me for six. More than either of us realised at the time. It’s only looking back that I can see that this was the start of a downward spiral for me. I changed and just began to notice everything. I noticed how he wasn’t there then on a day that I needed him. I noticed how he never complimented me or said nice things about me. I noticed how when we spoke or were sat at the dining room table, he wouldn’t look at me. I just became down and felt worthless, like I had to beg for his attention, and this is spanning over the two years since the abortion. We have had numerous conversations about how I feel in our relationship, to the point now where he says I am just hurting him. Needless to say, I started to notice how other people would make me feel better about myself. Notice how other guys would make me feel happy and build me up. I began to feel wanted, important, attractive via other people. I didn’t mean for it to happen, I don’t necessarily regret it happening either, but I had an affair. This guy is amazing. We were friends before the affair and I’ve always had a thing for him. He is my go to, my best friend. He makes me feel supported, loved, wanted, sexy – everything and more. He knows everything about me. It started out as just a bit of fun, both of us getting something from each other that we weren’t getting in our relationships, but then it soon became more. A year and six months later, I’m head over heels for him. Here’s the catch. He has been married for a year and has a child. He says he can’t leave because of the child, that he is happy with his life despite the fact that he loves me and wants to be with me in ways he can’t. I know I need to get over him and let him go because, no matter how tough it is, he does have a choice and that evidently isn’t us. He has told me how if he didn’t have his child then things would be different, but ultimately the child comes first (which I don’t knock him for). My issue is letting go. There so much other stuff going on in my life as well at this point. With lockdown suspending normal life, I’m not working so just stuck in the house. My mom has been institutionalised and is on suicide watch. I’m also noticing how she can be emotionally abusive towards my dad too. I just can’t deal with it all right now, I’m nearly at breaking point. Can anybody slap some sense into me?

Okay - so this is weird. Firstly I am a man and don't think they are too common on this site - could be wrong but of all the comments I have seen on here they seem to be from females - but I would welcome a female perspective if I try and give as balanced a view as possible without giving too much away. I'm not sure where to start so am a little lost... So, married for 11 years, two children, live in a lovely house very close to my sister in law and parents in law - so all three houses are close together. We went through a number of goes at pregnancy and were lucky enough to have twins. My wife would like to have four children but I don't think this is going to happen as I don't want to try and bring more children into a relationship that is already fragile - she holds this against me but it just doesn't seem right. She really really really wants more children to the point where she gets really upset when 'School mums fall unexpectedly pregnant'. I kind of say that we need to be grateful for what we have? I work full time, wife doesn't work at all - full time stay at home mum. I am really happy that I can provide for the family so she doesn't have to work but feel that she can take this for granted. I work in a pretty stressful job and also supplement my income with another company to make sure we have everything covered. We seem to live two separate lives, even in lockdown - she stays up with the kids very late watching TV and gets up very late as well. Meanwhile I hit the sack at 10ish and up at 7.30ish having breakfast on my own etc. We don't do ANYTHING together. I have been sleeping in a separate bed for three years - couple of reasons - we had a big argument years ago but also I am overweight and so snore - I'm constantly trying to lose weight but very difficult - having a good go at it at the moment. Because we live so close to the family and the way she smothers the children we don't get any time together. My wife has been away from the children one night in eight years (is this normal?). unfortunately I have been de-prioritsed over the years and feel like its the following order: Kids -> Dog -> Cat -> Hamsters/Goldfish (can't break those two apart). I effectively live in a house that I pay for lock stock as well as fund a rather exceptional life style for my wife which I think she takes for granted. I feel guilty because she does all the ironing and most of the cleaning - maybe I need to do more but just want to crash after a days work. I am on the brink of moving out but such a big decision. How will the kids take it? Where will I go? The relationship is toxic - we are like two chemicals that are absolutely wonderful in isolation but put them together and you start to get a bad reaction. There is NO intimacy, no kissing, no hand holding. I mean it's as dead as a dodo! What to do? I'm going to stop now but would welcome views from the other side of the fence as honest as possible - if you have questions I'll try and answer them as well.

I’m a first time Mam to our wonderful, happy 5 month old daughter - but am struggling to understand my husbands actions since her birth. I appreciated at first that her arrival would bring about a significant and substantial change in our dynamic and that time and talking through it would help us resettle into our new rhythm as a family. However - he has been dismissive and distant - put his needs above hers / ours. He has planned a number of imminent holidays away with his friends - spends leisure time away from the home at pubs / coffee shops when he isn’t working. When I try and raise these issues with him he tells me I’m overreacting and that this is his routine. He regularly bemoans my breastfeeding as a way of ‘stopping us’ from going out in the evenings and has continued to neglect my requests for help / support with domestic chores. When baby is ready I will of course look forward to evenings out but at this age (and as she isn’t taking a bottle) I’m not prepared to leave her with relatives and friends in the evenings or overnight. I try my best to encourage him to spend time with me in the late evenings when baby is asleep, but he just wants to camp out in front of the TV. When he is home, he pays little attention to our daughter in terms of play and will only engage with her so that he can post photos on social media. As a result - I’m lonely - frustrated and wanting desperately for him to understand how overwhelming his behaviour is becoming. I fear that he is only interested in the aesthetic of our marriage and family - and has very little interest in how we function practically as a unit. Any advice would be welcomed x

Me and my SO have been together for 4 years and we now have a 10 month old daughter. I No longer feel the way I felt when I first started dating him. I’ve been battling depression since I became pregnant and ever since then things have been different. He barely touches me ( I can’t remember the last time he’s touched me), it feels as though there is no more chemistry or love between us anymore. When I cry and explain to him how I’m feeling down or suicidal he figures out a way to make it all about him and pretty much makes me feel as though it’s my fault. when I first had our daughter he seemed as though he would help way more with her but in all honesty the last time he changed our daughter was when she was 2 weeks old .. and as I stated above she is now 10 months. He is a great father when it comes to financial issues but he does nothing when it comes to making bottles, changing her, putting her to sleep etc. him doing nothing makes me have hate for him more and more everyday and I am to the point I no longer want to be with him. I struggle leaving because I grew up without my father around and I want my daughter to grow up in a home with both parents .. do I put up with it for the sake of my daughter or do I just stop trying and end things.

Anyone else’s relationship hit the rocks after having a baby? It’s only been one month from my little boy came along and it feels like my relationship is on its last legs. From he was a week old the baby bubble faded and the arguments started. At the beginning of parenthood I felt nothing but love, reassurance and support from my partner now all I feel is judged on anything I do. I think this is partly due to him having another child (6y/o) to his ex partner. Anything he suggests or says to do is gospel to him and I’m expected to follow suit for being a first time mother. Anytime I disagree or do what I feel is right an argument starts and I’m the horrible person. The last week and a half has been extremely difficult as all we do is argue which is starting to put a wedge between us making me second guess our relationship. I have put up with and accepted a lot of crap throughout our relationship such as deleting and blocking fellas on my social media/numbers he feels threatened by who have just been friends, having to send proof of my whereabouts when I leave the house, getting accused of cheating if I don’t answer my phone or reply back too slow. But he can go and do as he pleases no questions asked while talking to a number of girls on a daily basis on social media. This issue was addressed half way through my pregnancy and it has gotten better with the odd hiccup here and there but generally our relationship was amazing after that right up until the baby was 1 week old. For the baby’s sake I want nothing more than for him to grow up in a loving secure family home but I know that’s not possible if my partner and myself are not happy together. I want to hear other first time mothers experiences did your relationship go through the same, is it the hormones or am I holding on to a loose end?

I'm actually a single mum with kid of 5 years old. I have met my new boyfriend and we have been together for 1 year and recently he told me that he wan ends our relationship as he could not accept my kid which is not his. At the same time he told me that he still have the feeling for his ex crush which he love for 1 and half years. He gave me alot hope for our future and i still couldnt move on and imagine if we break up. I could not bear to leave him but he told me we have no more future. I know i need to plan for my future since i already 24 this year but i really dont know should i continue this relationships or move on. I scare i couldnt find someone like him to pamper like a spoil kid. Please help me...

Hi all, I have been dating someone who is 32 for a few months. We really had some good time and enjoyed spending time together. I dont have kids at the moment and would like to have a family at some points. I am 30 and my girlfriend is 32. Before setting up a family, I would to get to know my girlfriend. I also know the fertility decreases as we get older. How much time do you have left? Also, do you think that we should rush our relationship and moving quickly to next steps? Thanks, Jamal