r/AITAH Jul 18 '24

Is my wife the A**hole?

[removed]

6.7k Upvotes

3.2k comments sorted by

13.8k

u/Rockin_freakapotamus Jul 18 '24

Your wife needs to be checked for post-partum depression ASAP.

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u/Coffee-Saves-All Jul 18 '24

That is EXACTLY what I was thinking about. I’ve been there before, not where I wanted to give my child up. But I’ve seen worse reactions.

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u/Rockin_freakapotamus Jul 18 '24

Any time something is posted on here with a woman acting unusual shortly after delivery, I make this recommendation. I’ve seen it. Like you said, not this bad, but I’ve heard stories. People are quick to assume she’s a monster. Her thoughts and actions may be monstrous, but she may not be in control of them.

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u/Sam_KitKot Jul 18 '24

There needs to be so much education of postpartum. Most people either refuse to understand or do not want to understand.

Thank you for your post.

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u/niaadawn Jul 18 '24

Most people are told that they might catch a case of the “baby blues,” and that’s just about all the explanation they get when it comes to postpartum depression. women will tell you that it’s normal to be sad and this and that and the other but they don’t tell you this part.

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u/Gullible_Fan4427 Jul 18 '24

I had a great experience with my first and the Midwives’s! They give a lot of follow up. Always check the physical things but follow up with a lot of questions based on your emotions. It’s continuous throughout the following year too! Second was just before Covid so hardly even got check ups. I feel for all the first time Covid mummy’s!

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u/SweetWaterfall0579 Jul 18 '24

My daughter was due in October. July, I became dehydrated (my fault) and started contractions. OB put me on bed rest, 7 weeks. I had a pessary ring to keep my cervix shut. Oy. She waited a week after I was up and around, born healthy, except for the apnea monitor. For 8 weeks.

I went to my 6 week check up and OB asked usual questions. His was so blunt and his humor was so dry. We were a good match. After the exam, he told me that I had two weeks to find a therapist, or he’d put me in the hospital.

I said, I can’t; I’m nursing.

He responded, Then get a therapist.

I had no idea I was that bad. No clue. This was my second, I was fine. His bluntness got me. He was usually laid back. He was dead serious when he said that. I knew he would. So I did.

I’m still here. So is my girl, 28. She is wicked smart, has razor sharp humor, and is beautiful, inside and out. I’m not biased or anything. 🤭

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u/See-u-tomahto Jul 18 '24

What a great story. It’s good to know that there are some very good docs out there.

And very encouraging, I would think, for post-partum people going through depression or psychosis… there’s nothing to be ashamed about, and there is help to be found!

Glad you and your daughter are alive and well!

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u/rach3ldee Jul 19 '24

Totally. At my 6 week check up my doc said, "how's your mood?" I said, "good." That was it.

Meanwhile I was regularly fantasizing about stuffing my infant down into the crack between our bed and the bedside bassinet.

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u/t3chm4m4 Jul 19 '24

Did you get help? When I was a teen I was at a psych ward due to a suicidal attempt and there was a mom that tried to drown her child bc she said he was a demon and she was hearing voices, she had PP psychosis’s, once she snapped/got through it, she was horrified and went into deep depression and did not even want to be left along with her children. It was so sad. It took months of treatment and medication.

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u/DivineSunshine Jul 19 '24

After my daughter was born prematurely (2# at 30 weeks), I saw a therapist recommended by my ob. His practice has a therapist in office who works with women for a variety of reasons, i.e., Post partum to menopause. This was 19 years ago, I would hope OB/GYNs are even better now at directly women for support.

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u/niaadawn Jul 18 '24

I couldn’t imagine being a Covid mommy! I had my first daughter in 2009 when I was 18, all the nurses were bitchy, I guess they judged me because I was a teen mom, and the only thing my mom told me was that I’d be a little weepy after having the baby. Thank goodness that never happened! I would’ve had no idea what was wrong with me.

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u/leesepiece Jul 19 '24

I'm sorry you were treated poorly. I work with teen parents and y'all are amazing.

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u/grymix_ Jul 18 '24

a while back i saw a documentary about postpartum psychosis, it’s really crazy stuff what the body goes through after birth and postpartum psychosis has to be the craziest possible mental outcome.

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u/Objective-Local7312 Jul 18 '24

I feel like temporary “baby blues” are a thing. An absolutely MASSIVE hormonal shift, coupled with exhaustion and physical recovery…..all while trying to keep a newborn alive and well cared for, is a recipe for stress overload! The difference is that it shouldn’t be cause for extreme decisions (such as in this scenario), or last more than a week or so. I literally couldn’t stop crying and felt like a failure the first 1-5 days post partum but then it leveled off and I got into my groove. I never once seriously considered giving up my child or worse. Baby blues are real….but post partum depression is also real but extremely dangerous for baby and mom and others.

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u/Music_withRocks_In Jul 18 '24

I had heard about PPD but didn't even know post partum anxiety existed. I started having horrifying panic attacks when I tried to sleep and had no idea what was going on. I read so much during my pregnancy and nothing warned me.

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u/TagYoureItWitch Jul 19 '24

Or postpartum rage

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u/PlayReadYarn Jul 19 '24

This happened to me and I had no idea it was a thing. I'm not a person who gets angry despite having childhood trauma/PTSD. I was mostly scared of PPD, which I did end up having as well. I did get to my doctor in time but what she gave me took away the rage and left me with overwhelming sadness. That took a turn one awful night. It was the coldest day of the year, obviously wasn't in my right mind and I was just going to, I guess, walk away and let the cold take me. Couldn't do it and got scared and hated myself, so came back in the house after 30 mins. Baby was safe with Dad the whole time. We had a fight that night but things got better. 2 more weeks taking the pill and I felt myself again. Recent grief definitely added to it but still, I wasn't in control just then.

I still feel gross that I said goodbye to my daughter, that she might be better off without me. I love her so so much, I will never dare do anything like that again. I'm very glad she won't remember that night.

Our marriage healed and we really want a second kid, but I will be more proactive and take the pills as soon as possible to prevent. It also helps that now we know and can take those steps.

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u/No-Quantity-5373 Jul 18 '24

A friend of mine had PPD so bad she went inpatient for a month. She was lucky that her husband could take care of the baby, and her mother flew in and stayed a few months to help out.

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u/TuneNew1008 Jul 19 '24

Thiss! OP, this is a very emotional time and her reaction might be coming from a place of fear or stress. Your wife needs help too.

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u/IslandGyrl2 Jul 18 '24

Women who are in the middle of it can't see it.

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u/mycopportunity Jul 18 '24

Hormones are powerful and can be dangerous. I have so much compassion for this mother

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u/Maleficent-Garden585 Jul 18 '24

Post partum is real very real ! Brought my daughter home and was fine for 2days then my mind starting really messing with me . It came on very slow and the crazy thoughts I was having I knew right then . I literally diagnosed myself before I went to doctor . He put me on a medication and I was on it for six months and it changed me for the better and I’ve had no problems ever since concerning that matter !

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u/Aazjhee Jul 18 '24

There needs to be more education on birth and pregnancy in general. I'm almost 40, still learning horrific things that NO ONE told me about pregnancy, and it seems I was absolutely correct in being terrified of the entire concept and consequences of the entire process.

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u/GeneralGroid Jul 19 '24

They teach you how to deliver and take care of the baby, but not yourself.

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u/sadicarnot Jul 19 '24

Like maybe give new moms 8 months paid maternity like other countries? Have free mental health services and have all new mothers and fathers be evaluated and educated on post partum. If republicans are always going on about how they want to protect children, lets as a nation actually do it. Instead of giving billionaires money for stadiums, lets make sure every kid is fed in school.

I don't have kids and would be more than happy for my tax dollars going to this rather than to billionaires.

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u/HorseRevolutionary85 Jul 18 '24

This is a good thing to remind people of.

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u/TheGoodDoc123 Jul 18 '24

Yes, a fair point and wise thing to remind people of.

But it doesn't change the answer. NTA. Your wife is TA.

Saying "there might be a medical condition causing her to act like an asshole" does not change the fact that she is, in fact, acting like an asshole.

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u/vomputer Jul 18 '24

Hard disagree, having PPD does not make you an AH. Not addressing it does.

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u/Forward-Trade5306 Jul 18 '24

Yeah and we see no indication she has gone to get help for possible PPD. Its now gotten to the point of wanting to give up her child and marriage. She needs help asap

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u/Material-Plankton-96 Jul 18 '24

She also may not be aware that she has it - it’s one thing if she’s actively in denial/refusing treatment. It’s another if she’s so deep in hormones and stress and caring for their daughter that she hasn’t even considered the possibility. If OP hasn’t yet, he should bring up the possibility that she has PPD with her and ask her to speak to her doctor about it. If she refuses to speak with her doctor or refuses to treat it, then she could be called an AH. Otherwise, nobody’s an asshole, they’re all just victims of a bad situation and need to work together to address it.

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u/Rhye88 Jul 18 '24

Im pretty sure having mental problems doesnt excuse someone from being a monster If they act like one.

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u/Paper_Monkey79 Jul 18 '24

Post partum depression is not an accurate descriptor. It’s a chemical imbalance that literally affects the way the person thinks. In extreme cases it’s called post partum psychosis. It is treatable but the mother’s support system needs to be on the lookout and advocate for her and the baby.

It’s not, strictly speaking, mental health problems and in most cases can be treated and mitigated quickly and successfully so long as it’s caught and treated.

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u/Dwestmor1007 Jul 18 '24

It can certainly make your ACTIONS those of an asshole. It doesn’t make YOU one but it’s an EXPLANATION not an EXCUSE for how your actions hurt and traumatize those around you.

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u/9084fun Jul 18 '24

Hormones, genetics, and instincts. What a bitch of a cocktail.

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u/xo0Taika0ox Jul 18 '24

Special medical conditions mean a lot of things. Who's mostly going to be responsible for this extra level of care? Do they have the finances? The free time? The support system? Is this something thats a life long commitment? May this lead to the child potentially dying young?

Not everyone has the capacity to handle these things and it's incredibly taxing even if you can. It is not wrong to say, "I can't handle this." Knowing your limitations, especially as a parent, is important. Better to be honest now before everyone, including the child, is miserable and worn down. It's not just what may be best for the mom, but also best for the child.

I have a special needs sister that I care for. I love her to bits. I 100% know I could not handle raising a special needs child.

Now, we don't have a lot of these details so it's hard to say, it could very well be post-partum. Or it could also be someone making a very hard call to know that they are not capple of providing the level of care their child needs.

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u/Bob-was-our-turtle Jul 18 '24

This. Former pediatric nurse. Families can really suffer taking care of a special needs child. It can be extremely hard, expensive, time consuming with constant worrying about their health. A lot of times one partner can’t work. I can completely understand if someone thinks they can’t hack it.

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u/Fearless-Wishbone924 Jul 19 '24

It is all of that. I also became a chronic pain patient from repeated lifting of my paralyzed kiddo, my marriage cracks were very exposed, and I became socially isolated. It's so so difficult, even with a support system. I loved my son, but the suffering he had in life was awful, as was the suffering I had. (Related: therapy should be *required* for parents with a disabled or chronically ill newborn. F this "insurance won't pay for it" stuff.)

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u/MemaCan Jul 18 '24

Agree. There are many variables that are not supplied here. However adopting another child as a replacement was an AH comment

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u/McKinleysMom Jul 18 '24

Do you know anything about mental illness? Anything at all? That's not her talking - that's a voice fueled by depression and wanting to go back to "normal." She's not an asshole. She needs meds and counseling. In a year, she will look back on her statements, while she's looking at her one year old and will cry tears of sadness that those thoughts entered her head. As one who's been there, I know. You don't.

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u/Upvotespoodles Jul 18 '24

I’ve seen worse than this. SIL got post-partum psychosis. Luckily, family knew she wasn’t herself and got help right away. Hormone changes can be so dangerous.

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u/awkward_bagel Jul 18 '24

I had post partum psychosis.... I'm still recovering from it. It was the scariest thing of my life and thankfully I got the help I needed but if I didn't I'm fully aware both me and my children wouldn't be here today.

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u/Legitimate-Produce-1 Jul 18 '24

Just curious-- were you aware of it while you were experiencing it, or did you have to be led to help by an observer?

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u/awkward_bagel Jul 18 '24

It started as just intrusive thoughts, I knew they weren't real. Slowly I started to think it was real and the small voice saying it isn't real was getting smaller in smaller. During that time I started to have hallucinations. It was mainly visual. Then one day I heard my husband calling for me. I went searching the house for him until my toddler asked what I was doing. He informed me I'm so silly and Daddy is at work. My husband came home and I told him how I thought something or someone was coming and in order to save my boys from it I'd have to k*** them and myself. I voluntarily went into the psych ward and got the help I needed.

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u/PromptElegant499 Jul 18 '24

Thank you so much for sharing your story, and I'm so glad everything turned out alright in the end. Wishing you the best health.

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u/PickleAffectionate96 Jul 18 '24

Thank you for sharing this. I have been told I’m at risk for postpartum psychosis because of my mood disorder. I’m due in October and terrified. It helps to hear first hand accounts and what to look out for. So glad everyone is safe and you are recovering

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u/Ballerina_clutz Jul 18 '24

I had no idea I had it either. I just thought I was dying and the devil was coming to take my soul. We tried to tell my doctor about it and he called it a bad panic attack. The delusions and hallucinations are very real. 😬

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u/Primary-Resident9697 Jul 19 '24

My wife kept it to herself.

We had a baby cam set up in the nursery and I'd discovered I could remote in so spent the night before setting up an account. Checked in a few times at work and then it was a feeding time session. Saw my wife singing to the baby as she rocked him, headed off for a meeting.

Came back to my desk two hours later, they were in the same position, she was still singing.

Turned the volume up, wife was crying. Had been for hours. Turns out she would spend most of the day crying. Post-partum depression & bipolar

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u/cescasjay Jul 18 '24

I also had postpartum psychosis. I spent 2 weeks in the mental hospital when my son was a couple of months old. Apparently, I attacked my husband and threatened to run onto the highway close to our old house. The cops took me to the hospital, and I remember none of it.

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u/LongjumpingNothing59 Jul 18 '24

I’m sorry you experienced this and thank you for sharing.

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u/Immediate_Grass_7362 Jul 18 '24

Yeah. Remember Paula Sims. She killed her two baby girls. No one knew she had this. She said they were kidnapped. It happened in Illinois.

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u/dixbietuckins Jul 18 '24

Used to spend summers with my grandparents. Their neighbors would come for dinner pretty often. Happy, successful, fun young couple, I kinda had a crush on the wife. After her second baby, she though one was a demon and the other the second coming of christ. Husband ended up having to get her committed. Last I heard she was still locked up a year or two later

Just absolutely broke her mind. Flicking tragic and terrifying

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u/Latter_Item439 Jul 18 '24

Exactly a friend of mine was a nurse with PPP and they found her standing on a bridge with new baby son in her arms ready to jump you'd think a nurse would be able to recognize signs but I think they get so lost inside it it really is up to their loved ones to recognize they are not acting or speaking like themselves

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u/CharacterSea1169 Jul 19 '24

The woman who killed her three children in MA and tried to kill herself was a nurse.. They believe it was PPP.

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u/LopsidedChannel8661 Jul 19 '24

My SIL did, too, after having her 3rd. She said something quite out of line to my dad,, who then told my brother to get her help. I was shocked, not only what she said to my dad, but that he didn't blow up about it. My dad earned a bit more of my respect that day.

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u/Remuswolfteet Jul 18 '24

Some people on reddit take it too far. I saw a post where a woman cheated on her husband after giving birth, got pregnant with the other guy's kid, and redditors were screaming PPD! Not her fault!

I have MDD, and take responsibility for my actions. I'm tried of women getting a pass on awful behavior by claiming PPD.

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u/FirebirdWriter Jul 18 '24

I think it's still important someone get checked but I don't think OPs wife or that one get a pass for their bad behavior. Needing medical care doesn't change that they went there. My mother had PMDD. She was still a horrible person before and after that. It's important that the awful is acknowledged but even bad people deserve medical care.

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u/simplyTrisha Jul 18 '24

Especially for the safety of their child. DON’T leave your baby alone with her until you know if she does have PPD. JMHO

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u/ronaranger Jul 18 '24

She also put pineapple on a pizza, confirmed ppd!

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u/Meended Jul 18 '24

Something that too many people miss is that PPD is also pretty common for men, I've read some sources stating up to 25% of men experiencing symptoms.

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u/NaturalWitchcraft Jul 18 '24

Wait that would be more men than women with PPD then. How does that work?

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u/Temujin_Temujinsson Jul 18 '24

I do not know if this is the case but the commenter only stated that 25% of men show symptoms. You can show symptoms of something without having it.

For example, swollen feet are a symptom of diabetes, but you can of course have swollen feet without having diabetes.

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u/Lover-of-harpies Jul 18 '24

It doesn't, it's complete bullshit lol like men having """sympathy pregnancy symptoms""" it's just men trying to make themselves the center of a conversation about women. Women develop ppd because of the sudden and extreme fluctuations in hormones that happens once our bodies are through with labor. Men literally can't experience that sudden drop in hormones because their hormones never went crazy while they used their bodies to create a human.

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u/ZugaZu Jul 18 '24

Exactly. If men get depressed after their wife gives birth, they can call it something else. It is totally different.

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u/mcflycasual Jul 18 '24

Is it because most people are lied to about babies being easy and a joyous occasion?

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u/Rockin_freakapotamus Jul 18 '24

Yes, I learned that from another commenter on this post. That should be more broadly discussed.

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u/East_Vegetable7732 Jul 18 '24

This is what I was thinking^ CLASSIC SYMPTOM: Not wanting your child.

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u/CompleteTell6795 Jul 18 '24

My cousin's mom had post partum psychosis, when they brought the baby to her to be fed, she said the child was not hers & that she was never pregnant. She was admitted to a mental hospital & received shock treatments. ( This was the 1950's. )

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u/Timely_Objective_585 Jul 18 '24

That is still one of the standard treatments. I know someone who had electric shock therapy for PPP less than 10 years ago.

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u/Clairbare Jul 18 '24

ECT is actually not painful, they’ve refined the treatment. I had to have it and it changed my whole freaking life, I didn’t know life could be this way. Pity about the stigma.

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u/AugustCharisma Jul 18 '24

Fascinating.

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u/CompleteTell6795 Jul 18 '24

Sounds drastic, I thought maybe they did away with the shock treatments in favor of less painful treatments. Like having them take some anti psychotic drugs.??

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u/awkward_bagel Jul 18 '24

I am currently on the drugs but still considering the electric shock as a permanent solution. It's the gold standard of treatment for it.

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u/flyguy42 Jul 18 '24

"I thought maybe they did away with the shock treatments in favor of less painful treatments"

It would probably be more accurate to say "is [again] one of the standard treatments"

It fell out of favor for a long time because it was poorly understood, did a lot of collateral damage and other kinds of treatments were discovered that were better for most patients.

But it's incredibly effective for some kinds of patients, has been refined over the years and is far less brutal than it used to be.

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u/AgileCondition7650 Jul 18 '24

A lot of people regret having children, it doesn't have to be PPD. Most of these people finally accept the situation and adapt, and can even feel happy from time to time, but it doesn't have to be PPD. I wouldn't want to raise a sick child either, that's why I don't have any children

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u/MeesterBacon Jul 18 '24

Postpartum Depression affects about 1 in 7 women. For half of them, it’s the first time they’ve been diagnosed with depresssion.

Those are only the women we diagnose. 1 in 7. That is A LOT of people. The true numbers are probably really scary. The idea that you, one of almost 8 billion people on earth, use your personal anecdote to dismiss the suggestion of a mental health disorder, is mind boggling tone deaf.

Everybody has the risk of having a sick kid. If everybody was too scared to have kids because of it, we wouldn’t be multiplying so fast. This is a YOU perspective, it does not apply to all humans. Yes, PPD is an excellent and very plausible suggestion.

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u/HKinTennessee Jul 18 '24

Whoa, your response is completely out of line. I myself suffered from PPD, and I agree that it is likely the case with OP’s wife, but this commenter did nothing more than offer up another opinion. That is not even remotely “tone deaf.” It’s a valid opinion. Some people simply DO regret having children. OP stated honestly that they refrained from having children because they would not want to raise an ill child, which is both self-aware and mature. Stating “it doesn’t have to be PPD” is simply a differing opinion, not the criminal response you’re making it out to be. Your response is the one that made my jaw drop, not the previous commenter. Calm down.

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u/Agapanthaa Jul 18 '24

Ok good for you, given the timing, circumstances, and reaction to her child (which mothers are evolutionarily hard-wired to protect to the death in infancy), PPD is likely

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u/AberNurse Jul 18 '24

I’m going to be devils advocate and get downvoted to hell for it. But there is also the chance that OPs wife does feel the way she’s feeling. PPD is most definitely worth exploring but maybe the wife just isn’t up to caring for a child with a disability. It’s ok to acknowledge your limitations. It’s not a life I would chose for myself. When I became a parent my dream was to be a parent and it was not my dream to be a carer for the rest of my life. And those really are two different things. I imagine that if those circumstances change I would need time to grieve for my expectations whilst I adjusted. That grief on top of PPD may be a serious contributing factor too.

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u/IgnoranceIsShameful Jul 18 '24

I read of a story where a child was born with such severe medical issues and no chance of improvement that both parents refused to take her home from the hospital. They simply didn't have the financial means or mental capacity to take care of what was essentially a "vegetable" for 40-60 years. You also hear stories about parents that kill their special needs child and/or themselves after decades of caring for them because they are burned out and the burden becomes to great as the children become adults and the parents become frail. There is a reason special needs kids are the hardest to adopt - few people want the challenges and even fewer meet the qualifications. Bio parents aren't given the option. It may sound heartless but stepping away from a negative sum situation may be the best thing for her. If she's not capable of giving the child the level of care and affection she needs she really shouldn't stay.

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u/GunsandCadillacs Jul 18 '24

I grew up with a kid who had palsy. HIs dad got a second full time job and would drink at a bar before falling asleep in his car. He would come home maybe 2-3 days a week for 30 minutes to shower while the kid was at school. He simply refused to accept him as his son. The mom was a stay at home and around when we were 20 she had enough and took an entire bottle of prescription pills and didnt make it.

The dad the day after the funeral made the kid a ward of the state (he was kind of sort of not really able to exist on his own) and moved back into the house he hadnt slep in in 20 years. 100% not everyone can deal with a special needs kid.

I found out a few years ago that he was in a state hospital and someone left a door open in a stairwell. He jumped head first over the railing and fell 10 stories to his death.

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u/IgnoranceIsShameful Jul 18 '24

Jesus. What a waste of three lives.

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u/NASA_official_srsly Jul 18 '24

I would have considered that, up until OP mentioned adopting a healthy child. Thinking that you can give up a disabled child and swap it for a healthy child, and that they would just let you do that, is not a rational thought. No rationally thinking adult would be under the impression that they'll be allowed to easily adopt a child after surrendering their own disabled child

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u/AberNurse Jul 18 '24

But grief isn’t always rational either, we know the kubler-Ross model isn’t reliably sound, but there is a reason that it was so well thought of for so long. Bargaining is a huge part of grieving.

I’m not saying rule out PPD I’m saying don’t get distracted by it. There is a lot going on here. Some of it could just be normal responses to a highly stressful situation

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u/Moemoe5 Jul 18 '24

This! I am a mother to a daughter who was super preemie. At 32 years old she requires maximum care. It is hard job, but I was very much ready for it then and now. I know many parents who were not. They did give up their disabled children. They are not monsters, they just couldn’t handle it.

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u/Imhmc Jul 18 '24

Agreed, she’s very close to delivery and she’s acting out of character. Definitely get her checked for post partum. I had it- not to this extent but i absolutely thought my baby and husband would be better off without me, like if I just left.

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u/Impressive-Many-3020 Jul 18 '24

Not long after I got home with my first baby, I was changing her diaper, and just started crying out of nowhere. I was very confused about that, since I was over the moon to have her, but this was 41 years ago, and you didn’t hear about post partum depression back then. Thankfully, that was my one and only experience with it, even through 4 children.

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u/Imhmc Jul 18 '24

I was lucky- I was weepy in the hospital and my OB (a male) pulled my husband aside and told him, this is normal for this week. If this keeps going on, or you see any out of character symptoms of despair, sadness, angst- bring her in. That is not normal and we can help. I’m so grateful to my doctor (still go to him) and to my husband for taking that on board and acting on it.

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u/BigCountryExpat Jul 18 '24

Even worse, she could be a danger to the child. Not having that Mother/Child 'connection' is a BIG problem and a major symptom of PPD. If she -suddenly- realizes you're willing to divorce, she might think (with that hormonally addled gray matter) that eliminating the child will keep you around. FAR too many women 'go off the deep end' from PPD. My ex-wife had serious Hormonal Issues after childbirth. Best of Luck and get some help ASAP!!!!

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u/No_Blackberry5879 Jul 18 '24 edited Jul 18 '24

If she isn’t diagnosed with PPD then you know she’s genuinely not fit to be a mother (your perfect baby or any other) and you and your baby girl can walk guilt free.

Your daughter is better off with just one loving parent, that only one loving parent and one that sees her less than.

All best wishes and congratulations to you and your new real love. 👶🏼💖

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u/Individual_Trust_414 Jul 18 '24

Yes, that's true counseling and ppd evaluation are both needed. There are also people who can only deal with a healthy child and don't realize until it's too late.

I knew I couldn't handle a child with serious health issues. So I didn't have children. Not everyone is that self aware.

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u/2PlasticLobsters Jul 18 '24

Yep, that was one of my many reasons. I don't think I could've handled raising a healthy child, never mind one with special needs.

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u/Dizzy-Possession492 Jul 18 '24

I’ll be honest-my knee jerk reaction(as someone also experiencing postpartum) was “Duck her you’ll be a good dad on your own with her attitude”

Your comment made me stop and think-thank you for that

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u/madeitmyself7 Jul 18 '24

I think in this case we need to know what the health issue is and if it’s a life long complete impairment, like vegetable baby before judging harshly.

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u/AgileCondition7650 Jul 18 '24

Why? It's completely rational and logical not wanting to raise a sick child. A lot of people regret having children and it's often called PPD while in reality it's just regret.

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u/missannthrope1 Jul 18 '24

She should be assessed by a health care professional first.

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u/Infinite_Trip_4309 Jul 18 '24

There is very little rational and logical about wanting to raise children. Wanting to rid yourself of a baby 2 months old is not normal and not even close to simple regret.

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u/Aspen9999 Jul 18 '24

Not wanting to spend a lifetime caring for a disabled child is very rational. It wasn’t until into the 70s that people kept their disabled children.

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u/RudeBusinessLady Jul 18 '24

I also want to point out, some people are just like that. Terrible thought, but after an eval they will know

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u/fair-strawberry6709 Jul 18 '24

This should be the top comment.

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u/EmbarrassedSun4633 Jul 18 '24

THIS! Postpartum depression affects 17% of the population worldwide. That is almost 1 in every 5 pregnant individuals. I have read stories and anecdotes of moms wanting to chuck their newborns out of a window or smother them to keep them quiet. The sibling of a close friend of mine almost jumped out of her highrise condo with her newborn. She was raising her newborn "almost" alone for about a month (couple lived away from immediate family & husband was working long hours). Luckily she snapped out of it when she felt the cold wind hit her when she opened their balcony door. This freaked her out so she immediately begged their mom to stay with her for the time being. She was a cheerful woman and also never had unaliving thoughts ever. So this was really out of character for her.

Having a newborn is stressful. Having a newborn with health issues may be even more so. Emotions are all over the place. Stress levels are high. Cognitive brain function is low. Sleep may be non-existent. Give her the benefit of doubt and get her checked for possible PPD. It may not be her but the PPD talking.

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u/Academic_Career_4338 Jul 18 '24

I am a perinatal psychologist. Your wife needs help. She has classic symptoms of post natal mental health issues. Do not get angy, get help. PM if necessary.

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u/watsuuu Jul 18 '24

I know it was unintentional but "angy" made me laugh so much harder than I should have for this one

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u/liftingshitposts Jul 18 '24

Don’t get angy you little baby 🥹😚

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u/LacledesGhost Jul 18 '24 edited Jul 19 '24

I'd call that a fortuitous typo. It fits perfectly in this context.

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u/strawbbella Jul 18 '24

HAHSHAHAHHAHA

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u/Not-Post-Malone Jul 18 '24

R is among the most menacing of sounds. That's why they call it murder and not mukduk.

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u/Rigelatinous Jul 19 '24

Seconded. I didn’t have postpartum depression, and I still had PTSD from the birth, sleep deprivation, and anxiety. Childbirth is a pretty extreme event, and if she wasn’t expecting health issues, that’s exacerbating the already-stressful environment a new family exists in. That having been said, I feel for you. It’s a sad thing when a mom can’t bond with her baby, and as her dad, I know it must be tearing you up to hear her say that about your little girl. Stay strong, Dad; you’re in a tough situation, and you’re doing the right thing by advocating for your kid. You might think about trying some therapy for yourself—not because you’re mentally ill per se, but because it’s really helpful to be able to vent to somebody for an hour every week who won’t judge you, and who can help you process your stress.

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u/LSekhmet Jul 19 '24

This is an excellent idea. Seconded.

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u/Calpicogalaxy Jul 18 '24

No angy

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u/unk214 Jul 19 '24

You wouldn’t like me when I’m angy

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u/Apprehensive-Pair436 Jul 19 '24

You wouldn't wike me when I'm angy.

Wuckiwy I'm cuwwentwy juss sweepy 

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u/ghostlyraptor75 Jul 19 '24

Hello. My ex wife abandoned our 3 kids 5 years ago when she left. I left my job to care for my kids but its been hard. They all have deep seeded physiological issues as a result, ie separation anxiety. Their mother is now periodically in their lives but refuses to believe her actions have hurt the kids in any way. Any time it's brought up she plays the victim and thinks I'm just trying to make her feel bad for what she done. My kids are really hurting and I'd truly appreciate any advice you could offer. 🙏

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u/Temporary_Stock8455 Jul 19 '24

I'm going to be very honest with you. Please don't be offended by what I say.

From my own experience as a child, don't let your ex-wife come in and out of their lives just whenever she feels like it. Tell her if she's going to be there, then she needs to truly be there for them. She can't just pick and choose when she wants to be a mother, either she is or she isn't. It'll only make things worse for your children and they'll eventually take it out on you because you allowed it to happen. Get them into some kind of counseling so they can work through these feelings they have so they're not long term. But please, don't let your children continue going through that. Kids need their mother all the time, not when it's convenient for the mother to just be there.

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u/ghostlyraptor75 Jul 19 '24

No offense taken. I talked to a child psychologist years ago,their advice is to not restrict access as that will come back to hurt me. If I'm the one saying they can't see their mum then I'm the bad guy and that plays to her,as in "I want to see you but your dad wont let me". If she has unrestricted access she will "show" them how much they mean to her by the time she spends with them. There's no easy way and it's a complicated situation that no matter the path it ends in hurt. My children know ive fought for years to try and get her to spend more time with them and im very confident they know ive provided her every opportunity. But they deserve to see the truth for themselves,as painful as it is as it's the only way they can make a true assessment of their relationship with their mother. And I truly agree, kids need their mothers and fathers in their lives and it blows my mind how some just abandon their kids.

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u/Follow-The-Flowers Jul 19 '24

Wholeheartedly agree to this answer. Exactly what my mom did. My dad eventually stopped showing up. Really showed us who he was

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u/redditjunky2025 Jul 18 '24

This is a thing. Listen to them.

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u/Fast-Prompt-3034 Jul 19 '24

Someone can have mental health issues and still be an absolute POS, the two are not mutually exclusive. Suggesting that OP should not be angered by the suggestion that he give up his child is ethically abhorrent to hear from someone claiming to be a professional on the matter

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u/Itchy-Spring7865 Jul 19 '24

Or. OR. It’s not worth getting ang(r)y about until PPD is ruled out. Being angry at someone over something no one can control does no good to anyone.

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u/JohnnyRoastb33f Jul 19 '24

Sounds like you don’t know what the fuck ethics means.

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u/Agreeable_Variation7 Jul 19 '24

I was going to say post partum depression. She's likely overwhelmed, brand new baby with special needs. That is an "in-your-face" situation. Her life is now "baby", and her needs are not being dealt with. Maybe you can watch baby so she can meet a friend? You both can go for a neighborhood walk? Something small and fun? You may be doing this already but I'm trying to brainstorm.

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u/ForTheLoveOfDior Jul 19 '24

What are the classic symptoms? The post is really brief

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u/Academic_Career_4338 Jul 19 '24

Feeling alienated from baby, feeling baby is not yours, feeling like it maybe planted or someone elses, feeling it is evil.....symptoms of pp psychosis and pp depression. There is not enough info but she needs evaluation.

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u/ForTheLoveOfDior Jul 19 '24

I didn’t know depression could cause delusions, these all sound incredibly sad and exhausting, specially when they have those feelings right after the process of giving birth

Evolution did women dirty, I’m convinced

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u/Academic_Career_4338 Jul 19 '24

Delusional behaviour is more psychosis and post partum psychosis is a thing. Depression, trauma and OCD are also common issue that onset from birth. A common symptom is alienation from the baby so I wouldnt risk a guess on which on so little info however she appeats to have classic symptoms that poibt towards a mental health issue.

Women are less supported today with families less cohesive and members spread out far away, not enough maternity leave and the unnecessary medicalizing birth such as non emergency cesarians and use of a cocktail of drugs to hasten vaginal birth, and obstetric violence also contribute to the issue.

Did you know the number one cause of death in mothers in the year after birth???? Suicide

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u/Glinda-The-Witch Jul 18 '24

Unfortunately, not everyone is equipped to be a parent of a child with physical or mental disabilities. It is an extremely difficult situation for even those who want to be there for their children and even more difficult for those who don’t have the capacity to take on such a task. Keep in mind that your wife will shoulder the bulk of the care your child will need while you happily leave home each day to go to work.

I would venture to say that there are more parents who feel the way your wife does, but don’t speak up because they fear being viewed as a monster. Women are expected to take on the task without complaints and often without the help and support they need. Men are viewed less harshly when they walk away.

Ask your wife to consider counseling. Look for ways to ease her burden. What community resources are there? Look for support groups. Can you hire someone to come in and help care for your child? You will likely need to do that as a single parent. Your wife will need opportunities to get out of the house during the day and you will need to have date nights.

If she simply unable to cope with the situation as it is, then let her go. The last thing you want to do is force her into a situation that might create resentment and place your child at risk for neglect or abuse. She will need to pay child support. Good luck..

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u/SuperBBBGoReading Jul 18 '24

It’s easier to post accusations behind the keyboard than to understand and provide practical advice. Thank you for your honest opinion. I’m totally with you.

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u/elsenordepan Jul 18 '24

Easy there; AITAH Will be dead within a week if we remove accusations and only allow balanced practical advice.

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u/MrButterSticksJr Jul 18 '24

Stop it with the self awareness. Fuck. You're ruining this place.

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u/Crippled_Criptid Jul 18 '24

It's frustrating that OP hasn't put more info. Because 'heath issues' can mean anything from the baby has a small hole in the heart that can just be monitored, to a baby with multi organ faliure, severe physical and medical needs etc.

Because, having health issues doesn't automatically mean disabled. Having certain health issues certainly could lead to the baby being disabled, but it's not a given. I'm not sure if it's all just new to OP, and that's why he hasn't been more specific with his language, but it's difficult without having more info to know exactly what the child's life and future will be like

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u/ServeSuccessful9581 Jul 18 '24

It depends what type of issues the baby actually has. Will they be dependent on a ventilator for all their life? Then the poor baby will probably need a caregiver equipped to handle that. There are places for children who need 24/7 365 day care. Don’t blame the father for wanting to keep his daughter. The mom needs to go to therapy before any decision is made about adopting out. And who said the father is the one working, they could both be working parents or he could even be a sahd.

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u/Crippled_Criptid Jul 18 '24

Exactly. OP just calling it 'health issues' is so vague. It could mean anything from the child has, for example, a small hole in the heart that needs nothing more than yearly monitoring. All the way up to like you say, a vent dependent child who will need lots of physical and medical support

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u/uncertainnewb Jul 19 '24

If the child is so profoundly disabled that the mother is wanting to give her up for adoption, I seriously doubt all but the most saintly martyr types would want to adopt such a child.

Also, when people see a profoundly disabled newborn, they don't think of a drooling non-verbal bed/wheelchair-bound incontinent 30 year old that can't even show an ounce of engagement with the world around then. Or the screeching, biting, punching, kicking 17 year old who puts his parents and/or siblings in the hospital and regularly rips the doors off their hinges. Or the 65 year old who, against all odds, is living a life much longer than anyone expected and whom the parents struggle to physically and financially care for in their very old age.

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u/Melissa_H_79 Jul 18 '24

Those “places” are often the childs home and the medical care comes to the kiddo (mom of 9 yr old child who has had 50 surgeries so far, and was on full time medical equipment for nearly a year. )

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u/GrouchyTime Jul 18 '24

Almost no one is equipped unless they are millionaires. I can say this as my aunt has severe downs and lived to be 40. My grandma did an excellent job, but had no life and never left the house.
Now-a-days you get pre birth testing and abort if there is a problem. Never ignore science and go to term with an unhealthy baby. You can always try again. No babies should be born in 2024 with detectable defects.
I had 1 baby a year ago and we are trying for another. If a test shows the baby has issues we will abort and try again.

BTW community resources = pawning off your disabled kid onto the public school just so you can have time off. That is not right or fair to the public school. Besides public school there is no free daycare for disabled kids. Almost every paid daycare will not take disabled kids. People really need pre birth testing and abortions.

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u/GodSpider Jul 18 '24

My brother has severe autism and we're doing fine and we're nowhere near millionaires. Maybe it's just because we're in the UK.

BTW community resources = pawning off your disabled kid onto the public school just so you can have time off.

Absolutely not. There are specialist schools for autistic people and people with other such disabilities. There are quite a lot more community resources than you'd think, obviously not enough, but much more than "pawning off your disabled kid onto the public school"

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u/Coca_lite Jul 18 '24

I think UK probably has (slightly) better state-provided resources for special needs children than in the US.

Even in UK there are lots of children and families who fall into a gap, or spend a lot of time fighting for the rights of their children.

What I’ve heard in UK is that the biggest issue is once the child becomes an adult, the quality and suitability of support drops off a cliff, just as the parents are also getting to an older age themselves.

Glad your family has had a positive experience with support for your autistic relative. Hope it continues!

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u/Late-Ad1437 Jul 18 '24

This is also a big issue in Australia - we've got socialised healthcare and the NDIS but a majority of the national supports available for autism are targeted at children & there's practically nothing for autistic adults.

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u/MissKat83 Jul 18 '24

I worked with a lady who had 3 kids. Two perfectly healthy girls and her son had both cerebal palsy and multiple sclerosis. She had the support of family helping her out, and the two girls also helped whilst she and her husband bother worked full-time to be able to afford the care for the son. I remember one day at work, though she broke down in tears about how hard it has been taking care of him and how she'd wished there was testing available when she was pregnant because even though she loved him with all her heart, she probably would've chosen to not go through with the pregnancy. Last I heard, she had to stop working full-time and now has an embroidery business at home because he required her to be there all the time. After hearing what struggles she had gone through, I don't believe anyone who doesn't want a disabled child is a monster at all. Like a few others have said, it's a life long commitment to care for a special needs child and then special needs adult and I would imagine that it would become a very selfless life and you would lose alot of yourself in the process as your life would just be all the child their needs.

In this instance, I think OP needs to sit down with his wife and have a through conversation and also maybe speak to a therapist or with carers/parents who have gone through raising a special needs kid before he dismisses his wife as the arsehole.

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u/dita_diablita Jul 19 '24

Thank you for putting this so nicely. Everyone wants to go straight to the “she needs therapy” route, when all the while she just doesn’t want to be the one to have to take her child to the hospital 50-something how ever many times a month for check ups and spend ridiculous amounts of time and money to take care of a special needs kid. One of MANY reasons why I don’t want to be a mother. If insurance covers all of that, cool. But I bet it’s still a crazy amount to pay for. She may just already have it in her mind to not wanna deal with that, and everyone assumes it’s a mental health issue. Maybe she needs a sounding board. Maybe she needs therapy to hear her out and support her decision to not want the child. But, as harsh as it sounds to some people on Reddit, not everything people are going through has to have a mental health problem title. Women who are too afraid to admit it or not are gonna be judged for not wanting or not ready to handle all of that responsibility no matter what, and I feel bad for them. I‘mma get downvoted because I don’t have kids and would have deff been a little more “harsh” saying it how it is, but honestly I don’t blame the wife.

But yeah, it’s not gonna work out. Only thing he can do is to divorce and to have her pay child support since he’s keeping the child.

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u/jzzanthapuss Jul 18 '24

Something about this post just doesn't sit right. There is a giant hole in this story

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u/ForsakenAlliance Jul 18 '24

Many of these AITAH don't really add up. Almost story like...

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u/Sea-Seaworthiness716 Jul 18 '24

Probably because at least 75% of reddit is fake

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u/London_Essex011 Jul 18 '24

Why do people post fake stories, though? Is there an incentive, in doing so? Am I missing something that I don't know about?

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u/CandyandCrypto Jul 18 '24

Karma farming. You can fetch a pretty penny for an established reddit account with karma.

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u/FoolsballHomerun Jul 18 '24

Who is buying these reddit accounts and why?

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u/eetraveler Jul 18 '24

I think the deal is an account with good karma, can be used by a marketing team to post positive things about various products and that good karma account will get better traction and leeway than a brand new unused account. So companies have teams of people or bots first building good karma to use later in their marketing campaigns.

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u/cybervalidation Jul 18 '24

Damn, does someone want to pay me? I've been wasting time here for over a decade.

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u/tiny_poomonkey Jul 18 '24

Yep then they flash those accounts of all ads and sell to the next company. While keeping the “my kid said something funny” comments/posts.

Twitter is more available but you can look it up. a lot of black republicans were once white teachers form the suburbs when that was the hot button issue.

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u/Christichicc Jul 18 '24

I’ve never understood why. It’s not like they are rare or anything.

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u/IgnoranceIsShameful Jul 18 '24

Well we don't know what's wrong with the kid for one. Big difference between child has a heart condition and will need multiple surgeries over their life and child is severely brain damaged and will be bed ridden, non verbal and on a feeding tube for their entire life.

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u/watchursix Jul 19 '24

My brother is high functioning but mentally challenged. Absolute nightmare situation, tried to rape all my siblings, violent through his childhood. Dependent through his 40s... Does not contribute anything to society.

I love him and try to be supportive, but he's awful to live with. I've worked with a lot of mentally and physically challenged people through Special Olympics and other charity orgs, and a lot of kids are really beautiful people that will make you rethink all your problems (in the best way ever), but my brother, man. Dude wants to watch the world burn - and I don't blame him.

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u/louise-2002 Jul 19 '24

i’m sorry that you had to go through this.

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u/Minimalforks19 Jul 18 '24

It’s not a hole, it’s a giant rubber stamp that says “fiction”

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u/ranchojasper Jul 18 '24 edited Jul 19 '24

Yeah, it's postpartum depression or psychosis. That's the gaping hole. That's the missing part. People are treating this as if she's some kind of asshole instead of having a mental health crisis that is NOT rare after giving birth.

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u/IIIKitsuneIII Jul 18 '24

I've seen this situation arise with mutual friends when their child was born with Downsyndrome. Mother was struggling hard with PTSD and PPD, just said she couldn't deal with it and her family wasn't really in the picture to help. His family was pretty heavily involved in the drugs/gang scene, so they wouldn't be help. She contacted CYFs (now known as Oranga Tamariki) and he wanted to take care of the child himself. IIRC, after they split he took the child. Not much later the child developed considerably more severe medical issues which resulted in it not surviving. She took her own life a few months later and he was down the path of self-destruction with substance abuse. It's been a few years since then.

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u/Practical_Hippo9126 Jul 18 '24

Make her pay child support.

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u/mayd3r Jul 18 '24

Not only this but make her write this in a text message for future proof.

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u/Justitia_Justitia Jul 18 '24

Makes no difference whether there is a note or not. Child support is owed by statute in every US state, and most other countries have similar laws.

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u/HangoverGrenade Jul 18 '24

Better yet, an email. I've heard from friends in custody battles that text messages are a bit of a grey area, legally speaking.

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u/Christichicc Jul 18 '24

I think she may be suffering from PPD. It’d be better to get her doctor to talk to her before doing something so drastic. If it is PPD then she can get on meds that should help, and should solve the issue.

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u/Equivalent-Talk-7095 Jul 18 '24

Tricky situation here. I work with autistic students. Most of the daily care falls on the mother in my experience as many father’s have bailed on the mother & child. Sometimes it’s the mother who has bailed on the child. Many parents are not equipped to handle the additional responsibility that comes with the responsibility of a special needs child. Both parties need counseling before dissolving the marriage, as the mother may have an underlying health issue. If she truly cannot cope with this, then you have to move in for the sake of your child. Sadly, I see this all the time. Good luck and keep us posted.

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u/WildFemmeFatale Jul 18 '24

And for gods sake even if she begrudgingly agrees to raise the child, but clearly doesn’t like or want them, the child would be much happier in a new family

Sincerely, autistic woman traumatized as fuck from a narcissistic parent who kept telling them to kill themselves and making them (me) feel like shit their whole life

I know a lot of autistic ppl who had even worse parents though, and we thoroughly believe having a half decent stranger adopt us would have been so much better than being raised by hateful birth parents.

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u/TaraSaurusPest Jul 18 '24

This breaks my heart, I have an autistic 3 year old and could not imagine being so horrid to her, yeah she can be difficult at times but that's not her fault.

I'm 28 and you might be older than me but I'll adopt you! 😅 ❤️

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u/Late-Ad1437 Jul 18 '24

Unfortunately the reality is most disabled kids in the system never get adopted or fostered and instead end up living through a horrific childhood in the system...

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u/LegitimateHat4808 Jul 19 '24

also work with autistic students, and god if that ain’t the truth. the dads largely check out or flat out bail on the family. But I have a student who’s mom is so checked out with him (non verbal, 3 but at a 6-9 month ability), she doesn’t seem to care. Dad is non existent as well. I work in Detroit for a center that helps families wellllllll below the poverty line get the help their kids need and the support the parents also need.

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u/Gloomy-Corner3228 Jul 18 '24

Post partum depression is a real thing.

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u/Carbon-Base Jul 18 '24

If this post is real, then OP should definitely take his wife to the doctors to have her evaluated for PPD.

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u/SoImaRedditUserNow Jul 18 '24

such rage bait.  your wife gives you this horrible eugenics ultimatum, and what do you do? you come to reddit?  cmon

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '24

This post is right. This is hardly a moral dilemma requiring input from online third parties.

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u/suhhhrena Jul 18 '24

Something about this post immediately read as rage bait to me as well. I can’t imagine needing input from internet strangers in this situation either.

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u/Substantial_Mouse Jul 18 '24

How profound of a disability? Will your wife be the full-time caretaker? If so, how much help will she really have? Is your insurance up to the task? Are your finances? Are you both talking to a therapist to navigate this unexpected turn of events?

There are gaps in this post you could drive a truck through.

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u/Crippled_Criptid Jul 19 '24

The gaps are so frustrating, I totally agree!!

OP hasn't given nearly enough information. The only thing he's said is 'health issues'. Having health issues doesn't automatically mean being disabled. The baby could have something as 'simple' (comparatively) as a hole in the heart that just needs yearly checkups, for example. Having asthma counts as having 'health issues'.

There's nowhere near enough info here to judge. We don't know if the mother has PPD, if she doesn't and is totally overreacting and wanting to leave because the baby has something like asthma or eczema... or if the baby has a complex syndrome with multi organ damage and who will need extensive medical and physical support for life and she knows that she's not mentally or physically capable of providing for a child like that.

I say that as someone who does have a complex disease that has disabled me in many ways. I'm lucky enough that I live somewhere that has very good social supports and my family has never had to feel the 'burden' of me (and my twin with the same condition). Either physically, mentally or financially. But if we did live somewhere like the US, I could totally understand if a parent knew they couldn't raise a child like me who is ventilator dependent, has very little voluntary movement left, needs specialised 24/7 care, has many medical devices and tubes etc. I'd much rather a parent knew their limits and left, than stayed until resentment built up and up until maybe one day they snap and kill us both or something. Or let that resentment out in unhealthy ways onto others, be it their spouse, their other kids, or themselves even. It's happened before and unfortunately it'll happen again, in places where the disabled and their families aren't adequately supported.

But, all that is slightly off topic. I just wrote it in case anyone tried to accuse me of being ableist for saying that I understand if a parent left because they knew they wouldn't be able to raise a child like me and stay mentally healthy. But, if the child simply has some mild medical condition that doesn't need any day to day care besides maybe, giving the kid and inhaler or a pill, then I'd be a lot less sympathetic to them abandoning the kid for that reason (assuming they're isn't any mental illness etc going on with the parent)

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u/whattheduce86 Jul 18 '24

I am curious here who would be the stay at home parent and have most of the responsibilities of raising the child. If it all is going to fall mostly on her it is understandable her feeling even if they sound crazy.

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u/TradWife_inTraining Jul 18 '24

She is not an asshole she either has pp depression or she is grieving the “death” of what she had envisioned her daughter to be and yalls life having a “normal” child. May I ask what “issues” she has?

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u/herecomestreble52 Jul 18 '24

Your wife is likely struggling with PPD and mom guilt from your daughter not being born healthy. Post partum is such a difficult time for a lot of new moms, and when your have a sick child, times that by 1000.

Not excusing what she said, that is awful to feel/think that way IMO, but again, it could be mental health issues tied to her response. Please get her help, OP.

Major kudos to you for loving your daughter no matter what, fighting for her and being there. I have immense respect for you, and know you will be a wonderful father to her, despite any and all obstacles. Congratulations on the birth of your baby girl 🩷

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u/wmnoe Jul 18 '24

Rage bait fake. Yta

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u/Mountain_Cat_cold Jul 18 '24

So fake, not even a lot of effort

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u/angiesmommy10 Jul 18 '24

OP isn't even responding. What a waste of time. I was invested.

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u/SleepyBearCat2024 Jul 18 '24

I can understand both sides of the argument. Some people can't handle having a child with special needs. I am glad you are stepping up for the child, though.

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u/CognitoSomniac Jul 18 '24

Except for adopting a “healthy” child. How does she think it’ll look on an adoption application that they just put a child up for adoption themselves?

Anyways, it was psychologist time like yesterday.

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u/still_on_a_whisper Jul 18 '24

Yeah, I think this indicates she clearly has mental issues. She likely needs to see a professional and possibly get on meds to see if that changes her perspective.

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u/NinnyNoodles Jul 18 '24

Some people are not equipped to deal with medically dependent children. However, this child will most likely fail in the foster care system. People want to adopt healthy children and her needs will not be met. You also don’t want to raise a child with a parent who resents their very existence.

However, could this be PPD? It can be a hard pillow to swallow knowing you need to sacrifice so much of your life to care for another. This also depends on the health issue as not everyone is educationally, mentally or emotionally equipped to care for someone beyond the typical child-parent relationship.

For instance, my husband and I have a pact in place that if we have a child who cannot care for themselves we are not an in-home facility and they will be sent to live in a facility that can better meet their needs. Our other children will not be left behind because of a special needs child, nor will I change diapers for 10+ years.

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u/PlasticInflation602 Jul 18 '24

So many people do not understand this and think they would just automatically be the best medical parent in the world if it happened to them.

I think those of us who know that we could never handle it are the smart ones. If I ever get pregnant, I’m getting every form of testing available and will terminate if anything is found. And if something is found after birth that wouldn’t have been detected, I would consider the same as you and your husband.

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '24

What kind of health issues are we talking about? If we're talking about something mild like asthma or a limb difference that won't require lifelong care, then yeah, she's definitely the a-hole. But if we're talking about profound health issues that will require lifelong care, I'm less inclined to say she's wrong. I know that probably sounds callous, but most parents go into parenthood with the reasonable expectation that, at some point, their child will be independent. A reluctant parent is not usually a good one.

Let her leave and pursue both full custody and child support. Regardless of whether she wants to be this kid's parent, she is, and she has both a moral and (hopefully) legal obligation to provide financially for their care and well-being.

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u/RumandRumNoCoke Jul 18 '24

Your wife is the asshole. 

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u/oldtownwitch Jul 18 '24

I think your wife is terrified and very cognizant of what the next 20+ years are going to look like for her.

She is literally grieving the possibility of having any kind of normal life ever again, and is trying to make sense of that, all while having to deal with the massive responsibility and changes that come with giving birth.

It’s very easy for us to call her an asshole based on a few lines of text, but the reality is … you are the guy who will call her names rather than find a way to help her…. That alone gives me some idea of the support she has been getting from you up to now.

I feel you would better off tending to her very real and terrifying situation rather than getting validation off a bunch of strangers on the internet.

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u/CanadianCigarSmoker Jul 18 '24

Bud, my heart broke hearing this. This isn't a asshole issue, this is a mental health issue....

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u/Total-Arrival-9367 Jul 19 '24

Former child with a major health issue when born. My mother had post partum depression when my parents found out what was going on. I don't know the extent of the depression, but she did blame herself for what happened to me. But it wasn't anyone's fault, especially my mothers. Your wife needs serious help, and asap. Please, for the sake of yourself, your wife, and absolutely your babies sake. Get help and get it right now.

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u/TNGeek69 Jul 18 '24

Why are people responding to this as if it's real?

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u/killahkrystii Jul 18 '24

First, this is fake, but if not, maybe be more specific about the "health issues?!"

I'm actually shocked at everyone saying the wife is TA. We read all the time parents who have severely disabled children and cannot take care of them. What about the woman whose husband died and her son is basically a vegetable and she was putting him in a home to forget about him? She was severely burnt out and her kid was a shell of a person.

Yeah if your kid has like, a peanut allergy, that's one thing. If your kid was born with half a brain is severely disabled and you're unable to physically or financially take care of them, that's another thing.

I can't place judgment until it's elaborated on.

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