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Pregnancy Stress & Anxiety

Divorce or Breakups During Pregnancy

Dealing with a Breakup While Expecting

Suddenly single-divorce during pregnancyDiane Danielson of Cohasset, Mass., wasn't feeling well, but attributed it to stress. After all, she and her husband were talking about divorce. Then she found out she was nearly 3 months pregnant. Divorced by the time her only child was born, she knows all too well what it's like to deal with a breakup during a pregnancy.

"My biggest coping mechanism was denial [of the pregnancy]," Danielson says. "I hid the whole thing until I was almost 6 months pregnant – the guys at work just thought I was porking out because of the divorce."

Tips on Coping
Danielson has some tips for women coping with a breakup during pregnancy:

It's important to encourage the dad to be involved after a divorce or breakup during pregnancy, if possible.

  • Distract yourself with "non-negotiable passions" – something that can't be taken away from you that's so absorbing that you can block out all the "noise" at least a few times a week. For Danielson, that was work and sports.
  • Pamper yourself. Danielson got her hair done and bought some nice maternity clothes for work, "because one of the hardest things was that no one was around who was required to tell me I was still the same beautiful person I always was," she says.
  • Surround yourself with positive people.
  • Stop being afraid to ask for help.
  • In a divorce situation, get the best lawyer you can possibly afford. "Best thing I could have ever done," Danielson says. "Not only did it allow me to focus on my 'non-negotiable passions,' he got stuff for me (sole physical custody, health insurance, etc.) that I never would have imagined I could get and that would be more helpful to me down the road."

Other Ways to Cope
Reading about child development, bonding and co-parenting relationships may also help you cope, says Dr. Joanne Baum, a therapist who has worked and lectured extensively in the fields of family therapy, parenting and divorce for more than 30 years.

Also, "it is essential that you deal with the emotions caused by the relationship ending, lest you drag that unfinished business into your relationship with the child you're soon to have," says Russell Friedman, executive director of The Grief Recovery Institute and author of Moving On: Dump Your Relationship Baggage and Make Room for the Love of Your Life (M. Evans, 2006). "Even though the baby can't speak or understand what you say in language, he or she can be affected by what is affecting you. You must shed your relationship baggage so you can be open and safe for your child."

Sources of Support
It's important to acknowledge that ending a relationship during pregnancy adds to an already difficult experience. There are many sources of support to help you through it. Family, friends, counselors, Lamaze classes, support groups, Internet parenting sites, books and hospital-based classes are among them, Baum says. Danielson also found support at her workplace and from her girlfriends, who were helpful because they didn't pity her or feel sorry for her.


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Divorce or Breakups During Pregnancy

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Anonymous says
3 days, 22 hours ago

My husband of 3.5 years and I can't get along. Think differently about everything and fight all the time. I think we may get a divorce... I am so sad. I love this man and am 3 months pregnant. How do I do this? How do I do this without hurting this baby with all my emotions and stress? Anyone, can you help???

Cascella Kenney says
2 weeks ago

Iam currently 3months pregnant. I was in a 3yr relationship with someone who I had known for a long period of time. On January 22, 2010 my boyfriend said to me, "I gave us some thought and I think its "Best" if we seprate". He said that he didn't know if he was ready to be a family man or be with me long-term. He wanted to be with other females, he replied when I asked, "Why now?" I cried so hard for him asking why over and over. I had to realize that I have to move and let him be with other females.

Anonymous says
December 24, 2009

Im almost 7 months pregnant. Have been married for 2.5 years. Since i got pregnant his work just started taking all of his time. at first i understood and even felt sorry for him working so many hours and nightshifts (he is a policeman), but then it just got out of hand. i dont know if he has another woman, but i dont believe he is at work all that time. Finally i left home and went to my parents 2 weeks ago, after he promised to come back one day from shooting practice where they satyed for 3 days in a nother town, and eventually came back the next. For 6 months i was taking care of the house, garden, his big dog and waiting for him to sometimes show up and keep me company. Once i had enough, this 30 yr old idiot escaped to his parents as well. He doesnt sleep home at nights, and keeps telling me that he does. May be its not his mother's taht he spends teh nights at, but i just cant be bothered to check him out. He has made me upset and angry so many times during pregnancy, i dont even want to mention him as a father on the birth certificate. He never calls, is always busy when i call him to tell him things needing to be done, since we r still married. Like going to take care of his dog. He is such a coward, its hard to believe i didnt see him for waht he was when i was getting married to him. We both planned the baby, but he said that i have alienated him from the pregnancy (i wonder how, he never expressed any initiative. Im so angry and hurt. I really hope this will pass. Im planning to start divorce procedure after the abby is born, coz it would be just too much for me to handle right now. Im really hoping for the best though. and I'm wishing you all girls to stay strong and know ur onw worth. Men r just not worth it. They r quite shallow creatures. Well at least the one i have met so far...

Anonymous says
December 19, 2009

I am 7 1/2 months pregnant. This was a planned pregnancy but after a fight one night during my 4th month, my husband decided he didn't want to be with me anymore after 3 1/2 years of marriage and dating for 9 years. We really do not see eachother, he rarely asks how i'm doing but "can't wait for the baby to get here". I think he's the happiest 30 year old living with mom and dad. He won't get help with me to try to fix issues because he says he doesn't have faith that we can fix things!. He's a genuine winner! Anyway, I'm pulling through for my unborn beautiful duaghter but hate the fact that we would even have to talk about visitation and things. I have a lawyer and have filed. I don't want to drag this any longer then it has to. If he wanted to fix things he would have been there for me more than 3 times these past few prego months. I deserve much better!

Confused says
December 13, 2009

My husband and i have been married for over five years now and about four months ago a man tried to make my marriage end by starting stuff between my husband and i like saying we was sleeping together and thats not even true!!!! Now its December and weve been trying to work things out and stuff keeps coming up it is two weeks before christmas and he tells me he is leaving and packs most of his stuff and leaves mind you we have a four year old son he just takes with him!!! I am six and a half months pregnant and i am lost and dont know what to do at all. I am 24 years old and have not been single since i was 15. Im just really hoping there is a god out there that has heard my tears and knows im in pain and will bring him back.

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