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astrogal
04-12-2010, 15:29
Hey Everyone,

I would like to get some information from some co-mothers in regards to their attachment to their child that they did not give birth to.

My partner and I have a little boy 6.5 months and it really really bothers me that my partner hasnt formed an attachment to our baby.

My partner is really helpful around the house with cleaning and with our son in regards to changing nappies, feeding, pureeing food, playing with him but I feel like the little one is placed last on the agenda and fits into her spare time only. For instance, she works full-time and then in her time away from work she does what she would like to do such as going to the gym or some sort of cleaning or lately catching up with friends and whatever time is left in the week after that she will then spend with our son. This sometimes may be only 30 mins on most working nights and on days off rarely spends a full day with him.

I dont question the fact that she loves him, but it does bother me that she isnt worried if she hardly sees him in a week. She doesnt ever say, i have been busy this week i have hardly seen my son i want to dedicate this day to spend with him.

I feel like she sees him as another committment like our much loved pets (who are treated like our children) where she has things she needs to do ie changing nappies etc... But part of me feels like there is no real deep wanting to do things if that makes sense?

I have spoken to her about it and she says that it is different because I gave birth to him so i have a deeper attachment that only happens because i grew him for 9 months. Personally i just cant understand because I feel like I wouldnt be like that if the roles were reversed. Mentally she is not a mother and I am finding it really hard to deal with.

I am not sure if this is because as the birth mother I cannot do anything without thinking about my baby and putting his needs first however my partner does not have the same consideration. I am not sure if I am being too hard or my expectations are too high.

To sum this up my partner is good with our son in meeting his needs when she is with him and does show him affection but I feel there is something missing as her own wants are her first priority.

romlysmum
04-12-2010, 19:50
Hi Astrogal,
I'm a birth mother and my partner is quite involved with our son. However she did say it's quite a different experience to being the mother giving birth (she has 2 kids from a previous r/ship). You're so wrapped in your baby when you are the main caregiver! My partner would come home full of stories of work etc and often said that she loved being home, but when she was out she was out. I go out and think of our little one!

I know my hetro friends have said that it takes a while for their partners to 'click on' to having kids! Perhaps when your son starts to interact a bit more with her it might be different? I know when our son started heading for the door when my partner got home and not wanting her to leave etc she really responded to that.

Not sure if this helps...good luck:)

ontheway
07-12-2010, 12:57
I'm guessing I'm the co-mother but also the stay at home Mumma. Attachment gr while DS1 was growing in the womb for me.

My thoughts is time will work it out as your son gets older but if you would like to hurry up the process. Allow them to go do a active (music,gym,playgroup on a Saturday) together just co-mother and baby let her make some decisions without you as a back up.
For me being a mother is also a name I love been called Mumma by my son but by others like the swim teacher.

Hope this helps.

astrogal
09-12-2010, 14:18
Hey everyone

Thanks for your replies I am feeling better about the situation. Once i go back to work in Jan my partner will be looking after bubs 1.5 days a week so that is good bonding time for them because it is only on rare occassions that she does have him all to herself. Though when she is home I do try and do my own thing so that they do get their own time together.

My partner is very supportive and great with our son but I find it hard that she doesnt have to consider him while making any decisions and I have to always consider him with any decision I make no matter how little! We are planning on her getting pregnant next year so all that will change when she is home with children full-time for a while :)

seaflower
18-12-2010, 22:00
hi, I was just passing through and wanted to say that from my experience and from talking to friends, it is really common for biological fathers to not bond with kids until they are quite a bit older, so if your partner is taking a bit longer to bond that is quite normal. I reckon that time they will have together will really help.

Just wanted to say congrats too for starting a family together, I tried to start a family with a female partner many years ago, but conception didn't happen and it turned out she really wasn't that keen on having a family anyway. But I really admire same sex couples who go ahead and do it.

trishalishous
19-12-2010, 01:24
as a child with two mums, I'm definitely closer to my tummy mum. my other mum is more like an aunt.
my mothers did partner after we were teenagers, so that may be the reason.

Pregnor
19-12-2010, 02:32
I just wanted to add, when my ds was 9 months i went back to work and dh stayed home with him full time. I have to say when i was not the one with him 24/7 it was very hard to be a parent to him, as i just wasn't in sync with what he wanted or needed anymore, and i wasn't as tolerant of him either, and just didn't want to be with him as much after a while.

I think once bub gets older and you partner spends more time with him things will improve. Ds is now almost 2 and dh and i both have a good relationship with him, i think sometimes its just hard when bubs are so little and so reliant on the person who knows them best... Good luck, i hope you guys find something that works for you