Pregnancy can bring out a lot of emotions, but for one Redditor, his wife’s behavior started to feel like a series of tests rather than the excitement of expecting a child. When she began accusing him of losing attraction and started insulting his cooking, it wasn’t long before the situation escalated to an extreme level.
The final straw came when the wife, along with her best friend, decided to “test” his loyalty by orchestrating a flirtation with a stranger. When he passed the test, he was both relieved and frustrated.
Now, he’s wondering if he’s wrong for wanting to ask her to move out. Is he justified in wanting space, or is he overreacting to the situation? Keep reading to see how this story unfolds.
A man considers asking his pregnant wife to move out after she and her friend tested his loyalty
When a partner deliberately tests another’s loyalty by engineering a scenario to gauge fidelity, that act touches a nerve deeper than a mere misunderstanding.
Research in relationship science warns that patterns of mistrust, suspicion, and manipulative “tests” are often symptomatic of underlying insecurity or relational dysfunction.
According to long‑term studies by John M. Gottman and colleagues, certain communication and behavior patterns predict relationship instability or divorce.
Their findings show that when couples enter conflict with high levels of negative emotion (criticism, defensiveness, contempt, or stonewalling), the likelihood of eventual separation rises sharply.
In the scenario at hand, the wife’s decision to enlist a friend to flirt with her husband could be seen as an expression of deep mistrust rather than a call for open communication.
That kind of “test” bypasses honest discussion, instead placing the couple’s bond under a hidden trial, a dynamic psychologists consider toxic, as it undermines security, respect, and mutual understanding.
At the same time, the husband’s situation is complicated by his long work hours and emotional exhaustion. Research exploring the interplay of work demands and family life, often called “work‑family conflict,” shows a strong negative impact on marital satisfaction and emotional well‑being when stress spills from the job into home life.
Emotional exhaustion and perceived resentment under those conditions can erode intimacy, patience, and trust, leaving little emotional reserve for handling relationship strain.
Given those conditions, a partner’s insecure testing, and the other partner’s emotional burnout, it becomes understandable why the husband might question the viability of the relationship or feel compelled to protect his mental health and stability.
That said, leading couples’ researchers emphasize that marriage “disasters” are not inevitable; the difference lies in how conflict is managed. Successful, stable couples consistently use positive affect, open communication, repair efforts, and mutual influence instead of contempt, coercion, or hidden tests.
Even when trust has been shaken, effective therapy and honest discussion can rebuild foundations, especially before resentment calcifies.
So, while the husband’s anger and desire for space are emotionally valid under these pressures, asking his pregnant wife to move out may be a premature move unless both are willing to confront the root issues: insecurity, lack of trust, emotional exhaustion, and poor communication.
Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:
These commenters advised that while the wife’s actions are wrong, couples therapy or counseling should be considered as the next step to address the deeper issues in the relationship
This group emphasized that pregnancy does not justify abusive or manipulative behavior and that separation or counseling is necessary
![[Reddit User] − NTA. This sub infuriates me sometimes. No not ESH.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1764784422149-3.webp "Man Considers Kicking Out Pregnant Wife After She Tries To Test His Loyalty")
These users suggested that the wife may be struggling with deep-seated insecurities and that her actions could be a result of her emotions and pregnancy-related changes
![[Reddit User] − NTA, you're working hard to provide, doing the cooking,](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1764784500439-65.webp "Man Considers Kicking Out Pregnant Wife After She Tries To Test His Loyalty")
These commenters voiced concerns about the dynamics in the relationship
![[Reddit User] − NTA. Please do not listen to anyone who justifies her behavior with pregnancy hormones.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1764784483997-52.webp "Man Considers Kicking Out Pregnant Wife After She Tries To Test His Loyalty")
In a situation where trust is broken, the instinct might be to lash out or create space, but both partners in this relationship need to take a step back and work on rebuilding communication and understanding.
Asking the wife to move out while she’s pregnant might not be the most productive solution, and couples therapy could help address the root causes of these issues.
The husband’s frustrations are valid, but healing this relationship might require more patience and communication than either partner has given so far.
What would you do in this situation? Should the husband have taken a different approach, or was asking his wife to move out justified? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
