How to Stop the High Conflict Ex From Ruining Your Pregnancy
EMOTIONAL SURVIVAL
5 May 2026
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You're pregnant. You and your partner are building something together. Something that is finally, completely, entirely yours. This was supposed to be one of the best moments of your life.
But instead of just getting to enjoy it, you're already thinking about what the high conflict ex is going to do to ruin it. The threats. The financial demands. The things she'll say to the kids.
This is supposed to be your moment and you feel like she's stealing it.
Today I'm talking about why she's doing it and how to protect your pregnancy from the high conflict ex so she doesn't take your energy, your health and your happiness.
Key Takeaways
The escalation when you're pregnant isn't random – it's a completely predictable high conflict response to something that destabilises her identity
Her past behaviour to identity threats (like when you got married) is your best guide to what she'll do next
Your pregnancy is not co-parenting information – you don't owe her your due date, your birth plan, or anything else that doesn't directly affect the parenting of your stepkids
The peak of the escalation is usually during the pregnancy itself – once the baby arrives, the intensity typically dies down
Next Steps
For help stepping back, see my 3-part podcast series: When Stepping Back from the Drama Isn't Working – How to Finally Disengage (Part 1/3)
If you need help tracking her patterns:
→ see the podcast Tired of Feeling Blindsided? How to Predict Her Next Move & Stay One Step Ahead | Ep 5
→ Grab my FREE Drama Tracker, which helps you see the escalation coming so you’re not caught off guard anymore.
Hi, I'm Kellie
I'm a stepmum of two, high conflict survivor and a certified coach. I help stepmums handle the sh*t that comes with the ex, with no-BS strategies that actually work (I know because I use them myself).