Divorce while pregnant

I’m 19 weeks pregnant and seriously considering filing for divorce. My husband and I have only been married for 10 months. In his past he has played poker from time to time but generally would get really into it for a couple of weeks and then fizzle out. I never liked it because I’m morally opposed to gambling to “earn” money, but because it was always a short term thing I’d just let it go. About 3 months after we got married, he started getting really into it and won quite a bit over a month period. I told him I wouldn’t accept my husband gambling and that he needed to stop. After many fights he finally did. About two months later, I got pregnant.

Before I found out I was pregnant, he was back at the poker rooms. Again winning high amounts causing him to keep going back. We fought a LOT and I consistently told him that if he wanted to gamble that he’d need to file for divorce. Then, I found out I was pregnant. Crazy enough, from that exact day, over the next two weeks he lost every single penny he had won (about $55k) and $25k more. He of course had to stop for a while after that but as soon as he saved up some more money to put towards his “poker roll” he was back at it again.

I have tried to make things work because I don’t want my child to be born into a broken family, but I am at my wits end. Not only is he gambling, he’s staying out at these poker rooms until 2-3am and sometimes leaving the house at 4-5am. I have his location so I know exactly where he is but that doesn’t make it ok. He’s been talking for weeks about going to play at some private games at peoples’ homes. Since gambling is technically illegal in Texas, lots of people that meet at these poker rooms play high stakes at private games. I told him that was an absolute dealbreaker as I’m sure inappropriate and illegal activity goes on there. He agreed not to go. Lo and behold, tonight he went. For me that feels like that last straw.

In addition to the gambling, it feels like he’s generally just been checked out of the marriage for a few months and does very little to act like a husband and certainly not a future father. He gets high on marijuana pretty much any time he’s not working or gambling. We no longer go on dates, he doesn’t like to make plans, all he wants to talk about with anyone is poker, etc.

I actually tend to think that once the baby arrives he will straighten up, but I just don’t feel like I can make it to then. Even if he does, the way that he has treated me during pregnancy feels unforgivable. We both wanted a child. When I told him I was pregnant he was through the roof excited. In the end though he hasn’t prioritized me or our future family. It is causing so much mental strain that it is manifesting physically through heart palpitations. My OB even sent me to see a cardiologist about it. The cardiologist told me that what’s happening is being caused by stress and that I need to try and live as low stress as possible. I told him this weeks ago and yet he continues to cause me SO much stress. I think I know what I need to do but I just feel so much guilt for bringing a child into this world under these circumstances.