90 Day Fiance couple Paul Staehle and Karine Martins are trying to work out their issues as a married couple on 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way after Karine considered filing divorce, so are they still together now?
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Paul and Karine got into a blowout fight days before Karine went into labor, and the repercussions of the argument -- including a lot of anger on Karine's part -- carried over into what should've been one of the best days of their lives.
However, Karine chose to give Paul a second chance since he was such a great support system for her in the delivery room.
So did the couple remain in love and are they raising their child together or from different countries? Keep reading for the spoilers!
Paul and Karine met online and fell in love in Brazil despite being unable to communicate well with each other.
Paul and Karine got married in 2017, but their wedding didn't air until the following year on Season 2 of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days on TLC.
Following two devastating miscarriages -- one of which was documented on 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days' prior season -- Paul and Karine happily announced in October 2018 they were expecting a baby. That same month, Paul revealed Karine was pregnant with a baby boy.
90 Day Fiance: The Other Way therefore debuted with, Paul, 35 at the time, working odd jobs on a farm to save up money for his then-pregnant wife and unborn child.
Paul wanted to be by Karine's side throughout her pregnancy more than anything, especially considering the pair feared another miscarriage or a pregnancy complication.
Paul wanted Karine to give birth in the United States under the care of the best doctors, but since he didn't make $26,000 in annual income and couldn't convince his mother -- or seemingly anyone else -- to sponsor Karine, Paul realized he must move to Brazil in order to make his marriage work and raise his baby.
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RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOWPaul was frustrated he couldn't support his wife and baby from the United States, and so he prepared himself for a "huge sacrifice" and permanent stay in Brazil.
Karine, who was 23 at the start of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, was seven months pregnant at the time Paul arrived in Brazil. She had spent three months alone prior to his arrival and had been taking English classes in order to improve their communication.
Karine, however, didn't feel Paul was making much of an effort to learn Portuguese, work and earn money. She feared Paul wouldn't be able to provide for his family, knowing babies are incredibly expensive to raise.
Karine's brother Bonnie also shared with the cameras that Karine spent a lot of time crying in her bedroom prior to Paul's arrival.
Bonnie didn't really like Paul and considered him to be "an unbalanced person." Bonnie wanted Paul to learn Portuguese and said Karine's husband had the tendency to turn into "a demon" at times.
Karine insisted she truly loved Paul but needed him to "stop the drama," become a good father, and step up to the plate financially.
But Paul said he was doing everything he could for his wife and was tired of Karine complaining.
Unfortunately for the couple, Paul later discovered his application for permanent residency in Brazil had been denied due to his criminal record.
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"Karine is going to be heartbroken. She's going to be just shocked. I only have 10 days to deal with this and then I need to leave the country," Paul said in a confessional.
"I don't want to cause unnecessary drama and then cause her stress and cause problems with the baby. I don't know what to do at this point. I really don't."
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Paul's residency was initially denied because he had been charged with "terroristic threatening of the third degree" in connection to a misdemeanor charge on his record from when he had been accused of threatening to slash someone's tires 13 years ago in America.
Paul claimed he had flipped out because he once returned home from work to find his then-girlfriend inside with another guy. In addition to threatening to slash the man's tires, Paul admitted he had made "some angry comments."
The attorney had to explain to agents of the federal police that what Paul had been charged with back in the United States was not an act of terrorism but rather a normal threatening charge.
Paul and his attorney therefore appealed the decision, but neither man knew whether it would take a week, a month, or maybe even up to a year to reach a resolution. Paul figured it was going to be "a serious waiting game."
When Paul broke the news to Karine he might have to return to the United States, she was devastated and worried because she didn't want to be pregnant and alone.
Karine suggested she and Paul travel to her parents' place in Tonantins, Amazonas, so they'd have more help with the baby upon his arrival.
Karine and Paul's travel time to Tonantins was four or five days by boat. Paul really struggled with the conditions on the boat, and so Karine couldn't help but question whether Paul would adapt to life in the Amazon jungle.
And she had every right to worry, because Paul wasn't happy about the move, and he hated the idea of Karine giving birth in a medical facility that's far inferior to what is offered in the United States.
It turned out to be an awkward living situation for Paul since Karine's mother thought he was a selfish jerk.
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"If Paul has to leave, he will take my heart with him. And not just mine, but my son's," Karine told the cameras.
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If the appeal wasn't approved, Paul knew he and Karine would have to maintain their relationship and raise a baby while living in separate countries -- something Paul admitted would be nearly impossible.
The couple then moved into a cheap apartment that cost $200 a month to rent, although Paul had pushed for a place that would run them over $1,000 a month in U.S. dollars.
Karine told Paul he didn't have a job and might get deported so they needed to be careful with their money. She was annoyed how Paul always needed to get his way and do things his way.
Karine told Paul to go back to America, and then Paul accused her of wanting a divorce. Karine said Paul was all about "drama, drama, drama."
"He doesn't want to change but he needs to grow up now that he's going to be a dad," Karine told the cameras.
Karine's mother said Paul treated Karine badly, especially when he brought up the idea of a DNA test for the baby.
Paul insisted he no longer had suspicions about being the biological father of Karine's son, but when he borrowed Karine's phone for its translation app, a text message suddenly popped up in which Karine was talking to an American man in English.
Paul demanded to know who the guy was, but Karine just told Paul to "stop." She called the mystery man "some guy," but Paul wasn't okay with that. Karine later told the cameras the man in question was the son of a woman who helps her by sending money.
"My relationship with him is basically like a friend or like a brother. It's nothing romantic like Paul thinks," Karine explained.
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Paul admitted they'd have trust issues as long as Karine continued to talk to other men and maybe a baby paternity test was necessary after all. Paul told Karine that he didn't appreciate what she was doing.
Three weeks into their new life together in Tonantins, the couple was living off the small amount of savings Paul had left prior to flying to Brazil, but they were running out fast.
Paul was looking for some under-the-table work, but no one seemed to speak English and Paul couldn't speak Portuguese well. Karine was worried and stressed out, but Paul was tired of his wife "poking" at him.
Paul said he gave up everything in the United States to live in Brazil with Karine and be there for her, but he felt nothing he ever did was "good enough" for his pregnant wife.
Paul then told Karine the fact she was communicating with American men in English worried him and hurt his feelings, but Karine said Paul always accused her of cheating when they fought.
"I can't take it anymore, to tell you the truth," Karine said. "Are you afraid someone is going to treat me better than you?"
Paul flipped out and told Karine to file for divorce if she was so displeased with her marriage, and she cried saying she was tired of Paul scaring her and treating her poorly.
"Because I just can't stand it anymore," Karine told the cameras, before looking to her mother for advice.
Karine told her mother that she thought Paul could be a good husband and father but she believed he was incapable of changing. Karine said actions meant more than words and she was therefore considering a separation.
Karine's mother told her that she'd have family to support her, and then Karine went on to say she didn't want her son to grow up seeing Paul stressed out and angry all the time.
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Karine thought about getting a divorce, and her mother said the sooner Paul is out of the picture and out of their lives, the better it would be for everyone.
Paul then spent the night in a hotel, and when he returned to his home in the morning, Karine was gone.
Karine's father told Paul that Karine and her mother had left together on a boat and were heading back to Manaus, a large city in Brazil.
Paul was in shock and felt very hurt and sad because Karine had left him in a place where he didn't speak the language and had no family or friends to count on.
Paul was very confused with everything, but he still wanted to be there for his pregnant wife and reconcile.
Paul was then shown taking a five-day boat ride back to Manaus. He wanted to fix things with Karine and make amends, but he said as long as she continued to talk to American men, they'd have problems.
Karine, however, was pretty torn on how she wanted to proceed in her relationship with Paul.
"I left everything in Tonatins to come to Manaus with my mom because in Manaus there are lawyers that can help me with the divorce," Karine told the cameras.
"But I keep giving Paul chances because my son needs his father. I don't want him to be far from his father. So I'm willing to give him another chance."
When Paul finally met up with Karine following days of separation, he said he was at a loss for words.
Karine told Paul that he was acting like a bad person and so she didn't want to see him. Karine had no patience for Paul and couldn't believe he was angry with her for talking to another guy via text.
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"You know I didn't do anything wrong," Karine said, adding that she and Paul had this talk over and over again.
Karine thought Paul was going to apologize for his behavior, but instead, he was still mad at her.
"How would you feel if I talk to other women?" Paul asked.
"This won't work," Karine said. "Shut up! I'm getting really angry... All that I see is that you want to humiliate me."
Karine felt Paul was never going to change, and she said she was tired of crying and having Paul blame her for things she was not guilty of. Karine called him a "jerk" and told him that he was never going to change.
Karine burst into tears and left the conversation, but Paul chased after her and knew things were bad. Paul could tell Karine was not happy with him and that he had "f-cked everything up."
"I'm going to fix it," Paul noted. "I'm definitely concerned about losing everything I had. I don't know if it was real."
Karine wanted to be alone, but then Paul insisted he was sorry and had made a mistake because he was upset. Karine was tired of having this fight over and over again, but Paul said he was sad too.
When Paul asked Karine if she loved him, she simply said, "No."
As Paul tried to hug her, Karine pushed him away and asked him to leave.
"I really want a divorce. I am tired of what Paul does to me," Karine said in a confessional. "He lives in the past and too many fights make a relationship fall apart. There's no more hope. I'm thinking of my son now."
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A few days later, Paul said his fight with Karine was worse than ever and he wasn't sure there was much hope of them getting back together.
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Paul therefore considered flying home to the United States and returning to his old life, but little did Karine know, his appeal regarding obtaining permanent residency in Brazil had been approved, and so he was finally able to apply for a work visa and then hopefully get a job.
Paul's mother advised him to work out his issues with Karine so he could be there for his child. Paul's mother didn't want Paul to miss out on being a father and watching his baby grow up.
Paul realized he had made a mistake as a result. He planned to step it up and prove to Karine she could rely on him as a husband going forward, but he wasn't certain it was going to be enough.
Paul suddenly learned from Karine's father that Karine had gone into labor. He therefore made his way to the hospital as soon as possible, but he didn't know how Karine would react to his presence.
After speaking with Karine in the hospital, Paul stormed out the front doors angrily. She apparently didn't want him around for the baby's birth, and Paul told the cameras, "It is what it is. I'm really hurt."
"She told me to leave and get her some stuff. She wants her mom in there and doesn't want me here," Paul added.
Paul therefore planned to bring Karine the items she needed and drop them off. Paul found the whole situation upsetting, because he said he cherished Karine and loved their baby on the way.
Paul was shocked Karine wouldn't want him in Brazil to help raise their baby, but he wasn't about to give up on his marriage or the idea of being a father to his son.
Around 7PM on the day Karine had gone into labor, Paul attempted to smooth things over again.
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Karine had been given no medications for the pain, and so Paul proactively stayed and rubbed Karine's back. And this time, she didn't force him to leave the hospital.
At 5AM the next day, Karine was still in labor. All of the doctors had apparently left and only one nurse was on staff. Paul was upset because there was no pain medicine available, and he said the hospital was "far inferior" to what is offered in the United States.
Even though Paul had "a rocky relationship" with Karine's mother, he was glad she was there for her daughter as well.
Karine's mom said it was "nerve-wracking" because Karine appeared to be giving up. When the baby was coming out, no doctors were around.
At the last minute, a doctor finally showed up and took Karine into the delivery room.
"I can't do it!" Karine yelled.
But after Paul told Karine that she's strong and can do it, she said, "Okay, I'll try."
Karine and Paul then welcomed their baby boy, and Paul cried, "You did it, sweetie! You did it! You did it!"
It was a very emotional moment, and Karine felt immediate relief and happiness when her son was placed on her chest. Paul gushed about how his baby had beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair and looked just like him.
"I think it's safe to say it's definitely my baby. He looks a lot like me, no need for a DNA test. That's my son. He's very white," Paul told the cameras with a laugh.
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Paul didn't want his son to repeat his mistakes, but Karine was so grateful for how Paul had behaved in the delivery room.
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Karine said Paul was calm and acted like a great friend as well as a supportive husband. Karine said Paul's behavior strengthened her and gave her hope for the future of their relationship.
And upon seeing her son for the first time, Karine could feel nothing but joy, hope and optimism.
Two weeks after Karine birthed their son Pierre, Paul said he felt honored to be a father.
Before Karine delivered the baby, she wanted a divorce from Paul, but he hoped she would change her mind. Karine wanted Paul to help her every day with the baby, so she asked him if things could stay peaceful between them.
Paul's mother Mary then traveled to Brazil to meet her grandchild. Karine was nervous because she had never met Paul's mom before and didn't know whether she liked her.
Mary was surprised to see the conditions her son was living in, but she was glad Paul was in love.
When Paul's mom and Karine met, they embraced each other and called each other beautiful. Karine welcomed Mary to Brazil and then Mary got to hold the baby for the first time, which caused Paul to cry happy tears.
Mary gushed about how Pierre was beautiful and sad she'd be so distant from Paul's new family.
Karine hoped Mary would help her with Paul, and Mary really seemed to like Karine. Paul said the journey to his son's birth was a roller coaster but he'd remember this moment of his family being together for the rest of his life.
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So did Paul and Karine make it? Are they still together and married?
It appears Paul and Karine's marriage is currently on the rocks and Karine has recently threatened Paul with divorce.Late last week, Paul took to Instagram Stories and wrote, "Doing a poll strictly out of curiosity. For someone I know very well...... Should a wife divorce her husband over his mother buying gifts daily spoiling their son? Should a grandmother be banned from seeing her grandchildren over spoiling them. And a husband be divorced for defending his mother's actions?"
Although Paul seemingly tried to play it off like this was happening to some other couple, most fans knew better because Paul and Karine are currently living in the Louisville, Kentucky area together, with Paul's mother nearby.
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Paul and Karine are raising their son Pierre Martins Staehle in America.
It therefore appears Karine is angry with Paul's mother for spoiling her son and at Paul for taking his mom's side and so she has threatened to divorce Paul as a result.
The majority of Paul's followers answered "No" to his poll questions.
Prior to the poll, Paul's latest Instagram post was in mid-September. He shared a series of images of Pierre in his crib and Karine taking care of him.
And after welcoming their first child together on March 22, Karine and her son officially moved to the United States! (Back in February, Paul revealed in his Instagram Stories that Karine had received a CR-1 spousal visa).
Eyewitnesses took photos of Paul and Karine at the airport together in Louisville in mid-June.
And then Karine confirmed her location by posting photos on her Instagram Stories of Paul and herself visiting local attractions in Louisville.
Paul, Karine, their baby, and Paul's mother all posed for a picture in front of the entrance of the Louisville Zoo.
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Paul later shared a family photo of Karine, the baby and himself at a cookout on July 4.
The couple has been posting photos of each other on Instagram Stories in the last few months.
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Not only are they making Cameo videos together for money, but Karine also shared a few funny images of Paul on the couch with their son.
Paul and Karine haven't exactly been hiding their relationship status considering Paul's Instagram bio reads, "Married to @staehlekarine," along with an emoji of a couple and their child.
Karine's Instagram profile also has Paul in her main photo and reads, "Casada com [Paul]" in her bio at the top, which means she's "married with" Paul.
In early September, Paul took to Instagram to share a photo of Karine, himself and their baby standing in front of a T-Mobile store.
Everyone was wearing a hat, so it's possible Paul might have just landed a job at one of their store locations. If not, the family members are apparently huge fans of the cell phone company for whatever reason!
Paul previously gushed to Us Weekly about how he's "very happy" and "very excited" to be a father.
"I'm also very nervous and want to do everything the best that I can and do everything right," Paul told Us.
"Everyone keeps asking how it feels to be a dad. Anyone can make a baby, but going through the day-to-day process of being a father is going to be a new experience. I'm very happy, very honored and very privileged and I want to make sure I do my absolute best for Pierre."
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
