Has anyone hadn't a 'massively broody' late thirties and NOT acted on it?

[BalletZeus]

I'm 37 have 2 dc aged 2 and 4.

I'm broody and terrified of another toddler in equal measure!

DH says a resounding "no" to any more children so it's a non issue really. He 42 and worries about being too old!

Realistically, I'll not be having another but I worry I'll regret it later on. I'm really broody and I feel sad that the baby stage is over

I would like to hear positive stories of people who stuck at two children and didn't regret it!

No stories of how your third competed your family please!

[ImsotiredImsotired]

I went through the exact same feelings when my children were 3 and 2. I was extremely broody and it dominated my thoughts but my husband said he would rather not have any more. After a few months the feeling passed and I'm definitely glad now that we didn't act on it! They are 5 and 4 now and I feel I'm getting some of "me" back. Hope this helps a little but I understand how strong the broody feeling for a third can be.

[YellowRoss]

I've got 2 children, 5 and 2. I am 37 and won't be having anymore because of wet difficult pregnancies but I'd love another and am so broody.

I wonder if it's something to do with the age of the kids, 2 yo is out of the baby stage but really exerting her independence and in the terrible twos and it's exhausting. I adored her baby months and would love to go back to a time of just having her as a little baby again.

My close friends kids are 9 and 6 and she says it passed for her, now she thinks it would be the worst thing ever to have to go back to waking nights and wiping bums! She says she has a lot more freedom.

Anyway, that was no help but I just wanted to say I am there too, except I definitely won't be having another unfortunately

[BalletZeus]

Sorry for typo in my title!

[BalletZeus]

I've been broody since my daughter was born and that's over 2 years ago

[dudsville]

I became intensely broody late 30's. Took me by surprise as I'd never wanted children. It was a great achingly, teeth gritting few years. It was hormones. I'm safely the other side!

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I'm 39, my children are now 8 and 10. A couple of years ago I was majorly broody, but DH was never keen. Realistically I knew we weren't going to have more and DH had the snip.

It coincided with a time where I was in a rather dull but stressful job, and I think there was a little romanticism in there about being home with a baby again.

Now I am much more on track career wise, doing a job I really enjoy and I can't imagine giving that up to do nappies and sleepless nights again.

[gamerchick]

No mine just presented as constant horniness instead. I think the body senses when fertility is about to drop and wants a latch ditch attempt at babies personally and ramps the hormones up.

I'd rather grate my face off

[SpookyPotato]

I've just had my second baby and I'm savouring every minute as I don't think we'll have more.. I'm sad that I'll never have a newborn after this.. He's already starting to chunk up! But if I had another where would it end? I think I would keep feeling broody until I had an army! There are so many advantages to just two and like others have said, not having anymore means you can get yourself back quicker.

[Lottapianos]

Like dudsville, i had a massive attack of hormones in my 30s. I actually think it was a mix of hhormones and living in a society that still expects all women to have babies. It was bloody awful. It started when i was about 30 and I'm 37 now and it has almost vanished. I didn't have children because i knew that the reality would have driven me insane but the longing was intense all the same.

It passes OP. It can feel pretty tough but it does pass

[BaymaxismyHero]

I would say it comes and goes.
I'm early thirties and my youngest is 7, for the past 5 yrs I've had broody moments.
It comes and goes but no where near as strong as it used to be.
I would say I'm over it as I've realised I don't actually want another baby, I would like mine to be babies again, big difference and obviously impossible.
I definitely don't regret not taking the leap and having another.

[Miniwookie]

I felt super broody when my youngest was two. They're 5 now and I'm sooooo glad we didn't have another. 3 yos are bloody hard work and I'm enjoying things being less hectic with them all in school. (I have more than 2 kids though)

[TheVeryThing]

I have two but would have loved a third a few years ago.
We couldn't really afford it and DH didn't want another (I probably could have persuaded him but didn't want to ttc with someone who wasn't fully on board).
I'm 42 now and have the occasional pang but no real regrets. Definitely don't want another at this stage and was surprised at how quickly I came to terms with it.
There's no right or wrong decision and while I think i would have been very happy to have a third child, I am equally happy with my family as it is now.
One thing I would say is that when my children were babies and toddlers I completely underestimated the challenges of parenting older children.
I thought that once they started school it would be all plain sailing until they hit the teenage years.
How wrong I was!

[TheTartOfAsgard]

I never knew this was a thing! Im 35, have 2 dc ds12 and dd13 and was incredibly broody.

Ds2 due in June.

Is this the late 30's woman's equivalent of buying a Porsche?

[tankerdale]

I had a 3rd. She's a toddler now. Obviously we love her to bits but my goodness, she's hard work. Just endured 30mins sitting in the car whilst elder dd had piano lesson. Trying to do reading with dd2 whilst dd3 squawking screaming and trying to grab book. I do sometimes think perhaps I didn't think through the practicalities! I know it will pass and get easier but having a spread of ages definitely has its challenges. And my goodness, the volume of laundry is ridiculous now.

[ArchNotImpudent]

I spent a few months when I was 38 wishing I could have a child - I had never wanted one before, and have never wanted one since.

Rationally, I didn't want one even during that period, but I had feelings which were probably hormonally induced and unrealistic visions of producing a 'perfect child' who'd be a mini-me - but, miraculously, without all the things I hate about myself.

I now feel very relieved not to have acted on the impulse.

[altiara]

I got a puppy
Now I want more puppies
But definitely 2 children is enough

[toomuchprosecco]

I'm 39 have 2 kids age 21 and 13. I'm getting a puppy next week! no way I could start the baby thing again!

[FourToTheFloor]

I have pangs for dc3 but I don't really want another one It's a very weird feeling as I'm very happy with my size family, but just this strange...pang. And dh would go again so I need to be super careful and not be an idiot when I've had a few wines

[Conniedescending]

I'm 39, My youngest is 9. 18mths ago had an unplanned pg which was a shock but we decided to go ahead and then I mc. Have been massively broody since but DH has v firmly said he doesn't think a good idea. I probably could talk him into it but I don't want to.

Feeling less broody since xmas so hope it might be passing

But it's bloody awful- don't know if I trust my own wanting or not

[sparepantsandtoothbrush]

I'm 38 with 12 and 10 year old DC and DH and I have been having the should we/shouldn't we conversation for about 3 years! I think it's a no though. I think I just want my DC to be little again not actually add another one now

[BarbarianMum]

Yes.

It was a very hard few years but it's finally over now I'm 45 and my kids are 9 and 11. In retrospect it was the right decision for us - three would have been very difficult financially and practically and would probably have meant I never returned to my career.

[TheCakes]

I'm going through this now, at 40. I got a kitten. I love him so much ❤️

[Areyoufree]

Man, i needed this thread! Bloody hormones!

[ChickenVindaloo2]

I'm 34 and single. I've never wanted children, not even sure I want a man anymore.

I'm TERRIFIED that I will get these awful hormones and want a baby!

[bringonyourwreckingball]

I was broody aged about 39 in a last chance saloon sort of way and again now aged 42 as my BIL and SIL have just had twins and they are adorable and I'm a little jealous of them starting out on the parenting adventure when I have children who are about to be taller than me any day now. Realistically though our lives wouldn't fit another one in and anyway the baby days nearly broke me so it won't be happening even if it was physically possible.