3 Children already... How do I stop feeling broody?

[2sCompany]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this

I have a DD 8yrs, DS 8mo and SS 11yrs. I can't seem to shake this broodiness! Practically, another DC would be madness - we live in a 3 bed house so SS has to sleep on a blow up bed downstairs when he stays on the weekend. DH works away in the week and is only home on weekends. I'm not working at the moment, so finances are tight to say the least. We said that DS would be our last, but it just seems so final to say that's it, no more children!

I didn't think DH wanted any more at all, but he said the other day, unprompted, that he is not averse to the idea of another child. So whereas I thought my decision was made for me because DH didn't want any more, now he's said that, I am all confused again!

I get a bit jealous of pregnant people and feel sad that my childbearing days may be over - my heart says I want another one and my head tells me it's a ridiculous idea.

So how do I stop these broody feelings and be sensible?... Help!!

[thisisyesterday]

you should have a baby that'd stop them! lol

[4andnotout]

If you want to stop feeling broody fixate on the reasons you wouldn't llike another baby ie more sleepless nights, more expense, less room for existing children, having to carry all the essentals babies need etc etc.

I keep reminding myself of all of the above in the futile hope it will stop me being broody for #5 Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be working

[verybusyspider]

I try that all the time 4andnotout! the reasons not to so outway the reasons to have one but if that had been valid I'd never had have one
2sCompany I have no advice because we're in the same boat, our ds's are 3,2 and 8 months, I thought 3 was enough but now I like idea of even numbers, I really never thought I'd feel like that but because we have small age gaps I do feel like its now or never... no pressure then!

[2sCompany]

Thanks All... well glad to know I'm not the only one feeling like this even if no-one can seem to come up with an answer to combat the broodiness!

I do try and think of all the negatives - my 8 month old DS was ill recently and reminded me what it was like to be up all night and constantly cleaning up sick! I kept saying to myself, 'this is why we shouldn't have another one', along with, 'we don't have the room' and 'we can't afford it'. But it doesn't seem to work and I can't shake the feeling I would like another... I mean my body is a wreck now anyway and I can't imagine 4 would be much more stressful than 3 - is it 4andnotout?!! Aaargggh, see, there I go again, even though I focus on the bad points, I always seem to answer myself with a 'but' as to why it wouldn't be all that bad

[4andnotout]

My fourth has been my easiest so far even though there is only 13 months between her and dd3.

My pregnancy and labour were fantastic (45min labour) and she is the only one of mine that I have managed to breastfeed (although 16 months old I'm getting a bit knackered!) and she literally slotted in straight away as though she has always been here!

She was a complete surprise pregnancy (have pcos and had 2mc's) and we were really upset and worried about the cost and space issues, we have a 3 bed h.a house so not huge and we had to buy a bigger car but having her has been the icing on the cake of the family and watching them all interact fills me with delight.

We are going to ttc again from October when she is 2 and just see what happens, I want to hang up my maternity slacks before I'm 30 ideally so if I get my 5th it would be fantastic but if I don't I can't complain as I already have 4 gorgeous girls.

[2sCompany]

Ah, see now you're not helping with lovely stories like that 4andnotout I'm trying to find reasons not to have another one remember?!!

I have just passed the magic 30 milestone last week, so I think I'm just about young enough to still be thinking about it, in fact I think 30 is not that old to be saying that we're not having any more .... so confused

[4andnotout]

30 is still young to be having babies, but i would have had babies in my teens, twenties and thirties, and dp is 18 years older than me and although the same age as my dad he hates being mistaken for their grandad.

[disneystar1]

well im still broody after 7 children and have to be really tough on myself saying no it would be madness, i have multiple sclerosis and i couldnt manage anymore with a pregnancy, but i hate the fact this part of my life is over

[greedygreedyguzzler]

Oooo Oooo, i have just posted a very simialr message somewhere else. i have 3 dc already and would love another, but i know its not practical at all. cant shake the feeling that my family isnt complete though.
i need someone to talk some sense into me!

[cluelessnchaos]

This was me a year and a half ago, I got fed up with the eternal question should i shouldnt i, so I went for it, 6 weeks pg tommorow.

[greedygreedyguzzler]

so no second thoughts then cluelessandchaos? i thought i was pg last week and then when i realised how disappointed i was when i wasn't it really made me think i wanted another. and i KNOW if i had another i would definately be finished then, 4 is more than enough!

[kif]

Ooooh, I'm broody. (DCs aged 5, 3 and 1)

What I've done is taken on a major new professional challenge that will take at least 4 years to pan out. I just wouldn;t be able to do it pregnant.... but i am still broody. In my old job - I would have deffo been expecting by now...

[cluelessnchaos]

No second thoughts, I thought I was pg in October but wasn't trying at the time and had mixed feelings about it, not really sure what has changed but I am over the moon.