Would you have had another child?

I have one and am happy with the choice, but occasionally the idea of a second floats into my head. It tends to quickly pass though.

Possibly if we won the lottery, we would have gone ahead and had a second. A lot of our reasons to stick at one could be allayed with money, even if they weren't directly about affordability. But equally we have several reasons that can't be negated by anything so we might well have stuck with one anyway.

I have had 2, but my first DC died (born far too soon). I would have liked my living DC to have a sibling they could know and grow up with, but I also know the absolute headf*ck (for me) of pregnancy after bereavement and I don't think I can do that again. Neither pregnancy was straightforward, either, so there'd be physical health risks too. In a world in which I had more confidence in my physical and mental health holding up, we'd probably go for a 3rd, but the risks feel too high now. We're just grateful for the family we have.

I have one. Sometimes I regret not having another but covid came along when he was 3 (at the time we would have done it) and threw everything up in the air. He's 8 now so there would be a big age gap. I'm almost 43 and there are additional risks I dont want. Im very much out of that 'baby zone' time where you can barely leave them alone in a room. A couple of years ago I watched my cousin chase his daughter (3) for half a day at a family thing. It reminded me of what Id come out of lol. I think if there was a moment it is gone.

We have two children. We had enough money and space to have more, but to give them the time and attention that we wanted to give them, two children was right for us.

We always wanted 3 kids then our first turned out to be twins. Didn't want to run the risk of twins again so stopped at 2.

Yes the though of going back to the early years really doesn’t appeal now DD is an independent 10 year old.

us too. And both myself and my husband are only children -so we just could not understand having more than 1 and how that even works 😂

No. I have two and I'm pleased to get my life back. I'd like a horse! 🐎 🐎

I have one and would love another but not sure I could cope mentally and financially. I'm constantly overwhelmed and lonely and that's just with one ! Maybe one day but right now probably best for me to stick with one !

No, we only ever wanted 2. DS and DD were and are absolutely wonderful babies and now children, but I wouldn't go through labour and birth again for a big clock. The early years are lovely in lots of ways, but they're also tiring, and I'm so glad to be on an even keel. No financial reasons, and we have room, but it's just not something we'd want. DH has had the snip so that we don't have to worry about accidents.

I have 1 and nothing in the world would have persuaded me to have another.

I have 2 and I'd love a third. For me, money isn't as much of an issue as solid family help for childcare. We don't really have that, and it's hard. DH works away so I already panic if I need backup for any of my own appointments, plus I need the downtime and we'd struggle to get anyone to look after all 3! It's hard enough to find someone to have 2!
I guess if money allowed a nanny or au pair / decent regular babysitter that could also help!

More money, a better village and a less lazy H, and I would have potentially had one more ( for two in total). Would still have been a big decision though.

I have 4. Definitely wouldn't have any more!

I have 2. I would love to have had 3 but we won't. Various factors at play:
-my age (about to turn 40 and feeling it)
-husband not at all on board
-mental health issues/stress (2 is hard enough at times)
-physical health - would want to lose weight first
-not sure of impact on eldest child who already needs more of my time than I'm able to give

Two is lovely. But there is something about 3 that seems 'complete' to me. I guess that number's different for everyone.

I don’t know really. We had a hard time having our two with 5 miscarriages before our first which lost us several years so we’re pretty old and I had two complicated deliveries and it would be way too dangerous to have another.

I have 2, would have liked another with my now husband (also has a dc) as the dc’s dad left me when for OW before they were less than a year old. I would’ve liked to have done the whole thing again with a supportive partner. But blended families are hard, ours has been really complex with SC for multiple reasons and we felt the 3 existing dc’s needed to take priority on our time and resources. I’m still a bit sad but I think it’s now more a biological pull.

I always thought I'd feel done after having 3, but I'd love a 4th and maybe a 5th, or at least I would have if all the stars aligned. I'd have to have had a different partner and not been sick and have a bigger house, in my ideal world I'm not sure how many kids I'd have, at least 4.

I would have at least one more. I only had one because unfortunately I didn't meet DH until I was nearly 40. We were lucky to even have one.

I am sad that we didn't meet a few years earlier, which I think might have given us enough time for a second.

I have four and absolutely not.
If I had my time again, I wouldn't have any.
Of course I love them all with my whole heart but I find it extremely challenging and lonely

I would love a third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Unfortunately I can't due to hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy and then mental health after the baby arrives due to my underlying condition.

I have one. I would like another.

My childcare costs are ~ £2k a month at the moment (no doubt another big January increase coming too), and if I have a second I’ll be looking at ~£4k a month for a year or two.

I’m not eligible for any childcare support bar the 15 hours at 3.

My mortgage is pretty big and likely to go up a lot when I remortgage next year.

Just all feels financially risky. I suppose I can wait longer but I suspect the moment will be gone and I won’t want to ‘start again’ by the time my first is at school (and I’ll be 40).

I wouldn’t have thought finances would be such a major consideration at my current income level, I hear similar from friends and colleagues however.

I tried to have three, broke my heart over it in fact and now seven years forward I’m entirely delighted I have two 🤣

No but pregnancy no 2 was twins so I have 3 when we planned 2. I wouldn’t change it for the world but it’s expensive and demanding and hard to balance when everyone needs me at once (teen years are mentally exhausting to navigate - although I do love my house of young teens).

I have one and it's perfect. Nothing would persuade me to have another.