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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel heartbroken that my husband does not want another child?

78 replies

Poppy545 · 28/08/2026 10:13

Hi
I know it’s probably bad to feel better if other people are going through the same thing.
But I thought you might be able to help me deal with my feelings.
Long story short my husband doesn’t want another child. We already have 2. I’d like one more. I feel so so sad about it. Our children are 5 and 3.
We didn’t experience that idyllic newborn bubble with either of our children. First baby born in lockdown. Got an infection and was readmitted for 5 days.
Second baby had to have serious surgery at 2 weeks old so we didn’t get home until he was 3.5 weeks old. But then actually didn’t even go home as we went to live with my in laws as our house sale had gone through. I get on with them but they’re very overbearing and it was stifling.

I dream of my two eldest playing whilst their little baby sibling is snoozing in a bassinet in the lounge and having that newborn bubble everyone talks about.

can anyone please help me get over this, I think it’s making me depressed. I don’t feel like our family is complete but I also understand I can’t force my husband. He’s a great dad and husband so no issues there. He just feels like we’re complete.

OP posts:
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Laurmolonlabe · 29/08/2026 08:09

I think you want another one, at least in part, because the other two were not plain sailing. I'm not sure having a baby just because you want to feel that bubble is justified, I understand the feeling of sadness though.

CharityShopMensGlasses · 29/08/2026 05:05

Poppy545 · 28/08/2026 15:34

I thought it would have been obvious that I don’t want a third baby purely to enjoy the newborn stage again.
I’ve always wanted a larger family. My husband always seemed on the fence so for him to be so against another is not what I feel I signed up for.
other reasons I’d like a third:

  • We have a large house so could easily fit another
  • we should be able to afford another child in the mix and still be able to have nice holidays etc

I just think if my husband was depressed over something I could solve like expanding the family I would do it!

Its really hard when our biological urges are so strong but I wouldnt push when hes so against it, you could have 2 years of resentment from him and that would be hard for the be child but also if it brike things between you, single parenting 3 is not easy. Be kind to yourself though, as this is painful, This biological urge will pass and there sadly is no guarantee of that newborn bubble especially with a bigger family theres more chance at least 1 kid or adult will have something going on that disrupts it..also baby 3 will be being woken up by 1 and 2. It can be a happy chaos, but definitely usually a very busy, noisy bubble. I think the newborn bubble is a first baby thing when the house is peaceful. But mine too was complicated so I do get wishing that time had been easier.
Of course you're not wrong to want a baby, but I always think you both really need to be in agreement to bring another person into the family, because it's so much pressure on you both, as well as wonderful and if they end up meaning life and the balance and dynamic of your home different if the other person wasnt in agreement in the first place can easily be very resentful. Theres no guarantee of a healthy child, or that the pregnancy would be just 1 child, so its a big commitment signing up to roll the dice again together and both need to be an invested team.

mumsntt · 29/08/2026 01:11

newborn bubble? wtf are you on about

grow up

FuschiaMyArse · 29/08/2026 00:57

It's just broody hormones. This too shall pass.

ScruffMuffin · 29/08/2026 00:49

I agree that counselling might help you to work through this.

I mean this kindly, but has it occurred to you that a third baby might be twins or (like a friend of mine)... very unexpected triplets?! Or have complex medical needs etc? Even of your DH were to agree to one more, what kind of strian would that put on your relationship? I don't mean to be negative, but with every additional child there is potential for a lot more chaos. And it's a given that a third (plus) would create more work and expense.

I really do get it. I wanted a third until my youngest was about five. But I had to let my head rule my heart, because we couldn't afford another... or a larger house or car.

Then six months ago I lost my beautiful teenage daughter. I would do anything have my two gorgeous, healthy children back together. I'm trying my best to be grateful for what I have. What else can we do, really?

GreyCarpet · 28/08/2026 19:48

Yeah, this mythical idyllic newborn baby bubble pased me by twice.

Get off social media and enjoy the children you have. Do not have another baby in the hope of a glimpse of your existing children playing whilst the baby sleeps in the bassinet.

Pistachiocake · 28/08/2026 19:43

I've only heard of this "newborn bubble" idea recently (and I'm still quite a young mum and yes social media existed long before my first pregnancy!) and it seems quite dangerous for some, like the idea you should get caked in make-up for a first feeding photo/have the perfect birth/shouldn't have friends and family round to help/have to be back in your pre-pregnancy clothes straight away.
As in, aside from the very rich, few people are going to benefit from it, and it sets unrealistic expectations, causing unhappiness. Kind of like how we're told you didn't give birth properly if you had a CS-never mind if it saved your baby's life!

eatreadsleeprepeat · 28/08/2026 19:08

Poppy545 · 28/08/2026 15:34

I thought it would have been obvious that I don’t want a third baby purely to enjoy the newborn stage again.
I’ve always wanted a larger family. My husband always seemed on the fence so for him to be so against another is not what I feel I signed up for.
other reasons I’d like a third:

  • We have a large house so could easily fit another
  • we should be able to afford another child in the mix and still be able to have nice holidays etc

I just think if my husband was depressed over something I could solve like expanding the family I would do it!

If you are down about not having a third child then having another might make you feel better. If you are clinically depressed then a pregnancy and new baby will not be a cure, it might make you significantly worse which would be painful for all of you.
You say you would try to do something to make your DH happy, but you want to do something which will make home more stressed and possibly depressed.
You are now part of a family and decisions need to be taken for the benefit of that unit as a whole. It is good that you have a big enough house to have a third but that doesn’t mean you should.Third, or third and fourth if you had twins would mean, potentially a larger car to get three child seats in. It would probably mean an extra room every time you went away. It would reduce what you could spend on your existing children on hobbies, school fees, university costs, help with property purchases, weddings. It would reduce the time and attention you can give them as they grow up and you get to know them as people.

whippersnapper55 · 28/08/2026 18:47

I've had 5 children and never had an idyllic newborn bubble! In my experience, managing 2 small children and a newborn is anything but idyllic in real life 😂 it honestly gets harder with each one because school & nursery runs, after school activities, cooking meals and doing all the laundry etc means that you rarely get a chance to just sit and cuddle your baby!

Your husband isn't wrong for not wanting more children, nor are you for wanting a third. But children need to have 2 parents who want them - you have two wonderful children so maybe now's the time to count your blessings and be grateful for what you have? My DH would have liked one more (honestly I think he'd have liked about 10!) but I was definitely done after number 5.

NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag · 28/08/2026 18:36

I feel that you're probably going to surprise him with being pregnant again anyway.

Gowlett · 28/08/2026 18:32

Ponderingwindow · 28/08/2026 18:28

I have one child. When she was an infant, she screamed every single second she wasn’t touching me. She didn’t sleep unless she was touching me. She screamed when her father held her. She screamed like she was being murdered in the car.

imagine that with two other children in the mix.

There is no guarantee of a lovely newborn bubble.

Sounds like my baby. Throw c-section recovery & breast feeding madness into the mix, too! There was nothing idyllic about it…

Gowlett · 28/08/2026 18:29

But what if it’s all a dream & there’s no idyllic newborn bubble this time either? What if your two kids behave like brats, and you also have to cook, clean, do school, even work… And have a small baby (what if the baby isn’t easy?). There’s a lot riding on this perfect little baby! It’s okay to be sad, DH might be right.

Ponderingwindow · 28/08/2026 18:28

I have one child. When she was an infant, she screamed every single second she wasn’t touching me. She didn’t sleep unless she was touching me. She screamed when her father held her. She screamed like she was being murdered in the car.

imagine that with two other children in the mix.

There is no guarantee of a lovely newborn bubble.

Whoops75 · 28/08/2026 18:22

There is no bubble with no3
Especially with school going children!
It’s exhausting and most of the time you’re wishing the time away until things get easier.
No 3 won’t be easy for you or your two other children, your reason for wanting a baby is to heal the past! Crazy plan

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 28/08/2026 18:17

Smartiepants79 · 28/08/2026 18:06

Both of those are good reasons why you could have another child. They are not, in tvhemselves, reasons for why you want one.

Yes, especially "easily fit another into the house".

Smartiepants79 · 28/08/2026 18:06

Poppy545 · 28/08/2026 15:34

I thought it would have been obvious that I don’t want a third baby purely to enjoy the newborn stage again.
I’ve always wanted a larger family. My husband always seemed on the fence so for him to be so against another is not what I feel I signed up for.
other reasons I’d like a third:

  • We have a large house so could easily fit another
  • we should be able to afford another child in the mix and still be able to have nice holidays etc

I just think if my husband was depressed over something I could solve like expanding the family I would do it!

Both of those are good reasons why you could have another child. They are not, in tvhemselves, reasons for why you want one.

BreatheAndFocus · 28/08/2026 17:33

How do you know your newborn will be “snoozing in a bassinet” while your other two DC play?? More likely that they’d be screaming or your older children would be wanting your attention or wanting to go out.

I was lucky enough to be a SAHM when my DC were young but I certainly don’t remember any idyllic newborn bubble!! I remember being sore with my first, in hospital with my 2nd (prem) and exhausted with my 3rd after a very prolonged and painful labour.

Why not turn things round and think about them positively?:

First baby born in lockdown. Got an infection and was readmitted for 5 days
”My first baby was born safely during a global pandemic. I was lucky enough to survive a postnatal infection which could have killed me in the past. Aren’t we both so lucky”

Second baby had to have serious surgery at 2 weeks old so we didn’t get home until he was 3.5 weeks old. But then actually didn’t even go home as we went to live with my in laws as our house sale had gone through. I get on with them but they’re very overbearing and it was stifling
”My second child survived serious surgery when only two weeks old. We moved in with my in-laws temporarily, which was great because our house sale had gone through, and if we hadn’t been able to move in with them, we’d have been homeless with a tiny baby who’d just had serious surgery. How fortunate!”

catownerofthenorth · 28/08/2026 17:06

I sympathise OP. Part of wanting a third child for me was laying to rest a ghost from post partum with my second. And no, nothing is guaranteed.
Most women would have 1 more child. Most men would not. Give it time and see if either of you change how you feel.

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 28/08/2026 17:00

Paganpentacle · 28/08/2026 17:00

Thank fuck for that... thought I'd been short-changed
Twice 😂

😂😂

Paganpentacle · 28/08/2026 17:00

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 28/08/2026 16:46

Mythical!

Thank fuck for that... thought I'd been short-changed
Twice 😂

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 28/08/2026 16:53

Focus on the here and now. Give affection and attention to your existing children. Talk to them, read to them, play with them.
Put silly notions of "idyllic newborn bubbles" which don't exist, out of your head.
Being depressed about something which may never happen is foolish.
Enjoy what you already have.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 28/08/2026 16:47

Poppy545 · 28/08/2026 15:34

I thought it would have been obvious that I don’t want a third baby purely to enjoy the newborn stage again.
I’ve always wanted a larger family. My husband always seemed on the fence so for him to be so against another is not what I feel I signed up for.
other reasons I’d like a third:

  • We have a large house so could easily fit another
  • we should be able to afford another child in the mix and still be able to have nice holidays etc

I just think if my husband was depressed over something I could solve like expanding the family I would do it!

And you’d be wrong to do so. You don’t have a baby to make someone else happy. And you knew he wasn’t set on a third so this is what you signed up for, and you hadn’t you wouldn’t have your kids at all.

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 28/08/2026 16:46

Paganpentacle · 28/08/2026 16:31

Idyllic newborn bubble?
What's that then?

Mythical!

Pinkgin00 · 28/08/2026 16:44

You say this isn't what you signed up for, but people are allowed to change their mind, especially those who were on the fence to begin with. You husband has made it clear that two is enough, and you know you cannot force someone to have another child if they don't want to. You need to find a way to move on from this, be appreciative of what you already have which is more than some people can dream of.

Paganpentacle · 28/08/2026 16:31

Idyllic newborn bubble?
What's that then?

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