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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:
TurtleMcTurtle · 28/08/2026 10:29

What you’re fantasising about is just that, a fantasy.

You know from past experiences that child birth, babies and things completely out of your control can alter your predictions.

I’m really sorry that you didn’t get the two maternity leaves that you wanted, but you do have two healthy DC and that’s incredible!

Even if you got pregnant quickly there would be a 6-7 year age gap between your oldest and youngest. The oldest therefore is more likely to be pissed off that mum is too busy feeding the baby to play with her, or host play dates, or drive her to the trampoline park or whatever. Your eldest will be learning to drive when your youngest is in primary school, so they’ll be at different stages throughout their life and maybe that won’t matter and they’ll be best friends, or maybe when your eldest asks for driving lessons and you can’t afford them because you’ve just paid for three lots of school uniforms and school shoes, they’ll be annoyed you had a third.

I get that the desire for a baby can be all consuming, but don’t mix up fantasy and reality.

SlightlyTremulous · 28/08/2026 10:21

Gently, OP, you’re doing that classic thing of ‘This time it will be different!’ Vanishingly few people experience the ‘idyllic newborn bubble” you appear to think everyone has experienced but you (my newborn stage with DS was very difficult because of an infected CS scar, no milk supply and FH being made redundant), and it would be completely mad to have another child in the hope that this time you’ll somehow have it.

Combat your fantasies by thinking about your two existing children getting far less of your time and attention, or being jealous and finding the transition difficult. I mean, it’s just as likely an outcome.

Tablesandchairs23 · 28/08/2026 10:15

Concentrate on all the things you'll get to enjoy with the children you have. Talk to your husband or a friend about how you feel. Neither of you are wrong in how you feel.

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