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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel unsure about continuing an unexpected third pregnancy?

162 replies

Turtleseas · 16/09/2026 17:37

My husband had some medical treatment which at that time, the doctor said would make most people infertile, we stopped contraception but two years later, I unexpectedly found I’m pregnant. We already have two primary school aged children. I really don’t know if I should carry on with the pregnancy or give it up.

Financially, we are in the process of moving houses. We will spend next three years building our dream house, so the cash flow will be tight for the next couple of years. We will ultimately have enough bedrooms but not for two/three years. We have big enough cars. Both our children go to private school, but we don’t think we can afford the third child’s school fees. DH suggested taking children out of private school and send all three to state school if we have the third baby, I feel very reluctant about that.

Travel is another thing. We go travel a lot, normally a luxury holiday every year and then several package holidays. Annual travel cost is about 40k to 50k. As a lot of hotel rooms don’t accommodate 2 adults 3 children, having a third baby means booking an extra room or suite. The travel cost will at be doubled, we will need to either book cheaper holidays or have less holidays.

We have almost zero family help. So previously we paid for nannies and babysitters to go through the difficult baby times. With a new baby, we will need some form of paid help to start with, but my main worry is once baby turn two and has his/her own needs, we just won’t have enough helping hands to sort out all the logistics.

We do spend a lot of time with our children. One of them needs some extra support. At the moment we can still handle all the bills from doctor appointments and therapy sessions. NHS waiting time is like one year and they won’t provide therapies to kids who go to independent school. So we have to pick up expensive bills. At home support is also very important apart from specialist therapies. So I also worry with a new baby we won’t have enough time and energy for my current children. Or even worse, what if the new baby also had special needs?

So sensibly we feel our current family is complete. The children live a happy and luxury life. Having another sibling might mean less going out, less holidays, less attention from parents or even changing schools for them. But termination is also the most difficult decision that a woman could ever make.

OP posts:
Shoobadadoo · 17/09/2026 14:06

We have the unexpected third baby but quickly really really wanted them

you don’t sound like you want this baby or will enjoy them. I think terminate

OsfameronTanamoril · 17/09/2026 14:03

Why are posters trying to project their own feelings onto the OP? For some of you, it may be a heartbreaking moral dilemma. For me, it wouldn't be. Really. I would terminate for more holidays because I want to travel more than I want any more kids!
Seems likely that it won"t be for the OP either.

NoisyViper · 17/09/2026 13:54

So let me get this straight.
You and your husband already have two kids in private school, blow £40/50k a year on luxury holidays, are building your “dream house,” and previously hired nannies because you have almost zero family help. A doctor told you the treatment would likely make you infertile, you stopped contraception, and two years later you’re pregnant. Surprise.
Now the main objections to keeping the baby are:
You might have to take the existing kids out of private school
You might have to book an extra hotel room or take slightly less extravagant holidays
You might not be able to afford the same level of paid help
One of your current children needs extra support and you worry the new one might too
In other words: the lifestyle is more important than the child.
You’re not describing poverty. You’re describing the temporary inconvenience of having one more person in a high-consumption household that currently prioritises private education, frequent luxury travel, and paid domestic help. Plenty of people with far less money and far more constraints raise three (or more) children without treating it like a catastrophe.
Termination is a serious decision. Framing it primarily around “we might have to downgrade the holidays and possibly use state schools for a few years” makes it sound less like a heartbreaking moral dilemma and more like a lifestyle audit. If the answer is genuinely that the family is already complete and you can’t (or won’t) adjust, then say that clearly. Just don’t pretend the main issue is some tragic lack of resources when the actual issue is a strong preference for the current level of comfort and attention.

StableCable · 17/09/2026 13:49

HeyThereDelila · 17/09/2026 12:09

Personally I couldn’t live with myself knowing I’d aborted my baby to continue to spend £50,000 a year on holidays. What insane priorities.

Put that money on increasing your mortgage or paying the third lot of school fees instead.

I’m pro choice, but frankly the reasons some women now give for terminating healthy babies makes me sick.

You're not pro choice then.

Didimum · 17/09/2026 13:42

Wow, this thread is pretty disturbing. So wealthy aren't allowed to be pro-choice, basically. Wow.

Timeforachange26 · 17/09/2026 13:27

HeyThereDelila · 17/09/2026 12:09

Personally I couldn’t live with myself knowing I’d aborted my baby to continue to spend £50,000 a year on holidays. What insane priorities.

Put that money on increasing your mortgage or paying the third lot of school fees instead.

I’m pro choice, but frankly the reasons some women now give for terminating healthy babies makes me sick.

No one is making you terminate a pregnancy. So you can live with yourself

And how can you be " pro choice". ?Is it only pro choice when it's reasons you agree with

LivingForTheWinter · 17/09/2026 13:20

HeyThereDelila · 17/09/2026 12:09

Personally I couldn’t live with myself knowing I’d aborted my baby to continue to spend £50,000 a year on holidays. What insane priorities.

Put that money on increasing your mortgage or paying the third lot of school fees instead.

I’m pro choice, but frankly the reasons some women now give for terminating healthy babies makes me sick.

So you're not pro choice then.

OsfameronTanamoril · 17/09/2026 12:25

HeyThereDelila · 17/09/2026 12:09

Personally I couldn’t live with myself knowing I’d aborted my baby to continue to spend £50,000 a year on holidays. What insane priorities.

Put that money on increasing your mortgage or paying the third lot of school fees instead.

I’m pro choice, but frankly the reasons some women now give for terminating healthy babies makes me sick.

The key word here is ' personally". You wouldn't be able to live with it. I could. The OP may.
The word ' but" after 'pro-choice'.means you are not pro-choice.
And it's not a baby. It's either a bunch of cells or a foetus.
It's so plain the OP does not want this baby.

EveryoneUsingOutro · 17/09/2026 12:10

PrincessDonutTheQueenAnneChonk · 16/09/2026 20:57

You and I both know that's a lie. You forget your posting history.

Haha suspected as much.

Not quite the Gotcha you thought it was, eh kitty kitty?

HeyThereDelila · 17/09/2026 12:09

Personally I couldn’t live with myself knowing I’d aborted my baby to continue to spend £50,000 a year on holidays. What insane priorities.

Put that money on increasing your mortgage or paying the third lot of school fees instead.

I’m pro choice, but frankly the reasons some women now give for terminating healthy babies makes me sick.

EveryoneUsingOutro · 17/09/2026 12:09

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:58

It’s dreadful to think that someone would terminate a child just because it might interfere with their numerous £50000 holidays and private school fees.
it’s just astounding!!

A woman can terminate a pregnancy (not a child) for ANY reason, it’s HER body and HER choice.

A third child will dramatically change their lives, circumstances, finances, for at least 20 years. Of course she has the right to decide if they want that or not. It’s not just “holidays” , it’s their entire lives. Focussing on this one point is low critical thinking.

EveryoneUsingOutro · 17/09/2026 12:06

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:51

I’m a doctor

I have not seen your deleted posts but I can imagine … hope you’re not treating your patients to any views that warrant deletion like that.

IF you are a doctor Confused

FairLemonNewt · 17/09/2026 12:03

In your situation I would 100% prioritise my existing kids and have an abortion.

SmolTiny · 17/09/2026 12:01

I would have a termination.

EveryoneUsingOutro · 17/09/2026 12:00

Bitsostuff · 16/09/2026 18:56

That's only really relevant if you're sometimes in favour of forced birth. The right to choose doesn't hinge on wealth or circumstance, not wanting a pregnancy for any reason is enough.

Exactly.

EveryoneUsingOutro · 17/09/2026 11:59

OrlaOrka · 16/09/2026 19:17

I’m amazed so many posters are on board with this? surely because you might not to be able to afford as much luxury cannot be a legit reason for termination? What? An actual baby that so many people would LOVE to have you’re considering throwing away over private school fees and holidays? Wow

Edited

It’s a cluster of cells in the early days, then a fetus.

It doesn’t MATTER if other people would love to have a child! OP is hardly going to put it up for auction is she?

Again for the hard of thinking, NO woman has to “justify” having a termination. Just not wanting another child is enough.

StableCable · 17/09/2026 07:35

Turtleseas · 16/09/2026 22:53

My children have lovely personalities and they love babies. They actually asked for baby siblings as some of their school friends are getting new babies. But children don’t understand the implications of bringing a new life to the world. I’m just guessing when they grow up will they ever wonder how will life be different without the baby sibling? When we were searching for the new house, we heard some stories about people having major arguing over how much money they each get by selling deceased parents house. Money is a funny thing, even between siblings.

That's great. This comment made them sound pretty entitled:

My oldest is constantly asking where we go on holiday next

I personally would be very worried by my primary aged child demanding to know where and when the next holiday is as you have described. You make them sound spoilt and entitled and I would be worried by this if they were my child, not worried about how to ensure I maintain the supply of holidays for them!

Siblings could fall out about almost anything but it would be a very strange person who grew up citing the loss of frequent luxury holidays in primary school as a reason to resent their younger sibling.

None of this is a reason for continuing a pregnancy you don't want btw.

Onechild · 17/09/2026 06:35

The vast majority of people in the UK can’t afford private school, several holidays a year, nannies/paid help for babies. You’ve cited that ‘cash flow is tight’ but all I see is the fact you can afford 10 children if you wanted if you didn’t pay for all of those luxuries. Money isn’t an issue for you.

If you don’t want a third child then that’s absolutely fine but be honest to yourself about why you don’t want a third. My reason for sticking to one is birth trauma and difficult baby stage.

Dery · 16/09/2026 23:27

“minipie · Today 23:19
You don’t need to come up with financial justifications - if you don’t want a third child, that’s enough reason on its own.”

This with bells on.

minipie · 16/09/2026 23:19

You don’t need to come up with financial justifications - if you don’t want a third child, that’s enough reason on its own.

On the other hand if you want a third child, it’s clear you could manage- albeit things would be a little more stretched than now, but still fine by anyone’s standards.

Ultimately the only question is do you, and your DH, want a third child or not.

PeloMom · 16/09/2026 23:13

@Turtleseas it sounds like you know well what your capacity is in terms of energy and the time you want to give to your kids. Despite some challenges (your DC2’s needs) you have found the sweet spot where you have the life you want. And that is something many people never find. If I were you I’d protect it for my own sanity as well as for my existing children.
what if the third child had some severe needs that will not only impact what you foresee now but also results in a lot of time and resources spent to support those needs? For many people who adore and enjoy their unexpectedly conceived child there are plenty of people who say that they shouldn’t have proceeded with pregnancy.

Comesround · 16/09/2026 23:10

I would be surprised if my older children resented younger children unless the pressure for resources was a matter of survival. If luxury holidays were to become a bone of contention, I would feel it was a sign of my own inability to instill a moral compass rather than a failure to provide satisfactory living standards.

Pingsung · 16/09/2026 23:06

Turtleseas · 16/09/2026 22:53

My children have lovely personalities and they love babies. They actually asked for baby siblings as some of their school friends are getting new babies. But children don’t understand the implications of bringing a new life to the world. I’m just guessing when they grow up will they ever wonder how will life be different without the baby sibling? When we were searching for the new house, we heard some stories about people having major arguing over how much money they each get by selling deceased parents house. Money is a funny thing, even between siblings.

The choice is of course yours. However I think you are worrying far too much about what your older children will think and whether they will resent their sibling because they have less holidays and material goods.
I'm one of three and I have 3 children. I dont think this has ever entered any of our minds.
I'd much rather have my siblings (and I know my children feel the same )than a few extra weeks on a sandy beach.

LivingForTheWinter · 16/09/2026 23:06

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 22:58

Your priority is obviously money first and foremost.

This is a very strange attitude. You're criticising the OP for things that aren't criticisms.

AutumnBarbie · 16/09/2026 23:05

Just to chime in here, not every woman regrets having an abortion.

Edited for typo.

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