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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:
PrincessDonutTheQueenAnneChonk · 16/09/2026 20:57

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:51

I’m a doctor

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

OsfameronTanamoril · 16/09/2026 20:56

I wonder what the MN mods are doing.

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:55

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InterIgnis · 16/09/2026 20:54

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I aborted even though I could go on one. What about it?

BunkBedsArePeopleShelves · 16/09/2026 20:54

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:51

I’m a doctor

No you're not.

BunkBedsArePeopleShelves · 16/09/2026 20:54

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 not an actual baby, which you know.
Any woman can terminate any pregnancy for any reason.

LivingForTheWinter · 16/09/2026 20:52

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:51

I’m a doctor

Lol.

There's really no other response available.

Happytaytos · 16/09/2026 20:52

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:51

I’m a doctor

I hope you're kinder to your patients.

Abortions for any reason at any time.

InterIgnis · 16/09/2026 20:52

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Thanks. I always appreciate the recognition of my attributes ☺️

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:51

LivingForTheWinter · 16/09/2026 20:48

It isn't a baby. Did you not do biology at school?

I’m a doctor

LivingForTheWinter · 16/09/2026 20:48

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It isn't a baby. Did you not do biology at school?

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:47

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Grumpyoldcat · 16/09/2026 20:46

Money vs baby? You can make adjustments.

LivingForTheWinter · 16/09/2026 20:45

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Selfish? Yeah. It's her life. It's ok to be selfish when it's your own life isn't it?

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:45

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InterIgnis · 16/09/2026 20:45

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.

Arrested Development GIF
OsfameronTanamoril · 16/09/2026 20:45

Oh, it's A Handmaids Tale here all right.

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:43

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InterIgnis · 16/09/2026 20:41

I would absolutely prioritize your current family and lifestyle. It’s irrelevant that others make do with less, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. That’s perfectly valid.

Abortion doesn’t have to be a difficult decision at all. It wasn’t for me.

LivingForTheWinter · 16/09/2026 20:38

KatMansfield6 · 16/09/2026 20:23

To be fair, any child who doesn't get £50000 of holidays a year might as well never have been born. Can you imagine the resentment and the deprivation?

I'm saving up for counselling for when our four realise that an idyllic week swimming, cliff diving, hiking and surfing in wales for £1500 did them some deep irreparable harm.

You've just made yourself look a bit daft with this to be honest

Kittyfur · 16/09/2026 20:37

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LivingForTheWinter · 16/09/2026 20:34

OsfameronTanamoril · 16/09/2026 19:19

Unbelievable comments on here. So OP must have a baby she doesn't want because other people are infertile?
Wow.
Have I strayed onto the Vatican message board?

I know! I seen to have wandered into the Handmaid's Tale

OP i would give my right arm for a third baby (DH says no) but there's nothing in your post that suggests you actually want this baby. If that's the case I think you know what's best to do, even though it feels hard. I feel for you, life is not straightforward.

LoveHearts69 · 16/09/2026 20:28

Could you put them all in state school for primary and use that time to save up for either private tuition or the fees to put them in private for secondary? I think they’d be more well rounded having experienced both then too.

KatMansfield6 · 16/09/2026 20:23

To be fair, any child who doesn't get £50000 of holidays a year might as well never have been born. Can you imagine the resentment and the deprivation?

I'm saving up for counselling for when our four realise that an idyllic week swimming, cliff diving, hiking and surfing in wales for £1500 did them some deep irreparable harm.

Caterguin · 16/09/2026 20:20

These abortion threads really are a platonic for the pro-lifers aren't they? And their posts are always so emotive. Like a 14 yr old in a catholic school RE lesson.

If you don't want a third baby, don't have one. Pretty sure my gran wouldn't have had 7 children, if she'd had the choice. We could have just about have afforded a 3rd. But there's no way in hell I would have wanted one; largely because I liked my life and body the way they were after dc 2 and had no desire to fuck them up.